Personal Development/Career Path - Working in HR - Careers Clinic

6 Personal Development/Career Path

15 Apr, 2020 12:59

Hi All,

This is my first post on the forums so I'm hoping that I've come to the right place!

It's that time of year again, and I've just had my end of year review with my Head of T&D who is my line manager. She has asked the inevitable question of where I want to be in 12 months and how I'm going to get there and I've immediately come up blank.

As a bit of background, I've worked as a T&D officer for around 8 years, I've got my CIPD qualifications and am currently working for a company who have different UK locations. I am the only T&D presence in my office, with no plans or real opportunity to expand the proposition.

My current role is quite varied already, as I'm currently:

- Designing, reviewing and delivering monthly induction
- Leading development programmes (middle management, senior leadership)
- Supporting the design/delivery/assessment of in-house apprenticeships

My manager is not really interested in me gaining any further qualifications but wants me to have a clear career plan for myself.

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or experience in this type of situation? I just have no idea what the next step in my career would be!

Thank you so much in advance!

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Steve Bridger | 0 Posts

Community Manager

15 Apr, 2020 16:47

Welcome to the Community, Sinead. You've posted to the right place, I think.
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Lisa | 0 Posts

15 Apr, 2020 18:09

Hi Sinead
It sounds like you are quite happy in your role and that you enjoy it very much. Are there any short courses in T&D that take your fancy? It would also be good for your CPD.
There is nothing wrong with not wanting to 'climb that career ladder' if you are happy where you are but it may be worth giving the question some serious thought of whether you plan on staying with your current company or perhaps move on into a more managerial role with a new company? If not, I would just say this to your boss and be completely honest.
Remember that just because your manager isn't really interested in you gaining further qualifications, if that is what YOU want to do, then go for it.
Lisa
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Ray | 0 Posts

15 Apr, 2020 18:22

In reply to Steve Bridger:
Sound advice from Lisa. You may also want to consider whether you want to broaden your scope into other HR areas - even if you stay core T&D in your orientations the experience of looking at staff issues from other angles (recruitment, C&B, IR, HR & training IT systems...) will give you a broader perspective on how T&D fits into the bigger HR & business picture. Food for thought.....
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Laura | 0 Posts

15 Apr, 2020 19:16

Perhaps there are some projects coming up that you could ask to be involved in? It could be a way to build on the variety you've already been gathering whilst also developing. If your organisation uses a 70-10-10 development model, this could be good "on the job" development.
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Sinead | 0 Posts

16 Apr, 2020 11:14

In reply to Ray:
Thank you Ray! Strangely, I've been working a lot with our HRBPs recently and have been thinking about getting more involved with that side of it but wasn't sure how I could explain my interest to my manager... Your suggestion makes so much sense and won't make it look like I'm wanting to jump ship! Thank you
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Ray | 0 Posts

16 Apr, 2020 12:55

In reply to Sinead:
Glad the idea helps. Whatever speciality a person has in HR it's always a big plus to understand how the other specialities work so that you don't tread on each others toes through misunderstanding some basic specialist things.
I teach an international MBA in HR with a Compensation & Benefits speciality and every year I tell my students that the best Comp & Ben people I have worked with are those who have had either a generalist role beforehad, or who have worked in specialities like recruitment, development etc. Why? Because they understand by experience how they can add value to their colleagues activities !
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