Careers in HR ñ A lucrative option for 2008

HR salaries in both the private and public sectors will be fiercely competitive in 2008 with the ëwar for talentí showing no signs of easing. Figures in the 2008 Salary Survey conducted by leading recruiter FSS show that senior HR professionals can now command salaries of up to, and in some cases in excess of, 140,000 a year.

In the continued public vs. private sector debate, HR Directors in the private sector are earning an average of 100,000 in the capital and 80,000 in the outskirts. Yet the public sector is beginning to catch up ñ for instance, the average salary of HR Business Partners in private sector companies across the London and Thames Valley areas is 45,000 ñ the same as in the public sector.

The Survey highlights the importance of building a strong employer brand and offering an attractive work-life balance to employees, as these aspects have been shown to play a vital role in the career choices of HR professionals. It also revealed that the biggest HR challenge for companies in both the London and Thames Valley areas is improving performance and leadership management.

In terms of skills sets, the Survey shows that with the growing internationalisation of business, a second language combined with the knowledge of employee practices and legislation from different countries are in increasingly high demand. It also highlighted the problem of many entry-level HR candidates with a CIPD or masters qualification but no practical experience. ìThese candidates are often regarded by employers as ëover-qualifiedí for HR Assistant/Administration roles, yet insufficiently experienced for HR advisory rolesî says Jo Davies, Associate Director of FSS HR, ìaside from traditional graduate schemes, employers may need to consider how best these individuals could add value.î

ìIt certainly seems as though 2008 is set to be a strong one for HRî adds Davies ìCompanies are offering highly competitive salaries and benefits to attract and retain the best talent in both the public and private sectors - those candidates with in-demand experience will almost certainly continue to be courted by several potential employers.î