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HR without CIPD
Im in a situation where i have just left a 6 year career in retail management. I now wish to move onto something else preferably HR based.Can I do this without firstly gaining a CIPD qualification?
My previous experience led me to deal with all aspects of Recruitmant and Retention, Training and development as well as disiplinaries, grievences and investigations. I have a sound knowledge of employment laws and legislations and used to practice them everyday.
Comments
Do you want to go into a formal HR related role or something more professional development related ?
To do the first, many organisations require a qualification of some kind, although it's not mandatory unless you happen to be working in an area which requires it for statutory legal purposes.
However, to do the latter, all you need is some basic common sense, good antennae and a strong affinity with people.
Just remember; being in HR does NOT necessarily mean that you actually get to work with people. Many of the most talented and capable personal and professional development people I know work within HR but don't actually get to practice what they're good at and what they enjoy most. Instead they spend most of their time on the administrative conventions which drive HR process and procedures.
So, before you embark on this journey, be sure of what you want and be wary of what you might get.
Charlie - June 18, 2007 10:05 AM
Charlie is right. I would also add that it might depend on the size of the organisation. Working within larger companies may not be as hands-on and as varied as working within some smaller organisations. I began working in HR before gaining the CIPD, and to a certain extent it makes sense. The fact that you can try out the role before committing to an area of HR as a career is beneficial. In addition, once you actually start the course (if say, you intend to do it later), you can refer to HR scenarios with confidence, something which people who jump straight into HR cannot always appreciate.
Joe Mc - June 19, 2007 2:20 PM
Charlie is right. I would also add that it might depend on the size of the organisation. Working within larger companies may not be as hands-on and as varied as working within some smaller organisations. I began working in HR before gaining the CIPD, and to a certain extent it makes sense. The fact that you can try out the role before committing to an area of HR as a career is beneficial. In addition, once you actually start the course (if say, you intend to do it later), you can refer to HR scenarios with confidence, something which people who jump straight into HR cannot always appreciate.
Joe Mc - June 19, 2007 2:20 PM
Another CIPD question.
I am an experienced training manager with an engineering background and have proven skills in leadership and management. I am looking around for jobs in this sector and am somewhat dismayed that many potential employers seek CIPD training qualifications apparently above all else. I hold a Certificate in Education and after mapping the course structure and competence against the CIPD quals see little difference except the CertEd concentrates more on the needs of the learner (a good thing to my mind). I am currently in the Armed Forces and having served 24 years admit that the whole CIPD thing seems to have passed me by. Whilst I don't want to rule out a career in Further Education I think the challenge of industry or manufacturing would suit me better. I am not one for administration and bureaucracy, although more than capable in this area I prefer a hands on "do it rather than talk about it" approach.
I have undergone extensive leadership and management training as and when my career structure required it, I believe this coupled with my academic, engineering and training qualifications and experience of dealing with TNA, training solution, accreditation etc stood me in good stead, I am now not so sure.
My question then to any training managers out there: Am I suited to the job I am searching for or am I way off the mark here? How important is the CIPD qualification to an employer?
Chris - June 20, 2007 9:13 AM
I too am looking to change my career from Recruitment Consultant to HR Advisor/Officer however am finding that my applications are being turned down in favour of CIPD qualified people.
Any help in this would be appreciated.
Mandy - June 22, 2007 3:59 PM
Sorry to hear that you're unable to make the transition from recruitment towards HR Advisory roles Mandy, but many of the businesses i know will not touch a candidate when they know they've previously been involved with recruitment, which is fastly becoming a business sector that gains no respect from it's candidate's & increasingly, the clients.
I possess a recent HR Degree & after 2 years of applying for HR assistant roles i've given up..... most companies require so much & offer very little in return it's just not worth it. I'm currently persuing more attractive alternatives instead.
Andy - June 25, 2007 11:19 AM
I think the comment about "HR not touching you if you have a recruitment background" is completely unfounded! I think the best path to take is to get yourself involved in internal/in-house recruitment, which is often very closely linked to the HR dept. If you join a bigger firm there will be plenty of opportunity to make the transition. I am a recruitment consultant and a lot of my top clients in the HR dept.at top firms are ex-recruiters!! I'd say about 50% in fact. Good luck, hope you find something soon!
Rachel Hughes - June 25, 2007 1:04 PM
Chris,
For training you do not need CIPD to start. You will have outstanding skills by comparison to most of your civvie counterparts, but will need to get some outside experience under your belt asap.
I suggest that you do some form of basic HR course eg HR Practice Cert as part of your resettlement and then contact engineering type companies that have experience of the value of ex-Forces people. If you want to do CIPD later on then fine and you might get sponsorship, but be careful where you choose to do it. The standard of lecturing on some CIPD certified courses is truly awful.
Good luck.
Charles St.Aubyn - June 27, 2007 2:40 PM