Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD)

With over 135,000 members throughout the UK, Ireland and internationally, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is Europe’s largest professional body for those involved in Human Resources (HR) and development.

Why choose a career in HR?

Not so long ago, HR was known as ‘staffing’ or personnel running payroll and hiring and firing people. But making the most of the people you’ve got, and getting the people you need has become a priority for the world’s leading companies.

Working in HR gives you such a great insight into all aspects of a business. It gives you the opportunity to really work out how successful organisations tick and how those that aspire to be successful can become so. When the needs and talents of individuals are lined up with the organisation’s aims and purpose, HR can really help a business to achieve sustainable levels of success.

Skills necessary to succeed in HR

The skills you need to work in HR may not be what you expect. It’s not just the softer ‘people skills’ that are important in HR. You need to have a strong interest in business and the strategy that underpins its success.

You need a good degree of numeracy to analyse information such as employee surveys, key success indicators of projects or the financial and personal value of an employee to the organisation. The ability to coach others in the business, to partner (but also be willing to challenge) managers and to become someone they trust implicitly is also critical.

CIPD – Supporting you in your career

The CIPD qualifications are a fantastic way of demonstrating to potential employers that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to add real value to an organisation – helping to increase your employability and earning potential.

Together with CIPD qualifications, membership of the CIPD provides the tools you need to succeed in your job. This includes access to networking, resources and research, plus further courses and qualifications.

To get a better insight into HR and the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to succeed, the CIPD have developed the HR Profession Map (cipd.co.uk/hrpm). This clearly sets out what HR professionals need to know and do – and how – at all levels, and all stages of their careers.

For more information on careers in HR, please visit our website.