The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
From HR Officer / HR Generalist
3-5 years as an HR OfficerSkills to master
- You'll need to have consistently owned and resolved a variety of ER cases, confidently coached managers on routine issues, and demonstrated a solid grasp of HR policy and compliance.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the first person junior colleagues come to for advice.
- You're proactively identifying process improvements, not just executing them.
- You've successfully managed at least 5-10 complex ER cases end-to-end.
- Managers in your current client group seek your advice regularly.
- 2
From Specialist HR Role (e.g., Talent Acquisition, L&D)
5-7 years in a specialist role, plus some generalist exposureSkills to master
- You'd need to broaden your knowledge significantly beyond your specialism, especially in employee relations and core HR compliance. Cross-functional project work or secondments into generalist HR would be crucial.
You're ready to move on when
- You've led projects that required collaboration across multiple HR functions.
- You've actively sought out opportunities to learn about ER and compensation.
- You've taken on informal 'HR generalist' tasks for a small team.
- You're comfortable advising on a wide range of HR topics, not just your niche.
- 3
From a non-HR Management Role (with HR exposure)
6-10 years in management, plus specific HR trainingSkills to master
- You'd need a deep dive into formal HR processes, employment law, and HR systems. Your management experience would be valuable, but the technical HR knowledge would need to be built up, likely with a CIPD qualification.
You're ready to move on when
- You've managed significant people challenges in your previous roles.
- You've completed a CIPD Level 5 or 7 qualification.
- You demonstrate a strong understanding of HR's strategic value.
- You're eager to transition your people leadership into a dedicated HR career.