Straight to the heart of an organisation
A career in human resources is the perfect opportunity to tackle some of the biggest busines challenges around. It can open up exciting opportunities.
HR departments help companies to manage their people. People are one of the biggest assets a company has, so getting the best out of every employee - that means giving everyone the chance to be the right person in the right place at the right time.
What subjects should I take?
Some subjects you can study at school and college might be more relevant to HR than others but there are no hard-and-fast rules. Study what you enjoy and are good at.
At AS Level, A Level or Scottish Higher Grade, you might want to consider: Business Studies; Communications; English; Psychology; Law; Economics.
Reading, writing, speaking and listening
Skills that you're familiar with developing for SATs and GCSE are all key to being a good communicator. HR professionals use their communication skills to help their organisation to work more effectively. You may be writing a clear policy (for instance on overtime or holiday pay) or have to explain to a senior manager why someone needs futher training.
Diplomas
These are a great new way to gain a mixture of skills and qualifications after GCSE. From September 2009 a Diploma in Business, Administration and Finance will be available.
Keep on studying?
Further study can enhance your job prospects as graduate training schemes can open doors for you.
There are many degrees directly related to HR, or you can take a degree in your favourite (but unrelated) subject and then take a CIPD qualification later on. All subjects give you the chance to develop skills that could be useful later on.
Work and study?
If you're keen to start work sooner, then an entry-level position (such as an HR Administrator) will allow you to start getting skills straight away.
There are plenty of NVQs and CIPD qualifications which allow you to work and study at the same time.