Why work in the people profession? - General - Our Profession

18 Why work in the people profession?

Steve Bridger | 0 Posts

Community Manager

2 May, 2019 16:51

What motivated you to work in the HR profession?

Was it working with people? Opportunities to progress? Flexibility? No two days are the same... and so on.

It would be great to get some real life perspectives from community members.

We've looked at variations on this theme before, e.g.

www.cipd.co.uk/.../best-achievement-in-hr-best-thing-you-have-implemented

www.cipd.co.uk/.../working-in-hr-if-you-could-start-again-would-you

...but not quite the question I'm asking now.

13075 views

Elizabeth Divver | 0 Posts

2 May, 2019 19:04

Hi Steve

I think there will be a degree of cross-over between your question and a post Robey made earlier today about people finding purpose at work. I would think a lot of us work in HR because we find it meaningful - whatever the nature of the business we work in, we are able to make a difference to the lives of the employees. If work was all about money, we'd all try to get jobs as investment bankers (huge assumption here that investment bankers earn scads of money).
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David Perry | 0 Posts

2 May, 2019 19:09

I'd been a youth trainer for some time and my boss (now my wife) suggested I further my own development. It seemed like a good idea that I found something that would already include my training experience. Personnel/HR management seemed the next step to broaden my knowledge. So off I went and did my DPM.
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Sobia | 0 Posts

3 May, 2019 08:01

I had a 'bad' manager once, and it made me realise that happiness at work is largely dependent on managers and leadership, not really t he work itself. I had been thinking about getting into HR for a while, but giving in my resignation because of the manager really solidified my decision.
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Gemma | 0 Posts

3 May, 2019 09:36

Like most people said in the thread about if you could start again in HR would you, I sort of fell into HR.

I started in a hr admin role with no hr experience at all, but I like to think I was a pretty good admin person, so started from there. Found that I was beginning to find certain aspects of hr interesting and gradually my admin role started to develop and eventually I was almost working at advisor level and found myself wanting to study for my Level 5 which luckily my employer at the time was prepared to fund. 5 years (ish) later and I'm in a standalone role responsible for pretty much all aspects of hr (eek!).

For me I like that my days are rarely the same and that where I am now is a supportive environment and I have opportunities to learn and develop my knowledge - in fact it's encouraged.

I sometimes jokingly say to friends that I've already worked with children and animals so people was the next logical step (although there are some days when I think that I should have stuck with animals...they don't talk back!) :-)
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Teresa | 0 Posts

3 May, 2019 11:04

At this particular moment I've no idea why ..... but feel it was not the best decision I've ever made!
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Alys Martin | 0 Posts

3 May, 2019 13:17

Oh Teresa, it sounds like you're having a bad day! :( Sending supportive thoughts.

It's not so much what motivated me to get started (like others, I really fell into it), but what motivates me every days is that I find people inherently interesting. There are so many different ways people react to and approach things and having to think of different ways to approach a problem to factor that in is always a lovely challenge. I also love the problem solving nature of the job; you can start with a situation and then have to think 'right, what can we do about this?' and that can sometimes be a real opportunity for creativity. It can also throw up scenarios that you've never come across before and having to stop to think 'what are my options, what would the effect of those be?' is really satisfying.

I'm nine weeks into a new role and the first HR for my company. Seeing the positive response to some of my new ideas makes me feel like I've genuinely improved people's time at work and the directors are thrilled with the knock on effect on morale and motivation: everyone's a winner!
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Emily | 0 Posts

3 May, 2019 13:58

For me, it was because my mum and brother were both being treated very badly by their (very big) employers. I did my Level 3 at college in the evening to get started in HR so I could help ensure people know their rights as an employee and are treated fairly.
Now I work in HR, I love the variety of things you can get involved in and how much there is to learn
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Robert James Munro | 0 Posts

3 May, 2019 15:24

In reply to Emily:

But there lies the dichotomy, Emily.

There is nothing wrong in ensuring fairness and acting as the employees' advocate, but that in my view is not the role of HR (employee advocate that is) - that's for Trades Unions and employment lawyers (and ultimately Employment Tribunals). HR's role is act as the employers' advocate.

I came in to HR from an operational role with the intent of using the experience to make me a better operational manager, eventually returning to operations. The fact I stayed (that was 30 years ago!) is either a love of HR (and in particular people development) or I was useless at operations. I'll let others decide!

Why do I love it? Because I genuinely believe that HR lies at the very epicentre of any organisation that employs people - the change agent that touches every element of an organisation's make-up. It's hard work to achieve HR being seen as such, but it pays dividends when it is.
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Teresa | 0 Posts

3 May, 2019 16:58

In reply to Robert James Munro:
Ah, I would have agreed with that at one time Robert, but not in today's world to be honest. I don't think that the new professional standards reflect the idea that a HR Professional is the employer's advocate anymore. I think that our role is to provide professional advice and guidance to the employer, but not necessarily to be their advocate if they are determined to treat people unfairly.

I was also someone who fell into HR. I enjoy it if I am working for an employer who values their employees and wants to develop and support them. If they are willing to let me include some work on social mobility and helping support young and disadvantaged people into employment, then I love it. its the idea of making a positive difference to both the organisation and the people in it that makes me stay in HR for now

However, I say for now as the other big thing for me is that HR pays well. Within the next 7 -8 years, I will start to be able to draw some of my pensions. I will then probably look to leave the HR profession and do something part time or casual that is more about helping people.

I do however really like the new approach from the CIPD to HR professionals being more about supporting employees to be happy and healthy at work and I think this is a really good move
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Robert James Munro | 0 Posts

3 May, 2019 17:49

In reply to Teresa:
A good employer's advocate would advise fairness :)
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Stacey | 0 Posts

7 May, 2019 15:23

My story is exactly the same as Gemma's, right down to my employer paying for my Level 5 training.

I enjoy the employment law side of HR & think if I were to have my time in HR again then I would specialise in that area.
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Robey | 0 Posts

7 May, 2019 16:23

I have an obsession with systems incorporating chaotic elements. I am fixated upon the conviction that, in the face of all evidence, there is a "solution" to chaotic systems that will render them solvable.

Like Don Quixote, I mount my noble steed daily and tilt at the giants of recruitment, absence, greivance, discipline and training unaware that those ponderous windmills of the gods are oblivious to my futile efforts.

Along the way, I occasionally draw into my wake a loyal Sancho Panza. To them, I can only apologize.
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Sue Eakin | 0 Posts

9 May, 2019 17:20

In reply to Robey:
I'm going to see a production of Man of La Mancha on Saturday - thanks for the plot summary! :-))
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Sue Eakin | 0 Posts

10 May, 2019 11:49

What motivated me to work in the people profession? Where else could I find a role that involves being a diplomat, negotiator, enabler, facilitator, trainer, mediator, organiser, legislator, advisor..... shall I go on?! With people at the centre of everything you do, there are dozens of ways the working day can progress (some planned and some definitely unplanned) and when you log off the computer and wend your way home after a day's work you're justified in allowing yourself to feel a modest sense of satisfaction. That's what motivates me.
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Paul | 0 Posts

14 May, 2019 17:15

In reply to Gemma:
Gemma, you are actually in the majority, most people seem to fall into it!
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