There are many people looking to start a career in Human Resources – it’s a growing sector with plenty of opportunity. The pay is great, and the roles enable people to use their personal characteristics and skills in a way that will be helpful to others. It is the good you do for other people that makes HR work so rewarding, along with the wide range of skills that can be a boon in the sector.
These include programme development, planning, accounting and labour relations. So what do you need to know in order to find the London HR jobs career hopefuls are looking for?
Learning and training
There are many different educational backgrounds that provide a good foundation for HR professionals. It’s worth noting, however, that many HR roles require candidates to have completed a degree. A bachelor’s degree in human resources, personnel management or another relevant subject – perhaps sociology or psychology – is a good place to start.
These types of degrees are likely to be regarded favourably by hiring managers, as opposed to something like English or history, for example. These subjects have little to do with working with people, and that is a skill that is very important in HR. Bear in mind that as you search for a career in Human Resources, you will potentially be competing with others who have more experience than you do, and if you don’t have a degree you could quickly sink to the bottom of the pile.
Managerial positions in HR
If you aim to land a managerial role or specialised career in HR, you will find some schools that offer business degrees more focused on specific HR areas. A graduate-level degree in a relevant field will certainly help get the attention of hiring managers for specific roles.
Whether you pursue a more specialised degree or stick with a more general HR qualification, you should aim to take the right courses. Things like recruitment, management, training and compensation should enable you to acquire some of the key skills you’ll need. There are lots of business courses that are relevant to the HR industry, so interdisciplinary work can be helpful.
Finding an HR job
Searching for a role in HR is not unlike searching for any other kind of job. You can, of course, use general career sites to search, or you can browse online job boards that are more specific to the HR industry. There are various job boards that are specific to the field of Human Resources, so consider spreading your net wide.
Some businesses will start by looking for candidates to recruit internally, so keep this in mind if you already work for a medium or large company as there may be a position in their HR department. You will also find that certain businesses prefer to choose candidates submitted by recruitment agencies, since their skills and ambitions have already been assessed. If you’re a student, or a recent graduate, an HR internship can provide valuable experience that could increase your chances of being hired.
Taking the first step
Don’t be too disappointed if your education isn’t specifically in an HR-related subject. People with majors that can be linked are also considered, particularly for entry-level positions. If you are really passionate you will be able to gain experience and qualifications to get you there. There is a wide range of HR roles out there, and opportunities will only increase in the future. With the right level of education, some dedicated job searching and perhaps the help of a recruitment agency, you could end up joining other HR professionals in a lucrative and rewarding career.