What is it like to study Human Resource Management at the University of Portsmouth?

My experience applying to the University of Portsmouth

I am not a very academic-oriented person, therefore I was quite worried about the effect it would have on my acceptance. The application process felt in order and prompt and I also had the opportunity to discuss with the course leader in advance any queries I had.

Why I chose to study at the University of Portsmouth

I liked the idea of living by the sea, and I would suggest Rees Hall as it is right next to the beach. I also found the prices to be lower than other parts of the UK, especially towards the South. Portsmouth is also an area that has seen a lot of development and business activity, which made it attractive for any subsequent employment search.

What I enjoyed most about my course and time at Portsmouth

I enjoyed the free-form dialogue and the different scenarios presented. Most professors had a background in business in senior positions, which allowed for a lot of discussions surrounding workplace culture and how what is taught is actually applied at work. For example, a performance-focused individual may find hard HR practices desirable in theory, but it would be important to understand how those practices can be applied in reality and what the limitations are. If there would be one thing I can advise, is to raise your hand and ask away, it generates the most important pieces of knowledge.

The support services I used at the University of Portsmouth

Careers and Employability were helpful with some consulting over CV building. I had already performed job hunting myself and have significant experience in finding work, but I still found it helpful in order to understand the specific expectations and language of the UK job market. I would certainly recommend them, C&E not only provides consultations in CV building but can also assist with job-seeking itself. It is important however for all individuals to engage and try to job hunt on their side too.

My passion is change, towards excellence and best practice. We naturally fall into complacent idleness, but through change we evolve. This is why I like HR as an area of work, since it puts me out there in the front, supporting and implementing change.

George Moschos, Alumnus, MSc Human Resource Management

How my time at Portsmouth sowed the seeds for my future

My career has just started but I can already identify where in the next level, the strategic, I can once again apply knowledge gained, thus gaining an edge. I would suggest that the expectation should not be of how relevant the courses are to I.e. updating a person's record while in an entry job, but rather how the information and the mindset can help you launch ahead into the level you want.

My greatest achievements so far

I used to work earlier in my life too, back when I was home in Greece my biggest concern when I came here was that I was "late". Late in my career in terms of my available job titles and late in life in terms of only having a small savings account at almost 30. In just 2 years after graduation, everything has changed. I am holding a dream job with possibilities for further development and I am in the process of buying a house. I am extremely proud of myself, and that is not a statement I make easily. Students and new graduates are inspired by alumni stories and love getting tips and advice to navigate their career and life paths.

The average amount of time it takes for someone to move from the administrative to the operational level in HR is about 3-5years of experience. I was able to make that move in 1, because the knowledge I gained during my degree was relevant and applicable to the workplace. I was subsequently promoted within 4 months, as the advice I was giving was good and matched a senior advisor level rather than a junior.