• Replies 26 replies
  • Subscribers 14 subscribers
  • Views 16956 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related

Late career change to HR

Alasdair

Hello all,

This is my first post on a CIPD forum, so hello world of HR!

I will keep it brief(ish). I am 49 years old, in transition from a completely different area to HR, and in the middle of CIPD level 5. I have many years of team-side implementation of HR policies, a lot of recruitment/interviewing behind me, project management, team leadership etc. I believe skills mean more than job titles, and all the skills required to be an HR professional are in place, but I lack the job titles on the CV.

I am well and truly stuck in the "you'll be bored"/"need more experience" trap with respect to getting started.

So in your experience, how do people in my position kick things off? I feels like aiming for a vanishingly small sweet-spot at the moment, which is frustrating, knowing how much I have to offer. I'm an unconventional candidate, and it looks like people don't know how to handle me!

Thanks very much all, I really look forward to hearing your thoughts, and I know it takes time to post, so thank you so much in advance for your time.

Alasdair

Parents
  • Hi Alasdair,

    Your skills and experience sound very similar to mine and I have just gone through the troubles you are describing.

    How did I kick things off? I applied for every single HR role in a commutable (and sometimes not so commutable) distance.
    You will get knocked back with the excuses that you have already faced, you will feel worthless, you will despair and you will think that you have made a huge error in undertaking your level 5 and seeking a career change.

    You haven't of course, you just haven't found the right fit yet. But you will.
    Keep applying, keep positive and don't give up. I am now 10 months in and have all but forgotten the rejections as I am well on my way to a very promising HR career.
  • in reply to Graham
    Thanks Graham, I am accelerating the applications at the moment for permanent roles, and as you say the fit is out there. But I'm looking for the tiding over jobs to give some experience - that's a tough one. So chasing internships as well I guess thanks to some feedback here. Thanks for the supportive words, much needed at the moment :)
Reply
  • in reply to Graham
    Thanks Graham, I am accelerating the applications at the moment for permanent roles, and as you say the fit is out there. But I'm looking for the tiding over jobs to give some experience - that's a tough one. So chasing internships as well I guess thanks to some feedback here. Thanks for the supportive words, much needed at the moment :)
Children
No Data