• Replies 9 replies
  • Subscribers 2 subscribers
  • Views 2893 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related

Why do I need years of experience in HR?

Laura Hood

Hi all

I'd like a bit of advice. I'm currently a Group HR Manager for a company of 250. I have been doing my current job since August but before that I was an HR Advisor here for just under 3 years. Before that I was an HR Assistant elsewhere for 10 months. I am the Head of HR here - I manage our Inhouse Recruiter but strictly speaking I work in a standalone capacity.

While I was HR Assistant and HR Advisor, I was doing my CIPD Level 7 as a Masters qualification part time which I passed with distinction.

From looking around at LinkedIn etc., I feel at 26 I'd progressed fairly quickly into a senior role.

I'm not necessarily looking to leave but I'm ambitious and keep an eye on jobs ... my issue is that most of the roles I've looked at want '5 years experience' or '3 years experience' in an HR Manager capacity which translates into MCIPD sometimes (I'm ACIPD and have been told I need more time before I can go for chartered membership).

What is worrying me is that these job descriptions makes it sound like I'll struggle to leave without staying in my current role for a number of years, a greater amount than I'd potentially want to stay here. I suppose my question is how would you all feel about my career history, to take on another HR Manager / HR Business Partner role at my experience level? Are you looking for years of experience or someone who can take new things on quickly?

Thanks in advance

Parents
  • Hi Laura,

    I don't have much to add to Keith and Ray's fab advice, but... I am in a very similar boat in terms of quick progression and being deemed 'young' (a real pet hate!). I've always worked on the basis you need to 'earn your stripes' in HR (no textbook or qualification is ever going to teach you how to handle difficult conversations/resolve conflict/support managers etc). As long as you're always pushing yourself to gain experience and adding feathers to your cap, you shouldn't have any problems.

    In line with Ray's point - against the advice of many, I changed industry every time I changed role (Power, to Materials Handling, Plant and Agri, to IT, to a Group role with a Retail, Production and Warehousing focus). It really worked for me and gave me a more 'global' view of not only what to do, but why, when, and how. I deliberately moved from a very corporate environment to a very non-corporate environment, and the organisation I'm with now is somewhere in the middle.

    Try not to worry about it too much if you're happy where you are, just keep building on your experience.

    Best regards,
    Catherine
Reply
  • Hi Laura,

    I don't have much to add to Keith and Ray's fab advice, but... I am in a very similar boat in terms of quick progression and being deemed 'young' (a real pet hate!). I've always worked on the basis you need to 'earn your stripes' in HR (no textbook or qualification is ever going to teach you how to handle difficult conversations/resolve conflict/support managers etc). As long as you're always pushing yourself to gain experience and adding feathers to your cap, you shouldn't have any problems.

    In line with Ray's point - against the advice of many, I changed industry every time I changed role (Power, to Materials Handling, Plant and Agri, to IT, to a Group role with a Retail, Production and Warehousing focus). It really worked for me and gave me a more 'global' view of not only what to do, but why, when, and how. I deliberately moved from a very corporate environment to a very non-corporate environment, and the organisation I'm with now is somewhere in the middle.

    Try not to worry about it too much if you're happy where you are, just keep building on your experience.

    Best regards,
    Catherine
Children