Returning to work after a long career break can be difficult. Have you ever considered a position in Human Resources. HR recruitment agency Portfolio CBR gives tips to help you establish a career in HR. This may well be offering the flexibility and intellectual stimulation you are looking for.
Experience
Despite what you may think, you probably have ample transferable experience for a human resources role. Even during your years out of work you will have added to pre-existing HR relevant skills or acquired new ones. For instance, your daily responsibilities in HR are likely to revolve around:
- Helping to run the day-to-day administrative operations of the HR department
- Recruiting and retaining employees
- Ensuring employees are adequately trained
- Sustaining employee records
- Assisting with employee relations and inter-departmental communications
- Employee benefits, safety, health and welfare
All of these tasks necessitate certain characteristics including efficient time management and organisational skills, the ability to thrive under pressure, exceptional people skills and an analytical mind. These are the sort of skills you develop as a parent. In addition you are adding life skills, which can be invaluable in HR. Find more on transferable skills
Those looking to make a career move into HR do not need to have a degree, although having one will not do you any harm, but rather most employers will be looking for a good standard of GCSEs and A Levels, and the willingness to further your career through training programmes and dedication.
Be outgoing
You may feel like you left the adult world of work and offices a long time ago, however, it is important that you now make the most of the network of contacts you have and don’t underestimate the size of it. Speak to friends, old colleagues and other mums, the odds are that someone will know of a role that would work for you, even if it’s through a friend of a friend, set up meetings and let them see your determination to get back to work. Don’t be afraid to approach old colleagues you haven’t been in touch with for a number of years, most likely they will be happy to hear from you, and will remember you the way you were. Linked In is for instance a good way to find and approach them.
Training opportunities
As previously mentioned, applying for an HR role without specific HR experience or qualifications is not necessarily a hindrance, employers will want to see that you are ready to progress and have
the foundations ready to build on. Impress your potential employer straight away by going in with a good knowledge of the qualifications available to you.
Starting in an HR assistant role for two to three years, your aim should be to work your way up to the role of HR advisor and further on to a management role after another few years. This is not an unusual method of progression in the HR industry, and many HR managers were trained on the job while attaining their Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development qualification.
Flexibility
Finding a part time or freelance HR role can be a long and arduous task as they are a rare thing. However, they are out there and when you are striving for that illusive work-life balance dedicating the time to looking for the right job is worth the effort.
A freelance HR role is a good option for those who had reached a senior HR consultant or manager level before their break. Utilise your established contacts in previous places of work, and look in your local area for smaller businesses that may be in need of an HR professional on a freelance basis. This will allow you to work independently on flexible hours, while earning a wage that does not have to be entirely spent on childcare.
However, if you are embarking on a new career finding a part time role which provides training while you work would be more appropriate and fruitful in the long term.
Recruitment
There are a number of specialist HR recruitment agencies providing valuable knowledge and experience based advice for those looking to return to HR, or begin a new career in the sector.
Here are a few good places to start:
- Ashdown Group, London
- Digby-Morgan, UK, Australia, The Gulf
- Oasis HR, London
Author: The article was written for Portfolio CBR. They offer recruitment services nationwide for all levels of HR, global mobility and HRIS roles.
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