Graduate Careers in Human Resources (HR)
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Human Resources (HR) is about getting the best from people. Basically, selecting the right people and managing them effectively. HR professionals are employed in all types of organisations and responsibilities will vary depending on the size, nature and sector of the organisation. The HR function is often performed by a generalist who is involved in all aspects of personnel, training and development. A graduate career in human resources involves identifying organisational needs, creating strategic plans, devising organisational policy and procedures, measuring performance, identifying training needs, achieving results, co-ordinating resources and overseeing recruitment and employee development. However, you may want to specialise your graduate career in human resources in areas such as training and development, compensation and benefits, international law, recruitment, health and safety, management and employee relations. Read on to discover what a graduate career in human resources can offer you.
Opportunities in Training
Training is one of the processes that can help both employees and employees deal with change.
All types of organisations need to adapt quickly and be flexible to technical, economic and social changes, especially in today’s world where people frequently need to learn or acquire new skills. The best way of achieving this is by training. As a trainer, you’ll be responsible for identifying training needs, planning solutions, motivating staff, achieving business objectives, contributing to business strategy, devising training programmes, generating ideas, raising standards, overseeing employee development and managing training budgets.
Qualifications
It’s possible to start a graduate career in human resources and development before being qualified, but it’s a highly competitive area. Employers often expect a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification for middle or senior management posts, so you may wish to take a CIPD qualification after graduation or at a later date. Visit www.cipd.co.uk/centresearch for details of courses and where to study.
While good qualifications do count, employers also want candidates with a flexible outlook and transferable skills. It will be useful to gain relevant work experience during vacations. This can provide evidence of good time management skills and the ability to get on with a wide range of people. Work placements on sandwich courses and unpaid work shadowing can provide you with the opportunity to develop skills including office administration, organisation and IT skills.
Expect to start at a junior level, but salaries increase with the level of responsibility, sector, location and seniority of the job. There may be more employment opportunities available in other fields, so make the most of them. Once you’ve gained some work experience and transferable skills, it’ll be easier for you to move into HR and development.
Finding a job
The CIPD’s magazine, People Management is available for members every fortnight. It’s the only magazine that reaches all those professionally qualified in the field of HR. A lot of the jobs advertised are at middle or senior levels of responsibility, but looking through them will give you a good indication of current jobs and salaries, what employers are looking for and what career progression is available. Other vacancies will be advertised in the local and national press, local ‘free’ press and job centres.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the leading professional body in the field of personnel, training and development. Membership of the CIPD is highly respected and widely accepted by employers as a requirement of practice. Before you embark on your graduate career in human resources, it recommended that you fully research the additional qualifications that you may need to take to enhance your employability. For further information about graduate careers in human resources visit www.cipd.co.uk/careers phone 020 8612 6208 or email careers@cipd.co.uk
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