How To Progress in Your Career in Human Resources

If you want to move forward in your HR career, getting the right skills and experience is a must-do.  

CIPD courses at MOL help you learn the knowledge you need and put it into practice straight away.  

If you’re new to HR or looking to step up into management, our courses give you the confidence and qualification employers are looking for, helping you take the next step in your career.H2: How to kickstart your HR career 

Get a CIPD qualification 

While a CIPD qualification is not a legal requirement for a HR role, many employers won’t consider candidates who don’t have (or aren’t working towards) CIPD accreditation.  

The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate In People Practice is ideal for you if you’re new to HR and are looking to develop the key skills you need for entry-level roles such as an HR Administrator or HR Assistant. 

Alternatives to CIPD 

There are technically other ways to get into HR, but CIPD qualifications give you a clear edge when starting or advancing your career.  

They’re in demand for employers, focus on practical skills you can use straight away, and make it easier to move up the career ladder faster than other routes. 

Alternative ways into HR include: 

• Studying for a Human Resource management degree 

• Entering a HR graduate scheme 

• Completing a HR apprenticeships 

• Undertaking HR work wxperience and Volunteering. 

However, these alternatives often take longer to complete than the beginner-friendly CIPD Level 3 course and won’t give you the same advantage when you want to take the next step in your HR career path. 

Tips for progressing in your HR role 

If you’re already in a junior HR role, you may be focussing on progression to a middle-management role such as HR Advisor or HR Manager. 

From there, you can aim for senior roles like HR Director, Senior HR Consultant, or HR Business Partner. 

1. Get a CIPD qualification 

You don’t have to have a CIPD qualification to work in HR, but most employers want it, and having one helps you stand out. 

If you’re new to HR, the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice gives you the basics for jobs like HR Administrator or HR Assistant. 

The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management teaches skills like planning, managing change, and keeping employees engaged. It prepares you for roles such as HR Advisor or HR Manager. 

The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management focuses on leadership and strategy. It’s for senior roles like HR Director, HR Business Partner, or Senior HR Consultant. 

At a glance: CIPD Level 3 gets you started → CIPD Level 5 moves you into management → CIPD Level 7 prepares you for senior leadership. 

2. Renew your CIPD membership  

When you complete a CIPD qualification you can also register for CIPD membership. We recommend you renew this regularly after your initial membership period expires, particularly if you’re looking to progress in your HR career. 

A CIPD membership gives you access to other HR professionals in the community; networking that can turn into valuable referrals and job opportunities you’ll also receive dedicated career support and guidance from the CIPD themselves. 

3. Learn to coach  

Helping others succeed is an important part of gaining a promotion, regardless of your job role, but in HR it’s arguably more important than ever. 

Wherever we sit in HR, we have a responsibility to help those we work with to continually develop and grow. – Liz Needham 

Learning to coach others to develop and succeed will help show that you:  

• can confidently progress to HR management roles in your organisation 

• can be a super effective team player 

• can play a crucial role in solving problems and filling skills gaps 

All of these abilities combined will make you a great candidate for promotion and your goal of a senior HR role.   

4. Become an expert in conflict resolution 

Conflict is inevitable within organisations of any size, with many employers and managers unclear on how to deal with it.  

HR has a key role in conflict resolution and often acts as the mediator between people or departments.  

Conflict resolution is one of the most important HR skills to have.  

If you can handle disputes calmly and fairly, managers and employers will rely on you, which makes you more valuable and opens up chances for promotion. 

5. Be dependable  

Being a reliable and effective member of your organisation will open doors for you in your HR career.  

You’ll be trusted to deliver your work to a high standard, and on time, which shows your manager you can be trusted with larger projects. 

The most important thing you can do in your HR career is to ensure that, when you’ve put your name to a piece of work or project, it’s completed on time and well. This is true of small tasks as well as large projects.  

The best way to do this is to make sure your objectives and timescales are clearly defined before you begin. 

6. Make the most of appraisals  

Appraisals aren’t just a mandatory meeting or form to fill in.  

They’re actually a great chance to talk about your progress and future. Use the meeting to tell your manager what you want to achieve so they can look out for opportunities to help you.  

Your appraisal also helps to explain how your specific growth will benefit the team or business. 

Don’t forget to share your achievements as well as areas to improve - this shows your value, builds your confidence, and helps you prepare for future job interviews. 

Take the first step with MOL

At MOL we understand the HR profession like no other training provider. That’s what makes our Human Resources CIPD courses great. 

Our tutors are industry experts and use a wealth of HR experience to bring your CIPD course to life.  

You’ll be encouraged to apply theory and models to your workplace, meaning you can add immediate value at work by applying your learning directly to your role. 

Looking to break into HR or advance your career further? Register your interest in our HR courses or get in touch with us today to get started!