Human Resources is one of those fields that touches every part of a business, from recruitment and training to wellbeing and compliance. But what’s it actually like to work in HR, and is it the kind of career you’d enjoy?

Every Day Is Different

One of the biggest appeals of HR is that no two days are the same. You might be supporting someone through maternity leave one moment and helping a manager resolve a tricky team issue the next. It’s a mix of people support, business insight, and legal know-how — and it rarely stands still.

You’ll need to be flexible, confident, and able to handle sensitive conversations. But if you enjoy variety and working with people, it’s an incredibly fulfilling line of work.

It’s Not All Tea and Sympathy

There’s a common misconception that HR is simply the “friendly ear” of the business. In reality, HR professionals deal with everything from redundancy and performance management to restructuring and legal disputes. It can be tough at times — especially when you’re balancing the needs of employees with the interests of the business.

The job requires fairness, resilience, and a calm, clear approach. And it also takes a solid understanding of how businesses operate.

Opportunities to Grow

HR is also one of the most flexible and growth-focused careers out there. You can specialise in areas like:

• Learning and development
  
• Talent acquisition
  
• Employee relations
  
• People analytics
  
• Diversity and inclusion
  

Many HR professionals start out in admin or assistant roles and work their way up to senior strategic positions. There’s a real chance to carve out your own path.

Building Knowledge Along the Way

As you progress, it’s important to build both experience and credibility. That’s where professional development comes in. Many people choose to study for a CIPD Level 5 qualification once they’ve got a bit of hands-on experience. It gives you deeper knowledge of people management and is often seen as the standard for mid-level HR roles.

It also shows employers you’re serious about your development and ready to take on more responsibility.

Final Thoughts

If you’re curious about how businesses run, and you care about helping people thrive at work, HR could be the right move for you. There’s space to grow, room to specialise, and plenty of meaningful work to do.

And if you’re already on the path, investing in your knowledge — whether through experience or something like CIPD Level 5 — can help you keep moving forward.