What makes a successful HR career path?

How can I progress in my career? A question many, if not all of us have asked ourselves at some point regardless of our role. But for HR professionals there are two distinctly different ways in which to progress, to make your voice heard in the C-suite and to influence company strategy with a HR perspective. Upskilling in one area of HR to become a specialist in OD or Strategic Direction, gaining more and more expertise has always been the traditional route to success – but a new path in HR career development is emerging; rotation. So what is it? And how is it useful?

With HR feeling the impact of greater globalisation, more demanding workforces and the onset of digital technology more than any other department; influencing the way it needs to work both transactionally and strategically, maybe it’s time to branch out into other areas of the business world. Taking the opportunity to rotate around various functions of the company you’re in at worst, can’t hurt. At best, it can develop a uniquely experienced, highly skilled professional skillset, rather than forging a career where you simply collect more of the same experience each time you pass ‘Go’. Manoeuvring your skills, discovering new sides and directions to the business – playing twister throughout your career – could just make you a whole lot better at understanding how HR can benefit the company, as well as how being business minded can benefit HR practices.