How to get into HR

If you really want to know what’s going to be red hot in 2017, you only need to look as far as a mirror.

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That’s right. It’s you!

According to figures from The Association of Professional Staffing Companies, demand for HR professionals rose 8% year on year to October, 2016.

And aside from a small hiccup just after the Brexit referendum vote, the number of openings per month exceeded figures from 2015 in both September and October last year.

The findings, based on analytics provided by Vacancysoft, also revealed the top sectors for HR openings in 2016 were Accountancy, Retail and Software and Computer Services.

Greater London was the busiest region for HR roles, accounting for 46% of total vacancies.

Just a glance at the HR roles currently available on s1jobs, however, shows there are opportunities at all levels right across Scotland.

So fancy a starring role for yourself in 2017?

Well, whether you’re a school leaver, graduate or mid-career changer, here are our top tips for getting into the wonderful world of HR.

 

Get a good grounding

Do you know the difference between an HR Executive and an HR Analyst? Even those with experience can still find HR job titles confusing.

Thankfully, vacancies on s1jobs will reveal detailed information about the nature of the job. This is why one of the best ways of getting to know different roles and responsibilities is to regularly visit s1jobs.com.

This will also give a great grounding in HR speak, making it easier to learn the lingo.

Getting a well-rounded overview of the sector, meanwhile, will not only arm you with knowledge for that all-important job interview, it will give you a better steer on which areas you might like to specialise in.

 

Fill your diary

Networking with friends, family and social media contacts is a great way to make sure your name is out there among HR’s movers and shakers.

But putting firm dates in your diary means you’re making things happen by following up on your strongest leads.

These could be anything from actually meeting for that coffee with a HR Manager to attending an industry-centred conference.

Setting aside days for work experience can also put you ahead, so be prepared to volunteer – even if, in the worst case scenario, this means spending the day making coffee while soaking up the banter and the atmosphere.

Every day is a school day after all!

 

And, finally, make sure you’re in demand for top HR & Recruitment roles with personalised alerts from s1jobs.