Human resources is an essential department of any organisation. HR professionals are responsible for recruiting, hiring, and retaining the best talent in the organisation. However, some HR professionals might find themselves wanting to explore new career paths. Luckily, HR professionals have a diverse skill set that can be applied to several alternative careers. In this article, we will explore some of the top alternative careers for HR professionals. We will discuss the skills required for each career path and associated job responsibilities.
Career Counsellor or Coach
If you have experience in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new employees, you might want to consider a career as a career counsellor or coach. As a career counsellor, you will help individuals with long-term career planning, while as a career coach, you will focus on short-term job search strategies.
You can leverage your HR knowledge to coach job applicants on cover letters and CV writing, job interview skills, negotiating, personal assessments, career planning, and social media presence enhancement. This career path requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.
Life Coach
If you are interested in helping individuals improve their overall lives and happiness, you might want to consider a career as a life coach. As a life coach, you will help people with career planning, job searches, health, wellness, diet, relationships, stress management, and self-fulfilment.
To become a certified life coach, you will need to complete a training program that includes coursework, supervised coaching hours, and an exam. This career path requires strong communication and listening skills, as well as empathy and emotional intelligence.
Professional CV Writer
If you have a talent for writing and a keen eye for detail, you might want to consider a career as a professional CV writer. As a CV writer, you will help job seekers create compelling CVs that highlight their skills and experience.
To become a professional CV writer, you don’t need a specific degree or certification. However, you should have excellent writing and editing skills, as well as a strong understanding of the job market and recruitment processes.
Headhunter/Talent Recruiter
If you have experience in hiring employees, you might want to consider a career as a headhunter or talent recruiter. In this role, you will work with employers to help them find top talent for their organisation.
Your responsibilities will include writing job descriptions, setting compensation levels, posting jobs online, and using your network to find potential candidates. You may also be responsible for conducting interviews, checking references, and administering skills or personality tests.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have strong communication and networking skills, as well as a deep understanding of the job market and recruitment processes.
Benefits/Payroll Specialist
If your experience in HR is primarily focused on administration and paperwork, you might want to consider a career as a benefits or payroll specialist. In this role, you will help companies plan and administer their employee benefits and payroll.
Your responsibilities will include setting up payment systems, meeting legal compliance requirements, and looking for tax strategies to lower labour costs. You may also be responsible for managing employee benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, and leave policies.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have strong analytical and organisational skills, as well as a deep understanding of employment laws and regulations.
Employee Performance Manager
If you have experience in talent development and training, you might want to consider a career as an employee performance manager. In this role, you will help companies identify employee training needs and arrange for employees to take courses or attend seminars.
Your responsibilities may also include helping executives and managers improve their soft skills, such as team-building, interpersonal communication, and time management. You may also be responsible for improving the public relations skills of executives to help them handle stressful media interviews.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have strong communication and training skills, as well as a deep understanding of talent development and soft skills training.
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Wellness Program Coordinator
If you are passionate about health and wellness, you might want to consider a career as a wellness program coordinator. In this role, you will help companies design and launch wellness programs that help employees improve their health, reduce stress, and increase productivity.
Your responsibilities will include educating employees on wellness practices, analyzing employee health costs, and designing wellness initiatives that meet the needs of employees. You may also be responsible for managing employee wellness programs, such as smoking cessation, weight loss, and fitness.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have strong communication and organisational skills, as well as a deep understanding of wellness practices and their impact on employee productivity.
Human Resources Consultant
If you are looking for a career change that involves using your HR expertise, you might want to consider a career as an HR consultant. In this role, you will evaluate all functions of a company’s HR management, including staffing levels, recruiting and hiring processes, benefits, compensation, legal compliance, and employee training.
Your responsibilities will include providing recommendations to improve HR operations, designing and implementing HR strategies, and managing HR projects. You may also be responsible for mentoring HR professionals and providing guidance on HR-related issues.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have strong analytical and consulting skills, as well as a deep understanding of HR management.
Talent Acquisition Specialist
If you have experience in recruiting and hiring, you might want to consider a career as a talent acquisition specialist. In this role, you will work with companies to identify their hiring needs and find top talent for their organisation.
Your responsibilities will include writing job descriptions, conducting interviews, checking references, and administering skills or personality tests. You may also be responsible for developing and implementing recruitment strategies and managing the hiring process.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have strong communication and networking skills, as well as a deep understanding of recruitment processes.
Employee Relations Specialist
If you have experience in employee relations and conflict resolution, you might want to consider a career as an employee relations specialist. In this role, you will help companies manage employee relations issues, such as disputes, grievances, and disciplinary actions.
Your responsibilities will include investigating employee complaints, developing and implementing HR policies and procedures, and providing guidance to managers and employees. You may also be responsible for conducting training sessions on HR policies and procedures.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have strong communication and problem-solving skills, as well as a deep understanding of employment laws and regulations.
Conclusion
Human resources professionals looking for a career change have several alternative career options to consider. The skills and experience that HR professionals possess make them valuable assets in many industries. Some of the top career paths for HR professionals include career counsellor or coach, life coach, professional CV writer, headhunter or talent recruiter, benefits/payroll specialist, employee performance manager, wellness program coordinator, HR consultant, talent acquisition specialist, and employee relations specialist.
Each of these careers requires a unique set of skills and knowledge, but they all offer exciting opportunities for personal and professional growth. Whether you are interested in helping individuals improve their lives or working with companies to improve their HR operations, there is an alternative career path that is right for you.
If this is an area of interest, you may be interested in the Learnful Professional Diploma in Human Resource Management or the Learnful Professional Diploma in First Line Management. Both programmes open up graduate opportunities in some of the areas above.
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