Dear Natalie,
I am 29 and a candidate with seven years' media recruitment experience, and most recently was in a senior role in London. I have plenty of management experience and training yet I cannot break into HR.
I had a recent break from work to have a baby and during this time I decided HR is definitely a career I want to forge for the future. But it seems whichever direction I take I hit a dead end and I am just at a loss as to what else I can do.
So far I have tried the following...
- Looking into a CIPD flexible learning course: The cost (£1,750) at this stage is not affordable as I am not working
- Registering with local agencies and offering to start at the bottom of the ladder: while there have been roles for HR admin, the clients are not prepared to consider me.
The feedback so far is that I'm too experienced in another field. They believe this will mean I will quickly lose interest and that I will not be motivated by such a massive pay cut.
This, of course, is something I have thought long and hard about and I just want to get into the industry so I am prepared to work hard and earn very little if I can make it into HR.
I really need some help and advice as I am aware the qualification is important but I do not want to be in a situation where I get the CIPD and then find that I have been out of work for too long to be considered or that I still cannot get a role in HR as I am deemed too experienced to start again.
Your advice would be appreciated. HELP!!!!
Kind regards
Kate
Steve Miller:
Kate, please see below the three practical steps I would advise you to take:-
1. Do some cold calling. You have to sell yourself so get on the phone and speak to HR directors. Introduce yourself and let them know that you have practical experience aligned to HR with an emphasis on recruitment. Ask them to meet you for 15 minutes as you are both enthused about their business and consider you offer key skillsets that would support the HR team should a vacancy arise in the future. Start by calling media and publishing companies as this is your background.
2. Offer your service voluntarily. There is a time and place for this and I think in your circumstances HR chiefs would welcome and applaud this strategy. Explain you will offer your services for free for circa six weeks on a project. This may be to support HR administration or maybe assist on a recruitment project. If you want an HR career that badly, a few months of sacrificing a salary may be needed.
3. Attend local IPD meetings and special events. Get your face known and perhaps volunteer to help out with some of their activities. You could also offer to do a presentation to local IPD members on "what to look for when selecting a recruitment agency".
You have some solid experience so never never give up. Some HR heads can be very narrow minded in thinking that the CIPD qualification is a must have. I happen to totally dsagree with such absurd thinking.
You have a range of skillsets that many HR professionals do not have. For example, having worked in media recruitment I assume you were responsible for sales. In fact, you are one of the few that will be able to bring commercial experience to the HR function so in my book you will be a breath of fresh air. Good luck and let me know how you get on.
Comments (3)
Posted by Kate | August 3, 2007 6:34 PM
Steve
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my query. Here is an update.
I had an interview for an HR Admin role. I was one of 4 candidates all of which were raw graduates and it came down to me and one other. The role was an ideal chance to get into HR. They would sponsor the lucky candidate through their CIPD for the length of the one year contract and it was a small team so the chance to learn was steep but therefore the role had huge potential.
Unfortunately I was not offered the role. In the end they took a raw grad with no commercial experience.
I take on board all of your comments and as my last role involved getting on the phones I am not afraid to start contacting as many people as I can if it means getting a foot in the door.
Working for free, yes why not? I am not earning at the moment and if it benefits me in the long term then I will do that.
I totally agree with you regarding the benefits of recruiting candidates with commercial experience. My knowledge of recruitment is very strong after 7/8 years and I do see this as transferable into HR. It is a shame that there is this barrier within the HR industry for none CIPD qualified professionals. The long term view of an employer, I think, should always be what can someone offer me and if their potential shines through then - why not give them a chance?
Thanks again for your advice & lets hope South Yorkshire has something to offer me.
Kate
Posted on August 3, 2007 18:34
Posted by Steve Miller | August 6, 2007 6:07 PM
I am glad my tips helped. Don't despair, keep going. Join the local IPD branch as soon as possible. Get your face known. Keep me updated.
Posted on August 6, 2007 18:07
Posted by Kate | September 30, 2007 9:35 AM
Steve,
As promised here is my most recent update. I have a job!! As a Talent Develpoment Manager.
I have managed to get a job with a small and developing recruitment firm in the local area as an internal trainer and recruiter for their rapidly growing business. I am hoping this will be excellent experience in the world of in house recruitment and open my eyes to some of the burning HR issues that face small businesses.
I am in negotiation with my new boss to put me through at least a CIT which I hope to do on distance learning programme. So far the noises he is making regarding this are positive! I understand that this will really benefit me and make my CV more attractive to future HR professionals. Do you agree?
I do feel this sticks two fingers up at all the larger companies that would just not give me a chance because they are so set on the idea that someone without HR experience can not benefit their department or business. It is only early days but I can already see how my involvement is making a difference to the employees I am training and how my ideas, based on previous commercial experience, are contributing to the success of the overall business.
I do not expect to change an industy - of course not- but I do expect to prove to those I come into contact with professionally that opening your eyes to candidates like me is not a bad thing to do!! Infact it can make your business or department a better one.
Thanks again for all your help and advice so far
Kate
Posted on September 30, 2007 09:35