How to make a career change into HR

We’ve had a number of people get in touch recently looking to make a change – they’re excited about building a career in HR and are keen to understand how to get there! This transition can sometimes happen quickly…. and other times takes tenacity and some different ideas and approaches to make it happen.

So, we thought it might be useful to put a few thoughts together to help you on your journey.

This certainly isn’t a definitive list, and we’re really open to hearing your suggestions for extra tips and tricks.

Gaining that first HR experience

• The easiest way to gain HR experience is within your current company – ask your HR team if there is an opportunity to support a project, or get involved with a new initiative. Or if a vacancy comes up in your People team, apply for it!
• Work towards an HR qualification – this will help you learn faster once you secure an HR opportunity, shows commitment to your career change, and shows you’re making an effort to learn about HR.
• Ask a friend or family member if they know someone that is looking for support with an HR project in their business.
• Be curious! Start reading employment law updates, articles about HR trends and anything else that you can get your hands on. Not only will it feed your interest in the HR space, but it will also help you have conversations and answer questions like a pro once you secure an interview!

Role titles to look out for – the best entry points into HR

Usually, HR Coordinator or HR Administrator roles are the most junior in the HR team. These are great training roles for learning about the HR cyclical processes and systems businesses have in place. Applying for these roles would be the easiest path into HR. Even gaining some fixed term experience at this level can be great – just getting that first HR role on your CV can be all it takes to launch your next career phase.

If you’re moving employers, the more senior HR roles (such as HR Business Partner) usually require considerable hands on HR experience.  This would include experience coaching managers in the business through employment relations, performance, development, recruitment and remuneration issues, among others! Doing these things as a manager with your own direct reports is great – however there is a real difference between doing these processes yourself as the decision maker, versus discussing how you’ve coached and influenced someone else through these processes.

Demonstrate your transferable skills – add the right key words to your CV

• In general, a good CV format is the one that we’ve recommended in a previous blog which you can read here https://www.progressionhr.co.nz/cv-template/
• Reorder your CV to highlight your experience that relates to HR. Even if you have other things, such as account management, which take up more of your time, lead with your HR-relevant work. You’ll have a better chance of getting noticed!
• Your content may read something like this:

Current Employment Limited, June 2020 – current

Administration Manager

Responsibilities:

• • • • • • • • Recruitment: [mention here if you were involved in interviews, reference checking, writing ads, sourcing etc – give a few words of detail]
              • Employment relations: [describe your involvement in resolving employee issues and performance issues]
              • Development and engagement: [are you contributing to employee development plans, performance management, enhancing employee engagement?]
              • Workforce planning: [are you involved in scheduling shifts or other workforce planning initiatives]
              • Then include your other key responsibilities that may not be as related to HR after those that are.

Key achievements:

• • • • • • • • [Focus on providing one or two HR related projects or achievements you’ve had. Such as highlighting your input to recruiting people for the business, contribution to projects such as engagement or learning initiatives – make them concrete examples of things you’ve personally contributed to – even if you haven’t led them.]

Let us know how you go

We hope these ideas and CV tweaks can help you get going on your HR journey. Please let us know if you have any other ideas, and we’d love to hear success stories about making the leap into HR!