HR Careers Guide

What is HR?

Human Resources, or HR, is a department or person that makes a company work for their staff. HR professionals recruit talent, support employee growth, manage benefits, and create workplace cultures where people thrive. From payroll to DE&I initiatives, sustainability to learning and development, HR focuses on every part of the employee experience.

It can be split into five different functions:

While you can specialise in a specific HR function - like recruitment or learning and development - the reality is that HR roles are interconnected, meaning you’ll collaborate across functions. This makes HR more diverse and dynamic than you might expect. 

It’s a hands-on, people-first career choice, and can be very rewarding.

Let’s explore how you can take your first steps into HR.

How do I get a job in HR?

Start with hands-on experience. That's your fastest route into HR - whether through internships, apprenticeships, or graduate schemes.

Here's the good news: you don't need a specific degree to go into HR. Employers welcome graduates from any background, though experience in business, psychology, or sociology can strengthen your applications. The key is gaining practical experience and showing you understand how people and organisations work together.

Your first HR role might be as a Human Resources Assistant, Staffing Coordinator, Payroll Administrator, or Training Assistant. These positions give you a solid foundation across different HR functions and open doors to specialise later.

Click below to find out more about where to begin and where you could end up.

Want to know what it’s like to work in HR? We have hundreds of student-written reviews to browse through, including this one below for Jaguar Land Rover.

Is a career in HR well paid?

Your starting salary depends on your entry route, but there's strong earning potential as you progress. Here's what you can expect:

HR Qualifications to further your career

But how do you get to these higher salary brackets? 

Usually, a degree in your chosen field is more than enough to secure those higher salaries, but within Human Resources, there are multiple different ways to upskill and further your career.

If you find yourself taking a different route into HR, you can build these qualifications into your apprenticeship program, too. Many employers will cover the cost of your professional qualifications as part of your role.

Here are the ones that are more widely known:

CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)

The CIPD is a UK-based professional body specialising in HR and people development. Its qualifications (Levels 3–7) are highly regarded and can enhance your professional credibility and career prospects, both in the UK and internationally.

SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)

SHRM offers certifications for HR professionals moving into management and strategy. These focus on advanced people management skills that drive organisational performance. SHRM certifications suit those with hands-on HR experience ready to step into leadership.

Master’s in Human Resources

A Master's in Human Resources deepens your expertise and fast-tracks your path to senior positions. It's ideal if you're transitioning from another field or want to strengthen your strategic HR capabilities.

Most programmes take one to two years full-time. Many employers support part-time study alongside your role, sometimes covering tuition costs as part of your professional development.