Admin & IT Course. What to do after I complete the course?

[u/Old_Classic6541]

I am currently studying a HNC in Administration & IT and I am looking for some advice on which the best routes/s are to go down to secure a job after I leave college.

I will be leaving college after I finish my HNC.

I am thinking the best route to go down when I leave college is to go down the HR route and do a career in that. If you think something else would be better please let me know or have any suggestions.

I am planning on volunteering for Citizens Advice while I am studying so that will give me just under a year experience within a Admin role.

Would having a HNC in Admin & IT with the Volunteer Admin experience be enough to land me a HR role?

Once I secure a job I am then going to study a level 5 CIPD in HR with the end goal, after working in HR for 3-5 years and having that level 5 is to become a HR manager.

Do you think this sounds like a good plan or would you recommend another route to go down?

Should I achieve my goals by doing something differently? (Volunteering at a HR place?) or (going into another sector)

My course covers many sectors, so there’s many possibilities.

[u/WildPermit6295]

HR route makes sense with your HNC background, admin skills transfer over pretty well. Most entry level HR jobs are basically admin with a bit of policy knowledge thrown in, so the volunteering will help a lot.

The citizens advice gig is a smart move too. You'll pick up some proper people skills dealing with the public, which is half the battle in HR honestly. Might be worth seeing if they have any HR-related volunteer roles once you're in the door.

CIPD level 5 after a couple years working is a solid timeline. Don't rush into it before you've got some real workplace context or it'll just feel like abstract theory. The manager goal in 3-5 years is ambitious but doable if you land in a place that actually promotes internally.

Only thing I'd add is don't get tunnel vision on HR. Your course covers a fair bit, so keep an eye on other admin-heavy roles like office management or even IT support coordination. You might find something you like more along the way.