I work in the NSW public service in HR and have a Cert IV in Business (HR) through TAFE. I did start my uni qual in mid 2007 but found it difficult to manage with a baby so have put it on the back burner for a while.
I don't need the uni qual for my job and I classed it as a "nice to have".
The TAFE qual should cover you for any general HR positions - specialty positions (eg IR) would likely require a uni qual with a specific IR stream (which is what I was doing at uni - Bachelor of Business/Commerce with a major in HR/IR)
I have a Masters in HR and work as a HR Manager - it depends on where you are but where I am an undergraduate degree is a minimum for any jobs in the HR area. I am happy to answer any questions as well.
I suppose it depends on how long it has been since you studied.
From my experience it was beneficial to do the TAFE Cert first as I knew some basic things first and had been doing TAFE courses since I had left high school so was still familiar with the process of studying but in saying that TAFE and Uni studies are worlds apart. It was a transition from TAFE assessments to Uni assessments.
With uni, you will do a number of general subjects (well at least it was like that at my uni) and then there are specific HR/IR etc subjects that you will do.
The TAFE cert may assist with your Uni application - applications for mid year intake usually close sometime in April so you may be able to look at their requirements etc and you could also see if they have part time placements (uni you will do two subjects per semester, TAFE you will do around two or three subjects per semester - depends on the local setup).
I found it difficult to manage with a child but it may not be like that for you. I didn't actually return to uni once DD was born. I couldn't cope with being away from her when she would be so young (she would have been 6months when I had to return) so for me it was about her age. It would have been easy enough to find her care whilst I was in class but it is the time at the library, time to write the assignments etc that I would find difficult to find. Hope that makes sense
If you do a diploma then it will count directly towards gaining entry into university. You may be able to find somewhere to do it via correspondance eg. Charles Sturt University where you can start doing the diploma units and if you get through those then you can apply to do a degree. The units in the diploma course then count towards your degree. So if you do 8 units for a diploma then you only need to do 4 more for a degree.
Nai, I have an IT degree, and have often thought about HR (possiblly learning and development) as a career.
Could I just do a post grad qualification or masters for it? I wouldnt have to do it as undergrad would I?
I have a commerce degree, majoring in Marketing, Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations. I also have minors in Accounting and Economics. Who says you cann't do it all?
If you do choose a broad based course, you not only increase what you can study, but also how you can use the qualification afterwards.
Anyone study/ have H.R qualifications?
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