Traditionally we understand that the sign of career success are upward progression, reaching the top from management to the board.  


But is that the only way to measure success and is the only right way up?


HR Career success can be a combination of factors:


1.      Knowing yourself so you can be in the best fit role and industry for you


2.      Being brave and trying other sectors for size


3.      Being open minded to considering other opportunities as they arise


4.      Being flexible to other ways of working which might be a short-term contract, secondment or location move


5.      Building positive relationships in each role


6.      Luck, being in the right place at the right time can certainly help


But does any of this say up, up and up?


Understanding your strengths can help you understand your optimum level.  In my corporate career I certainly bought into the idea that upward was the right way and the only way to achieve success.  Thinking about it now I was far more effective at an operational Head of level than I was at Director level.  If you are a doer (as I am) the connecting and political elements at Board level can be bewildering and negative – others would thrive at this level.


Perhaps your special skill is breadth so this might mean moving from HRBP into a Shared Services or Learning role to gain a wider skill set rather than pushing for Head of HR or HRD.


Perhaps variety is for you and that might mean moving sector completely and starting lower each time to gain skills and knowledge to keep you engaged and developed.


Perhaps you are more comfortable with deep, deep knowledge and reward is the only place for you, and you will keep working to learn all the aspects possible. Larger organisations are ideal for this preference as they can grow, merge, change and develop in such a way that it feels like a new role each time.


There are so many ways to approach a fulfilling HR career – not just up, so do spend some time considering the alternatives and what would bring you the most work happiness.


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Photo by Armand Khoury on Unsplash