The HR industry is an exciting and fast-paced sector with lots of varied opportunities for talented individuals. For an industry that is dedicated to helping individuals furthering their careers there is often little advice for the HR professionals themselves, as they are expected to be experts in career development, networking etc. Often this isn’t the case and some pertinent advice is much appreciated. If you feel this applies to you, then read on.

Jenny Ungless, Life Coach, Monster.co.uk 

HR is a highly competitive sector, so you need to be prepared to start at the bottom, even if you are a graduate. But the opportunities for career development are significant. If you're struggling to land an HR role, think about the industry sectors that interest you, and consider taking an administrative job, which will let you get your 'foot in the door', with a view to transferring to an HR role at a later date.

Many employers have graduate HR training schemes, so explore those as an entry-level opportunity. Most employers will expect you to have, or be studying for, relevant post-graduate qualifications, usually from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (www.cipd.co.uk).  The sooner you start your study, the more quickly you will become eligible for a wider range of HR jobs.  

CIPD membership is also useful for ongoing professional development, and for networking opportunities. Many jobs may not even be advertised, so if you are 'hooked in' to the sector through CIPD membership and events, you increase your chances of accessing opportunities. Think about whether your preference is to be an HR generalist, or to develop a specialism (e.g. employment law). This will help you to tailor your training and development accordingly.

If you follow the advice above you should get to a stage where you are an established HR professional, looped in to the HR community and specialising in an area that is of particular interest to you. This is likely to make your career in HR both more lucrative and also more fulfilling.

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