You have had a taste of HR and decided this is the career path for you! So where to now…?

When is the right time to move?

Knowing when is the right time to move can be difficult to determine. Putting in place and setting a timeframe i.e. 12 months can be non-beneficial. Instead, ask yourself: Have I achieved everything I set out to achieve in my current role? Have I become an ‘expert’ at what I do? If you confidently answer ‘yes’ to both questions then it might be the right time to consider looking for your 2nd job in HR!

Looking external/internal - where's the next place to go?

• Internal- Have you considered your 2nd role in HR being within the same organisation? It is important to explore internal opportunities first before looking externally. The benefits of this are that you have built your personal brand already and have a good foundation of the business, which puts you in a better position to focus on further developing your HR remit.
  

• External- If there are no opportunities within your current organisation than looking externally is a good option. The benefits of this are being given the opportunity to expand your knowledge of different HR processes, systems and HR viewpoints. Be mindful of your current skills & abilities, and what your areas of development are to avoid making a move backwards in responsibilites OR too much of a leap and risk ‘sinking’ not ‘swimming’!

Thinking about your HR career - this move will determine the direction

Your 2nd job in HR is critical and will set the tone for your HR career. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? Do you want to specialise or stay generalist? Ultimately, is this move putting you on the right path and setting you up for success?

What to do to prepare to move into your 2nd HR Role

Collect all your successes and achievements to add to your resume. If your resume is looking great after doing that, then it might be time to make a move.

If it looks a little light on , consider the value of adding to your success file before putting yourself in the market.

Overall it is important to think carefully about making a move into your 2nd job in HR. Don’t make rushed decisions but also be mindful of being flexible as although you can have a goal and direction things can change. Looking for a mentor in HR is highly recommend at this point of your career. Or if you would like to have a chat with us please reach out to us on contact details below!

Carla is a HR Recruitment consultant at HR Partners and looks after the entry to mid level HR market.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-wilkinson/
https://www.hrpartners.com.au/