Human resources (HR)

‘Human resource management’ describes the function that manages a company’s employees or human resources. It has evolved from what traditionally was an administrative department to one that is strategic in nature and has the ability to make a positive impact on both the organisation and on individual employees.

Human resource professionals are involved with recruitment, training, career development, compensation and benefits, employee relations, industrial relations, employment law, compliance, disciplinary and grievance issues, redundancies etc. Generalist HR functions are usually found in small and medium sized companies where the HR manager will deal with the whole range of HR activities. In large multinationals you will often find specialists, for example in learning and development, recruitment or employee relations.

There are two main entry routes: HR graduate training programmes are rare in Ireland but one of the best examples of such a programme is IBEC’s Graduate Programme. Alternatively, graduates can gain an entry level role as a HR administrator where they will have responsibility for matters such as updating files, contracts, scheduling interviews, preparing statistics etc.

Competition for HR roles among graduates is fierce. While an HR degree is not necessary it is an advantage as is the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) qualification. A list of CIPD accredited programmes in Ireland is available on the CIPD website. Graduate salaries in HR are generally low but increase with the level of experience, responsibility and seniority.

Recruitment

The recruitment industry in Ireland is thriving. In 2004 it had a turnover of €1.3 billion and employed 9,900 people placing 75,000 people in permanent roles and 420,000 in temporary assignments.

A career in recruitment is dynamic, fast paced, pressurised, challenging, target driven and competitive. For a graduate who is not afraid of hard work it offers early responsibility, opportunities for career progression and high earning potential.

From the start graduates can expect to be selling to both candidates and clients, dealing at a senior level, devising job descriptions and advertisements, negotiating rates, interviewing candidates, managing candidate and client expectations and managing the interview and offer process. Realistically it will involve working 10-12 hour days but financially you are rewarded for your successes.

All degree disciplines are welcomed, as it is your personal characteristics that are important. To succeed you will be self motivated, target oriented, ambitious with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and handle pressure effectively.

Training

‘Human capital’ is now seen as the key to business success, and good employers are focused on developing the skills and knowledge of their workforce.

A career in training will involve performing training needs analysis, identifying requirements, managing the delivery of training programmes, developing training materials and evaluating the effectiveness of the training interventions. Initially graduates can expect to work in an administrative capacity and to have responsibility for duties such as booking and organising training sessions, sourcing trainers and managing the training database.

Graduate opportunities are generally not advertised through graduate training programmes but instead as a training and development assistant/co-ordinator or administrator. As with other roles in human resources, graduate salaries are generally low but increase once you have gained some practical experience. The professional body is the Irish Institute of Training & Development (IITD).

Written by Caroline Kennedy, Careers & Opportunities Officer, National College of Ireland.