Human resources officer : Employers and vacancy sources

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1. Job description
2. Salary and conditions
3. Entry requirements
4. Training
5. Career development
6. Employers and vacancy …
7. Related jobs

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Case studies

• Human resources business partner: Maria
• Human resources supervisor: Sara
• Human resources graduate: Anita

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With over 135,000 members, the CIPD is the world’s largest chartered professional body to represent individuals working in human resources (HR). CIPD internationally recognised HR qualifications are a fantastic way of demonstrating to potential employers that you can add real value to an organisation. Explore careers with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Human resources (HR) officers work in organisations that employ staff. These include:

• small and large private firms;
• the public sector, e.g. civil service and local government offices;
• voluntary organisations, such as charities, which may employ both paid staff and volunteers.

The way in which the work is structured within these organisations varies widely. Some employers may have just one or two people covering the full range of HR activities. Larger employers may structure their HR departments according to different specialist roles or the functions may be split amongst several general HR officers on a departmental or perhaps location basis. Some very large organisations have a group of HR specialists at a head office who provide support to general HR officers working out of various departments or locations.

There are also opportunities to work in specialist consultancies, which range in size from one-person companies to small firms and partnerships. An outplacement service, when a firm engages a specialist consultancy to help staff deal with redundancy, is one example of this type of work. Many well-known firms of management consultants are also developing HR practices, offering services in areas such as compensation and benefits.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• People Management  - fortnightly magazine/website produced by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
• Personnel Today   
• Job sites such as Monster   
• Local press (for administrative jobs in HR).
• National press (for more senior roles).

Recruitment agencies and online job sites commonly handle vacancies. Relevant agencies are listed in People Management and Personnel Today, which also publish articles on current issues within the profession. Also, search the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)  consultancy finder for a list of member agencies.

Larger organisations may advertise graduate training schemes on their own websites.

Networking and speculative applications may uncover opportunities that have not been advertised.  The Personnel Manager's Yearbook  gives named HR/personnel contacts in medium to large-sized organisations.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and covering letters and interviews.