Human Resources
- Entry requirements
- What you might do
- Training and professional qualifications
- Rewards
- Prospects
- Useful links
People are the heart and soul of any business and the insurance industry relies on the dedication, creativity and commitment of its people to enable it to thrive and grow.
HR teams provide organisations with the expertise they need to recruit and retain the very best people, dealing with matters such as salaries, pensions and benefits; training and development; industrial and staff relations; counselling and welfare; and health and safety.
Increasing emphasis on diversity, performance management, learning and development and organisational change make this a challenging and intellectually stimulating area of work.
Entry requirements
Graduates who have studied human resources management, business/management, social administration or psychology may have an advantage, but most employers will accept applicants with any degree. However, this area is highly competitive - some employers report a higher percentage of applicants for HR vacancies than for any other function.
What you might do
HR practitioners provide the skills and resources a business needs to realise its commercial objectives. Work in this area involves developing policies, practices and programmes to attract, develop and retain talented people who are motivated to deliver to the highest possible standards.
Administration is a large part of HR work, ensuring the smooth running of your company's employment policies and following up on individual employee issues and concerns. You may also be asked to analyse management information such as performance ratings and salary data. Over time you might become involved in recruitment, selection or learning and development initiatives.
Training and professional qualifications
If you wish to advance in the profession, it will be necessary to study for Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualifications during your early years, though the exact qualification for which you study will depend on your current educational background.
The CIPD offers three types of qualification:
- Practitioner level (the Professional Development Scheme)
- Support level (Certificates in Personnel Practice, Training Practice and Recruitment and Selection)
- Vocational (NVQ/SVQ and other vocational awards).
The Professional Development Scheme (PDS) qualification is widely recognised by employers, who often support trainees through the qualifying process. It is delivered through accredited universities and colleges all over the UK. The PDS can be completed through flexible home-based study, one-year full-time study or approximately two to three years' part-time study.
You may also be asked to attend external training courses, for example to qualify you to administer psychometric tests or to keep you abreast of changes in employment law.
Rewards
Salaries paid on entry to graduates on HR traineeships are very similar to those entering traineeships in other business areas, with starting salaries in the region of £20,000 - £24,000. After 10 or more years' experience, those at senior level can expect salaries ranging from around £40,000 to £70,000. However, salaries vary considerably between employers and can be influenced by location, level of responsibility, experience and particular function.
Prospects
Although most graduates start out in generalist roles, gathering experience in many aspects of personnel work, longer-term career development for those in HR depends on whether you choose to specialise. Having qualified and established a level of skill and competency, you could choose to move into a specialist area such as rewards and compensation, employee relations, training, or recruitment and selection.
Useful links
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
151 The Broadway, London SW19 1JQ
Tel: 020 8612 6200
www.cipd.co.uk
