Victoria Hayden describes the moment of ‘enlightenment’ when she realised that a career in retail management wasn’t for her and how her new role in HR involves large-scale recruitment; recently Hayden co-ordinated the assessment centres for 500 potential sales staff – here’s her story.

1. What is your current job title? Briefly describe your current role.

Talent & Resourcing Consultant. My current role involves designing competency frameworks and assessment centre design. I am also responsible for the writing of our job roles (job descriptions). I undertake a large amount of project work, which can range from designing a new development review process to conducting focus groups around re-structuring a head office function within our organisation.

2. What challenges do you come across?

Keeping up to date with all other areas of our very fast paced business and some of our regional stores.

3. What activities do you spend most of your time on?

Competency frameworks, assessment centre design and project work.

4. Describe your initial training within the profession

I have a Masters in Human Resource Management from Manchester Metropolitan University and full graduate CIPD status. I am currently studying an Open University module in ‘Psychometrics: Selection & Assessment’ and will hopefully take my Level A and Level B in August this year.

5. What positions have you held?

I have always worked in retail. I started off as a part-time Sales Associate at Emporio Armani, then became a cashier at Giorgio Armani when I was at university. After that I worked at DKNY as Store & Personnel Administrator. I then became a Supervisor, then Assistant Store Manager at Flannels Group. I joined my current employer Selfridges & Co as an Assistant Sales Manager of Womenswear. I then moved on to be a Trainee HR Advisor before taking up my current position as Talent & Resourcing Consultant.

6. Is there a significant event you can tell us about which had an impact on your career?

Realising that I didn’t want to stay in retail operations but really wanted to work in HR. Since moving I have never looked back. I do miss the buzz of the shopfloor and looking at all the fabulous products we sell but still have that by working in our flagship store twice a week and visiting our regional stores.

7. What has been your greatest achievement?

Two things really, first having held three different positions with my current organisation, I am one of very few people who have worked on every site in our business. Secondly achieving two store openings with my current company. The first one was as an Assistant Sales Manager and probably the most challenging time in my life. Secondly when we opened our most recent store as I co-ordinated almost every assessment centre we ran and helped recruit most of our managers and around 500 sales staff.

8. What has been your biggest career mistake?

I can’t honestly think of one. My current role is quite specialised so perhaps it could be argued that I have specialised too early in my career but since I love what I do I don’t feel this is the case.

9. Which of your colleagues played the biggest role in you getting where you are today?

I have two people who I can thank for where I am today. The current HR Manager of our flagship store, without whom I would definitely not be where I am today. He recruited me for my retail operations position and then went on to allow me the opportunity to work in HR and also helped me transition into my current role. I do miss working directly with him but am happy to work on the occasional project with him now and again which is great. My current manager has also been an incredible inspiration to me. She is so knowledgeable and has taught me so much, I feel very fortunate to work alongside her.

10. What influences do you think have had the greatest impact on the HR sector in recent years?

All the continuously changing legislation and in my field the increased use of assessment centres and psychometric testing.

11. What advice would you give to someone thinking of entering the profession?

Don’t be afraid to give anything a go. If you make a mistake learn from it and move on. Try not to take things personally.

12. What are your plans for the future?

To gain my Level A and B qualifications and take on more of an active role in psychometrics.

Previous career profiles can be seen on the How Did I Get Here? page.