How do you get into personnel without a degree. It must be possible? I am looking for an entry level position thinking then I could progress through promotion / experience rather than doing a degre. Anyone in personnel / HR without a degree have any advice / ideas. The problem is that I cant' find this entry level position which I'm looking for - just an assistant type vacancy (already tried job centre etc) Thanks

another question might be 'why bother'?

Obviously feeling controversial this afternoon. But HR isn't the most exciting place to work, and neither is it particularly secure. As you're generally seen to be working in a department that uses money and doesn't generate any and that isn't core to the business...

Keep an eye out for the type of position you've mentioned, they are available and it would be an entry in HR.

Have you talked to a career advisor?

This is the website for the Institute of Personal Development, you may find some help on it.

http://www.cipd.co.uk/default.cipd

Cyclone how on earth did you work that out. How does HR use all the money in a business and isn't core to the business, how exactly can a business operate without employees?

You can get a medical degree (BA Hons)from any good post office.
They cost 37 pence same as the old dog licence. good luck

Originally posted by viking
You can get a medical degree (BA Hons)from any good post office.
They cost 37 pence same as the old dog licence. good luck

err. I'm not sure how this is relevant to the orignal post.

Cyclone, you're perhaps being slightly unfair. HR may not be the most exciting job, but neither is 99% of most other jobs.

I'd argue that HR is more secure than most other non-core departments, they are the ones usually making the cuts!

just an opinion. I know that HR people aren't considered core to the company I work for. They don't produce any code, they have no customer contact and they have no vital skills that are difficult to replace.

And I didn't say 'all' the money, HR departments obviously don't generate revenue, and they do cost some money, so they are a consumer of resource, rather than a generator of it.

Given the lack of actually producing anything and not being involved in the real work of the company it might start to feel a little bit empty and/or shallow after a little while.

Having worked in a recruitment agency (although employed as a temp) but having a Business and Management Degree in which I specialised in Personnel in my final year I agree with Cyclone here.

HR isn't seen as a core department because the vast majority of managers believe they can do the job themselves and thereby save the company money. Also it tends to be the first department to be cut to a minimum when cuts are being made.

Going back to the question originally asked - how do you get into HR it is very difficult even with a degree believe me! My best suggestion would be to go and see some of the recruitment agencies see what they recommend. If pm me I can tell you the name of agency I worked for. I can't promise that anything would come of it but they may have some further suggestions for you.

In some companies HR is elongated to 'Human Remains' :hihi:

Seriously, they seemed to perform a more useful function when they were 'personnel', rather than Human resources. That seemed to be when they shifted from looking after staff, to treating them like any other 'resource'.

And talk about 'I'm important coz there's a phone on my desk'....

We've had some 'interesting' experiences with HR.

PS I was sent to Thomas Cooke's HR dept by a temping agency. My Engineering degree was irrelevant.

Thanks strix. What work do you do then - personnel? Have you heard of any vacancies going at the moment cos I'm really struggling! or and advice on good agencies? Thanks, ukstudent

I'm a CAD operator. The TC job was years ago now. Before they were sold off. And it was with Coulter recruitment in Peterborough. Good agency :thumbsup: . Very thorough. They know and understand their clients and their staff.