What Qualifications are needed to work in the Human Resources Industry?
The Human Resources Industry is open to school leavers with any subject backgrounds, however the following subjects may be particularly relevant:
Business with Languages
Business or Management
Human Resources Management
Psychology
Social Administration
Qualifications
Level 2: GCSE (5 C-A*)
Level 3-4: A-Level, BTEC, Diploma, Apprenticeship
Level 5-6: University Degree, Degree Apprenticeship, HND, Intermediate Professional Qualification
Level 7: Masters Degree, Institute Membership – CIPD, CIPP.
Become a Human Resources Professional
Human Resources (HR) professionals are responsible for hiring, developing and looking after employees. This involves functions such as training and monitoring performance. HR Officers develop, advise and implement policies relating to the effective use of staff in an organisation. The aim of their role is to ensure the organisation they work for employs the right balance of staff in terms of skill and experience, and that training and development opportunities are available to colleagues to enhance their performance and achieve the company’s business aims.
HR officers are involved in a range of activities whatever the size or type of business. These cover areas such as:
Conditions of Employment
Equality and Diversity
Negotiation with External Work-Related Agencies
Pay
Recruitment
Working Practices
A day in the life of A Human Resources Professional
HR Officers add value to the organisation they support and perform a broad range of duties. The exact nature of the work varies according to the organisation, but their day-to-day responsibilities include:
Recruiting, training and developing staff
Looking after the health, safety and welfare of all employees
Organising staff training sessions and activities
Monitoring staff performance and attendance
Negotiating salaries, contracts and working hours with staff and representatives
Assisting line managers to understand and implement policies and procedures
Undertaking regular salary reviews
Administering payroll and maintaining employee records
Preparing staff handbooks
Analysing training needs in conjunction with departmental managers.
Salary
HR officers, or those working toward CIPD Level 5 Intermediate or above, earn in the region of £22,000-£25,000.
There are opportunities for progression & salary increases as you gain experience, particularly if you have a CIPD qualification. HR officers with experience can expect to earn above £25,000.
Career prospects
Individuals are likely to begin their career in human resources by working in a general HR role. Many enjoy the breadth of this work and choose to remain in this environment or move into a more senior position with responsibility for several HR officers. In the longer term, HR managers may move into more senior roles within an organisation and be promoted to a HR director role, possibly as far as board level. Promotion depends on ability and career prospects are enhanced by completing the highest level of CIPD qualifications.
Typical Entry Level / Apprenticeship / Level 6/Degree Apprenticeship Roles:
Trainee/Junior: Human Resources Officer, Recruitment Consultant, People & Change Management Specialist, Employee Engagement Specialist, Careers Adviser, Employment Adviser, HR Analytics, HR Data Analyst, Reward & Recognition Specialist, Head of Employee Experience, HR Operations Manager, HR Service Centre Manager, HR Business Partner, Recruitment Specialist, HR Transformation Manager, Head of Organisational Development, Training & Development Manager, Candidate Manager, Talent Acquisition Manager, Hiring Manager, Recruitment Manager, Corporate Wellness Specialist, Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist, Payroll Manager, Health & Safety Officer, Learning & Development Manager
What employers look for:
Administration & Organisational Skills
Excellent Communication Skills
Collaboration and Team-Working Skills
Negotiating Skills
Time-management & Multi-tasking Skills
Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
Commercial awareness & Strategic Mindset
Confidence, Courage, Passion and Ambition
What can make candidates stand out:
Getting HR Software Training
Advanced PowerPoint & Presentation Skills
Invest in Industry Knowledge
HR Trends Awareness
HR Analysis Skills
Employment Law Knowledge
Networking & Social Media Skills
Improve your Influencing Skills
Typical Qualifications:
Diploma/HND/Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources / Business Studies / Management Studies, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS), Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS), International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM), Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), Institute of Recruitment Professionals (IRP)
Regional Salary
London & South: £27k – £50k
Midlands: £25k – £45k
North: £24k – £40k
Scotland: £24k – £42k
Wales: £25k – £45k
Northern Ireland: £24k – £42k
Typical Employers:
Most Companies’ HR Departments & Recruitment & HR Consulting firms including the likes of: Adecco, Allegis,
AON, Accenture, Avensure, Bain, Capgemini Consulting, CGI, Department of Work and Pensions, Deloitte, EY,
Hay Group, Hays plc, IBM, Kelly Services, KPMG, PWC, McKinsey & Company, Mercer, Mitie, Newton, NGDP, Oliver
Wyman PageGroup (Page Personnel, Michael Page), Pareto, Randstad, Robert Walters, Robert Half, Peninsula,
Reed, Serco, Towers Watson
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