The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has launched a new drive to challenge misconceptions about HR and attract new talent to the profession.
“Think HR. Think Again” aims to raise the profile of the profession and attract graduates from all disciplines, including those who would not previously have considered a career in HR. The campaign is supported by a new careers website featuring profiles of real people in HR, day-in-the-life case studies, videos and advice on careers. Visitors can download a free guide, “The truth about HR”, which offers advice on pursuing a career in the profession, as well as brochures and posters.
Georgina Kvassay, HR strategy adviser at the CIPD, says: “We conducted research into graduate perceptions of HR in late 2009 and it highlighted that the three words most associated with HR were ‘dull’, ‘bureaucratic’ and ‘repetitive’.
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“There’s a real lack of understanding of what HR is, and of what the value of a career in HR is and where it can take you. There’s also a lack of clarity around the skills needed to be successful in HR, and a need to attract a more diverse range of people into the profession. The website, guide and brochure will help inform and tackle negative perceptions head on, representing an important first step in a long campaign to shift perceptions.”
What do you think? Is “Think HR. Think Again” a positive message for the profession?