Northumbria University – How to get a career in HR
Whether you’re just embarking on your career, or want to change career altogether, working in HR is a rewarding career path to take; you get to encourage the best out of other people, and help employees to make valuable contribution to the business you’re working for. How do you get a career in HR. Northumbria University finds out…
Job titles in HR and yearly salaries*
There is a clear path of career progression in Human resources. With information from Payscale and the National Careers Service, we’ve created a list of the key job roles, salary ranges, qualifications, skills and experience needed for each role.
Human Resources Assistant, HR Assistant
Salary range: £15.766 – £25,947
Average salary: £19,658
Qualification requirements**
- Essential: GCSE’s in English and maths
- Desirable: Business Administration qualifications
- Desirable: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification or Higher National Diploma
Skills requirements and experience
- Essential: Computer skills
- Essential: Written and verbal communication kills
- Essential: Attention to detail
- Essential: Teamwork
- Desirable: Office experience
Job duties (these may vary depending on the company)
- Arrange meetings and events and staff training
- Answering the phone and taking enquiries
- Admin such as maintaining staff details, holidays and sickness days
- Taking notes during meetings and disciplinaries
- Writing letters and reports
- Arranging training for staff
Human Resources Officer, HR Administrator, Personnel officer
Salary range: £20,769 – £34,633
Average salary: £26,683
Qualification requirements
- Essential: GCSEs in maths, English, science
- Desirable: Degree or postgraduate qualification in Human Resource Management.
- Desirable: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification or Higher National Diploma
Skills requirements and experience
- Essential: Written and verbal communication kills
- Essential: Organisational skills
Job duties (these may vary depending on the company)
- Compiling Company Handbooks
- Interacting regularly with members of staff regarding complaints, disciplinaries and management
- Recruiting, training and developing new staff
- Managing employee records and confidential information
- Looking after staff welfare, Health and Safety and equality
- Advising in HR procedures, employment law and rights.
Human Resources Director, Human Resources Manager, Personnel Manager
Salary range: £41,017 – £108,526
Average salary: £66,668
Qualifications requirements
- Essential: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification
- Or Higher National Diploma
Skills requirements and experience
- Essential: HR Experience
- Essential: Staff leadership and management
- Essential Written and verbal communication kills
- Essential: Organisational and motivational skill
Job duties (these may vary depending on the company)
- Leading the Human Resources team, managing budgets and training officers.
- Taking the lead on staff training and development
- Making tough HR decisions and handling complicated issues
- Planning and making decisions on staff policies, company benefits and training schemes.
How to get what recruiters are looking for
Once you’ve decided HR is for you, it’s time to take your first steps into HR. As you can see from the above, there are a number of ways to get where you need to be.
Through your existing employer
If you’re already in a company you love, and are looking for a career change, it would be beneficial to speak to your employer about a possible secondment or transfer to another department. If you’ve had a successful career there, or have worked with them for a long time, they could well be keen to keep you.
Alternatively, they may be willing to put you through study and training, whilst working for them at the same time. This is quite a desirable route, as you eliminate the cost of the course and can still earn an income.
Study
Often people make the first move into HR straight from university. There are a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses that will help open the door to employers. Some of the main qualifications include:
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification
The CIPD is a professional association for Human Resources, that hosts a number of esteemed qualifications and training programmes that employers will be looking for. CIPD qualifications and courses include the following categories.
- Human Resources
- Leadership, management and business
- Employment Law
- Employee Relations
- Organisational development and design
- Personal effectiveness and behavioural skills
Degree in HR Management
Training either as an undergraduate or postgraduate, a degree in HR Management is a very strong step on your career path. There are a number of degrees at universities all across the country, so shop around to find the one for you.
Expect to specialize in employment law, diversity management, comparative industrial relations, talent management, alongside others.
Work experience
Even if you are studying towards a professional or HR qualification, it is beneficial to get HR or office work experience to help you to stand out – as much, and as diverse, as you can. You can do this by:
- Searching online for placements advertised in your local area and apply
- Search for local HR companies, and write to them about the opportunity for work experience
*Salary information taken from www.payscale.com, from National Salary, without bonuses
**Information taken from nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Article sources
https://www.cipd.co.uk/learn/training
http://www.changeboard.com/content/3629/a-career-in-hr-where-do-i-start-/
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/home
https://www.thebalance.com/what-does-a-human-resources-manager-do-1918551
http://www.topuniversities.com/courses/human-resources-management/grad/guide#tab=1
