Vicki Marchant, Human Resources Assistant for DeVere Dunston Hall Hotel.

Human Resources Assistant

Answers supplied by Victoria Marchant, a human resources assistant in the recruitment department at De Vere Dunston Hall Hotel, a four star, 130-bedroom country hotel with a leisure club and golf course on the outskirts of Norwich.

What does the job entail?
Every HR department is different. Here at Dunston Hall I am responsible for the recruitment side of things. I liaise with departmental managers about what vacancies they have and the type of person they are looking for. I then have to find suitable applicants. This can mean calling recruitment agencies, the job centre, or placing adverts in the local media or online. I process applications when they come in and forward them to the relevant managers for interview. I then inform applicants if they have been successful and send out the relevant paperwork and contracts. I try and meet all new employees on their first day to make sure they have their uniform and are happy with everything. Some HR roles in smaller companies or organisations may also encompass health and safety aspects, some payroll work, or you might find yourself running training and induction courses or managing staff benefits.

What skills and qualifications are needed?
Normally requirements are five passes at GCSE level including Maths and English. Strong IT skills, especially in Word and Excel, as well as e-mail and the internet. Excellent communication and people skills are vital as you deal with many different people in very different situations. The role is quite pressured and there are a lot of deadlines to meet.

What type of person will fit in?
You need to be able to manage a busy and ever-changing workload as no two days are ever the same. Obviously you need to be friendly and confident dealing with others in all kinds of varied situations. You must
be able to work as part of a team whilst managing your own busy workload.

What are the pluses and minuses of the job?
The variety in the work is a definite plus and I enjoy working in a busy role, meeting lots of people. On the downside the starting salary is not always very high in comparison to other sectors.

What opportunities exist for career progression?
From starting as an HR assistant there are opportunities to progress to working as an HR officer or in a team leadership role and eventually on to HR manager. There are many courses at all levels and numerous chances to further your knowledge in all areas of HR. To progress further up the ladder you will normally need to do your CIPD qualification.

What can I expect to earn?
Starting salaries in this area tend to be between £11,000 and £15,000.

Any hints on getting a job in this area?
You could try sending your CV to any large company with a high number of staff, or look out for advertisements in the local papers. Sometimes vacancies will be placed with recruitment agencies. You could gain experience by working as a temp in an HR Department and this is an excellent way of finding out if you are suited to the job.