6 Steps to Develop Your HR Career From Scratch (Cheatsheet)

Coming into the world of HR without any prior experience under your belt? Starting a brand new career in a brand new field can feel daunting at first, but don't let those initial nerves stop you from realising your potential as a HR professional.

We've created this short cheatsheet to help you navigate the world of Human Resources and build an exciting career, entirely from scratch. 

Download the cheatsheet

Description of cheatsheet:

We’ve all got to start our careers somewhere. 

If you’re looking to break into the world of Human Resources, knowing where, and how, to start can be tricky – especially if you don’t have someone guiding you through the process, first-hand. 

We’ve created this handy cheatsheet so that you get an idea of what you should ideally be doing for each stage ofstarting a HR career from scratch. It breaks down the key steps you could take when you’re drying to develop a HR career from the very beginning and provides some hints and tricks to get you started. 

1. Research 

• Find out more about what HR is and what is does
• Make a list of pros and cons of a HR career
• Research the types of roles that are available
• Research the key skills and experience you’ll need for them
• Research the salaries for each of these roles
• Find people in your social circle who work in, or know someone who works in, HR

2. Develop your skills

• Identify the relevant HR skills you already have
• Identify the HR skills that you need to develop
• Study an entry-level HR qualification
• Gain some work experience in a HR role 
• Volunteer in a role that uses transferable skills
• Read HR media to educate yourself on the current issues

3. Build a professional network

• Create a LinkedIn profile and join relevant HR communities online
• Attend online networking events
• Attend face-to-face networking events
• Go to HR conferences 
• Attend one-off skill seminars or workshops
• Leverage existing contacts to meet new contacts

4. Search for relevant opportunities

• Develop a job search routine
• Find companies that you’d like to work for and check their vacancies every week 
• Approach these companies and find out if they have any upcoming roles
• Find dedicated jobs boards for HR and check these regularly
• Let your professional network know you’re looking for your first HR role
• Set up Google Alerts to be alerted to new opportunities at specific companies

5. Apply for roles

• Create a dedicated spreadsheet to track which roles you apply for
• Tailor your CV and covering letter to each application and role
• Use the STAR method to provide practical evidence of your experience
• Keep close track of deadlines
• Don’t be afraid to follow-up with employers if you don’t get a response
• Be resilient – don’t be downhearted if you don’t hear back. Persevere! 

6. Ace the interview

• Prepare for the interview in advance – don’t leave it until the night before
• Be sure of where the interview is, the start time and its format
• Be confident, approachable and friendly – try not to show nerves
• Use the STAR method (again) in competency-based questions
• Remember that an interview is a two-way process – a chance for you to find out if you fit the company
• Remember to use ‘I’ rather than ‘We’ when responding to questions

STAR Method

Situation: Describe a specific situation from your experience and provide context

Task: Outline the specific task that you needed to complete in the situation

Action: Explain what you did, why you did it and how you did it

Result: Describe the outcome of your action – was it successful or not?

Develop your HR career from scratch with a professional HR qualification that you can study 100% online. Download your free CIPD course guide and get working.