…are much exaggerated, not that you’d know it by the above, which was the headline of a press release from the CIPD this morning. Now if anything was going to put you off a career in HR it is that. In fact, I thought for a second the CIPD was calling it a day.
But no, depsite the misleading statement (I’m probably shouting into the dark here when I say please guys, drop the whole ‘think HR, think again’ thing) the CIPD is instead launching a new drive to attract talent into the profession, and I say – about time too!
I attended the national graduate fair in Birmigham earlier this year as a speaker to talk to graduates about modern media and breaking into journalism. I walked around the exhibition afterwards to see who was trying to attract the talent there and I noticed two major accounting bodies there ready to inform, and enthrall, no doubt, young people into the world of accounting. But no CIPD. I wasn’t surprised as such, but I was disappointed. Even if you think HR is more interesting than accounting, we can’t expect people to:
- Know what human resources is (it’s not a school subject and it’s not a high profile department)
- Realise the difference it can make to an organisation (if today’s students ask their parents what HR is, what will they tell them? Probably not about how HR can transform a business, put it that way)
So how can they, and why should they, consider a career in human resources?
Personally, I’m pleased to hear the CIPD is planning on making some effort with graduates and other talent which might be considering making a move.
In the release, Georgina Kvassay, HR strategy adviser, CIPD, said: “We conducted research into graduate perceptions of HR in late-2009 and it highlighted that the three words most associated with HR were ‘dull’, ‘bureaucratic’ and ‘repetitive’. It’s clear that the CIPD needs to take a leading role in dispelling these misconceptions."
It’s very clear. Of course the CIPD should be doing this. I feel quite supportive of the concept of the campaign – it’s long overdue.
Click here to see the new site and let me know your thoughts on it – do you like it? Would this have steered you into a career in HR? Will it work for today’s students?
