- What is the HR Profession Map and what is its purpose?
- How have you developed the HR Profession Map?
- What are the key components that make up the HR Profession Map?
- Has the HR Profession Map now replaced the CIPD’s Professional Standards?
- Will the HR Profession Map maintain the high standards that were set by the CIPD’s Professional Standards?
- Who is the HR Profession Map intended for; is it for individuals or organisations?
- Is the HR Profession Map accessible to members and CIPD customers and the wider profession?
- How can I use the HR Profession Map in my role and for my development?
- What is My HR Map?
- How can my organisation use the HR Profession Map?
- I'm currently studying a CIPD qualification, how does this affect me?
- I'm thinking of starting a CIPD qualification, should I wait?
- Can the HR Profession Map be used in international markets?
- How will the HR Profession Map be kept up-to-date and relevant?
- What is My HR Map based on?
- How will My HR Map benefit me?
- I am not a member, how do I learn about My HR Map?
- Can I use My HR Map to upgrade my membership and/or support my CPD?
1. What is the HR Profession Map and what is its purpose?
The CIPD HR Profession Map is a comprehensive view of how HR adds the greatest sustained value to the organisations it operates in, now and in the future. It combines the highest standards of professional competence with the closest alignment to your organisational goals, to deliver sustained performance.
It captures what HR people do and deliver across every aspect and specialism of the profession and it looks at the underpinning skills, behaviour and knowledge that they need to be most successful. It also creates a clear and flexible framework for career progression, recognising that both HR roles and career progression vary.
We're in the process of using the Map to develop a range of products and services that not only support the profession as a whole but also support and accelerate the professional development of individuals.
For example, we recently launched My HR Map which is an online self-assessment tool that provides practical recommendations and solutions to help achieve professional goals and support career development.
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2. How have you developed the HR Profession Map?
The Map was developed following an extensive review of the global HR Profession and an in-depth investigation involving detailed interviews with HR Directors across all main economic sectors and scores of senior professionals and academics.
We investigated the impact of the HR function on the sustainability of business success and as a result the Map represents the needs of the profession today and will evolve, over time to respond to further changes and demands in the industry.
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3. What are the key components that make up the HR Profession Map?
There are three main sections to the Map:
a) Professional areas
There are 10 professional areas within the Map. For each particular area the Map describes what you need to do (the activities) and what you need to know at four bands of professional competence, as well as outlining the predominant behaviours that you need to exhibit when carrying out the activities.
b) Behaviours
Within this section the Map describes the behaviours needed to carry out activities in more detail. Each behaviour is also divided into four bands of professional competence (e.g. spanning from entry level to leadership roles). Each behaviour also lists a number of contra indicators which illustrate negative behaviour.
c) Bands and transitions
There are four bands of professional competence to reflect the hierarchy of the profession within the Map. The Map also identifies and describes how you need to change and develop to move from one band to another.
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4. Has the HR Profession Map now replaced the CIPD’s Professional Standards?
The HR Profession Map does replace the CIPD’s previous Professional Standards as the CIPD’s new benchmark for the profession. However, it will set a new precedent for the future as the HR Profession Map has been designed and developed for a wider range of purposes than the previous Professional Standards.
The previous Professional Standards had a strong relationship to our current qualifications and to membership and have been primarily used in this capacity.
However, the HR Profession Map has been developed to take into account a number of different purposes. The HR Profession Map will continue to be used for benchmarking but will provide greater support to the wider professional development journey of those in the profession.
As a result, the HR Profession Map has been used to develop our new qualifications and membership criteria, and a wide range of products and services that will support development needs, including My HR Map.
This means that the HR Profession Map will look and feel different from our previous Professional Standards and professionals will be able to access it and use it in a number of different ways.
The HR Profession Map will also deliver products of greater relevance to you and a variety of services that meet the market’s needs.
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5. Will the HR Profession Map maintain the high standards that were set by the CIPD’s Professional Standards?
Under no circumstances will we compromise our standards, they remain of paramount importance to us. But the Map will allow us to be more flexible and accessible than the previous Professional Standards. The Map also recognises and reflects the complex and diverse nature of the profession, which allows us to be more dynamic and agile when supporting the professional development of individuals.
In short, the Map will be more reflective of today’s HR career paths and will allow us to be more tailored in our approach to supporting the professional development of individuals.
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6. Who is the HR Profession Map intended for; is it for individuals or organisations?
The Map has been developed with both individuals and organisations in mind. It’s a vital resource for anyone working in or connected to the HR profession.
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7. Is the HR Profession Map accessible to members, CIPD customers and the wider profession?
Access to the Map is part of our membership offer. Everyone else will be given restricted access to help them determine how they become a member.
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8. How can I use the HR Profession Map in my role and for my development?
The Map can be used as a tool to identify your immediate and future development needs.
We recommend you start by using My HR Map, which is an online self-assessment tool based on the Map. It's designed to provide you with a convenient and cost-effective way to learn about your strengths and to access practical recommendations and solutions to support your career development.
You can also use the Map to inform job design, create job profiles and specifications and build the capability of your team.
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9. What is My HR Map?
My HR Map is a new online self-assessment tool for CIPD members that's been designed to provide practical recommendations and solutions to help you achieve your professional goals and support your continuing professional development (CPD).
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10. How can my organisation use the HR Profession Map?
We've developed a tool for organisations which will not only give access to the Map but will also provide additional solutions for driving the development of entire HR functions and teams within an organisation. The tool is supported by a range of generic and bespoke business support services which are delivered by us.
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11. I'm currently studying a CIPD qualification, how does this affect me?
Centres offering CIPD qualifications update the content of their programmes on a regular basis to ensure that they reflect good and emerging practice in Human Resource Management and Development. Therefore the programme that you’re following is still relevant and will lead to a quality qualification that is highly regarded by employers and is recognised for CIPD membership.
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12. I'm thinking of starting a CIPD qualification, should I wait?
There is no need for you to delay embarking on a CIPD qualification. Centres offering CIPD qualifications update the content of their programmes on a regular basis to ensure that they reflect good and emerging practice in Human Resource Management and Development. Therefore the programme that you’re following is still relevant and will lead to a quality qualification that is highly regarded by employers and is recognised for CIPD membership.
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13. Can the HR Profession Map be used in international markets?
Yes, the Map has been developed to ensure that it’s relevant to international markets and has been tested with global organisations.
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14. How will the HR Profession Map be kept up-to-date and relevant?
We’ll regularly review and update the Map, responding to the needs of the profession.
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15. What is My HR Map based on?
My HR Map is based on the CIPD’s HR Profession Map.
The HR Profession Map sets out what HR practitioners need to know, do and deliver at all stages in their career and sets the benchmark for HR excellence – both for the individual and the HR function.
The Map is structured around ten professional areas of HR activity and focuses on the knowledge, activities and behaviours required in the profession today and in the future.
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16. How will My HR Map benefit me?
My HR Map is an online self-assessment tool that allows CIPD members to engage interactively with the HR Profession Map to support their own professional development. You can use it to assess your capability against the activities, knowledge and behaviours in the map and access recommendations for development.
This would be beneficial if you’re going for a promotion, preparing for an interview, preparing for your appraisal or review, or looking for a new job. It can also provide you with ideas to include in a case for training or your personal development as well as providing you the means to identify your specialist knowledge and expertise, if you would like to move into a more specialised role.
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17. I am not a member, how do I learn more about My HR Map?
You can learn more about My HR Map by viewing our short online video Find out more about My HR Map
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18. Can I use My HR Map to upgrade my membership and/or support my CPD?
My HR Map cannot be used to upgrade your CIPD membership. If you’re interesting in upgrading visit www.cipd.co.uk/membership or call us on 020 8612 6208.
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