Case studies: HR adviser: Sam

Sam studied English literature before taking a temporary job as an admin assistant at a hospital. He is now a HR adviser for a different hospital.

After I graduated I took a temporary role while I continued to look for a more permanent position. I wasn’t really enjoying the work, so when I saw that a local hospital was advertising for an admin assistant I decided to apply. The position was only available for three months, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to try out a new area and if I didn’t enjoy the work it didn’t really matter because it was only a temporary contract.

I actually ended up working for the hospital for fifteen months as I secured an extension to my contract and was then promoted to recruitment assistant, which was the next pay grade up. I decided I liked working in HR, but wanted to move to another hospital to gain some more experience so I applied for a position in a different hospital and spent just under two years working there. During this time I was promoted into an HR officer role, which gave me the opportunity to gain new skills and take on extra responsibility. While I was working for that hospital the director left to take up a position in a different region and shortly after he moved he contacted me to ask if I would be interested in joining the team there, which I was. I have now been in my current role for just over a year and I am now an HR adviser and am studying for an MSc in HR management.

As an HR adviser I support a division of around 2,000 members of staff (the hospital employs around 6,000 members of staff in total). I offer HR guidance and support to managers and provide information and advice about employment law.

The role allows me to meet a variety of people and this combined with the varied workload means that I find the role stimulating and enjoyable. It is very rewarding and I have a lot of autonomy and am responsible for making decisions, which is very satisfying.

I am about to apply to become a senior HR adviser within the same hospital. I would like to progress to HR manager level before taking a break to have a family.

Do something you enjoy and don’t be motivated by money. You need to be stimulated by your work because you have a long career ahead of you. Remember that you have plenty of time to develop your skills, so don’t feel under pressure to achieve all your career goals as soon as you graduate.