Human resources
Human resources professionals (HR) are responsible for enabling their organisation to achieve its overall goals and objectives through their employees and people strategy. In practice this means recruiting the best people, retaining and developing the talent within the organisation and overseeing the whole of an employee’s ‘journey’: recruitment; induction; performance; development; and succession.
HR professionals are also often responsible for ensuring employment law is adhered to through processes such as; the management of absence, discipline, grievance, flexible working, and redundancy. Current issues within this profession include: equality, diversity and inclusion, health and wellbeing of employees, talent development, apprenticeships, the use of technology and artificial intelligence and its impact on work and employment.
Learning and Development (L and D) collaborates with HR to enhance employee skills through training programs. L and D contributes to career development and performance management. Effective L and D fosters talent retention and organisational success.
Spotlight On: Human Resources
We invited five HR professionals to talk to you about a career in HR.
- Jess Stanley – HR Business Partner, Experian
- Fiona Vernon – Senior Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion-International Markets, Walgreen Boots Alliance
- Matt Burton – Head of Leadership and Talent, DFS Group
- Saadia Ahmad Khan – Senior Consultant, Executive/Leadership Search, Positive Moves Consulting
- Rochelle Livingston – Learning Consultant, Solvd Together
Login to SharePoint to watch a recording of this event
- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
Tips and guidance for finding a job
How do I get a job in HR?
Graduate training schemes in HR are available, although they often require prior HR experience. When graduate schemes are unavailable, entry into HR typically occurs through roles like HR assistant, HR administrator, or general administration positions.
Organisations of all sizes offer these entry-level roles, alongside apprenticeships for school leavers who choose work-study paths over full-time higher education. The Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) serves as the professional body setting standards for HR professionals and accrediting HR-related qualifications. Advancing beyond entry-level roles usually necessitates relevant experience and a CIPD or equivalent qualification.
Read the Prospects website for further advice on how to get a job in HR
How do I get work experience?
Work experience in an HR setting is valuable. Consider asking family and friends if they have connections to companies offering HR work shadowing opportunities or look at our speculative applications page.
Additionally, gaining administration experience through temporary work can be beneficial. Platforms like Unitemps often have admin vacancies. Larger and medium-sized companies may also offer year-long industry placements or summer roles within their HR departments, potentially leading to graduate positions.
Check out sites such as:
MyCareer - internships targeted at Nottingham students
Prospects
Rate My Placement
The Nottingham Internship Scheme is also worth considering to gain general administrative and commercial work experience even though it may not necessarily be within human resources.
Specialist recruitment agencies like HR Recruit, Ashdown and Nigel Wright have temporary and permanent HR and administrative roles. Vacancies are also advertised on LinkedIn.
Where do I find job vacancies?
Graduate training scheme vacancies can be found on the job vacancy websites previously mentioned in the work experience section. Additionally, consider exploring other job search platforms.
MyCareer - vacancies targeted at Nottingham students
Civil Service Fast Stream - includes a HR scheme
Indeed
List of sources of graduate vacancies
People Management, professional journal of the CIPD, includes HR job listings
Personnel Today - job listings as well as news and advice
Recruitment advice for HR
Consider the skills that employers seek based on your specific HR interests. Showcase these skills through your work experience, even if it’s not directly in an HR setting. Key transferable skills include:
- administration,
- communication,
- interpersonal abilities,
- organisation,
- teamwork,
- leadership.
Additionally, adaptability, problem-solving, and a global mindset are increasingly valuable in today’s HR landscape.
Experience gained through student activities is also valued, as is a ‘can do’ type of attitude. International organisations will also be interested in what skills you have gained from a year or semester abroad.
Industry information
What are the hot topics and future developments in HR?
What industries and sectors do HR professionals work in?
HR professionals work across various industries and sectors. Typical employers include small, medium, and large private companies in fields like engineering, finance, and retail. Additionally, opportunities exist in the public sector (such as the NHS and local government) and voluntary organisations. Consider gaining work
experience in sectors that interest you. The organisation’s size and nature significantly influence the HR professional’s role.
For instance, in heavily unionised organizations, HR professionals focus on positive industrial relations. In smaller companies, they handle diverse tasks, including payroll. As their career progresses, HR professionals engage more in strategic planning.
What roles are available?
The role of an HR professional varies based on organisational size. In smaller organisations, HR professionals often have more generalised roles, known as HR generalists. These roles include:
- HR Assistant
- HR Adviser
- HR Officer
- HR Manager
- HR Business Partner
In larger organisations, HR is typically divided into key areas, overseen by HR managers or business partners. These areas include:
- Recruitment and Talent: Focused on hiring and succession planning.
- Learning and Development: Responsible for workforce training and coaching.
- Employee Relations: Manages employment relationships, including discipline, grievance, and absence.
- Pay and Reward: Handles compensation and benefits.
For more details, refer to the definitions provided by the CIPD and the Prospects website
What can I do at Nottingham?
Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university's control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.