New Research Shows the Value of CIPD Qualifications for HR Practitioners

As such, it’s essential for those working in HR to have a deep understanding of a variety of topics relating to the employee experience. One way that they can attain this is through CIPD qualifications, which represent the gold standard for HR professionals.

These qualifications endorse an HR practitioner’s skills and knowledge, and many employers actively seek CIPD-qualified candidates to join their teams. Attaining a CIPD qualification can assist both those looking to take the first step into an HR career and those ready to progress to a more senior level.

Do employers prefer CIPD-qualified candidates?

New research from online training provider ICS Learn has shown the value that employers place on these qualifications, and how not being CIPD-qualified could discount candidates from their dream HR role.

The research was compiled by examining 600 open job adverts seeking UK-based HR professionals. These job adverts were further broken down into three categories: entry-, mid-, and senior-level roles. 200 jobs were examined in each of these categories to offer a comparative analysis of the need for CIPD qualifications at different experience levels. 

They found that more than three quarters of employers (77.5%) prefer senior-level candidates with CIPD qualifications, with two thirds (67.5%) stating they’re essential for further consideration. These job adverts included titles such as HR Director, Head of HR and Senior HR Business Partner.

Among mid-level jobs, they found that 72% of employers mentioned a preference for CIPD qualifications, and 55.5% require them. Roles surveyed at mid-level included HR Manager, HR Advisor and HR Business Partner.

Even among entry-level roles aimed at those with little to no HR experience, 29% of employers mentioned a preference for CIPD-qualified candidates. These roles in the entry-level bracket of the survey included HR Administrator and HR Assistant.

Job roles with prestigious employers

The research also showed that many prestigious employers actively seek candidates with CIPD qualifications.

Employers mentioning CIPD qualifications in their job advertisements included KPMG, Adidas, Walt Disney, Pandora, MasterCard, Ted Baker and more. For ambitious HR professionals who have a particular employer in mind, a lack of CIPD credentials may rule them out of the process entirely.

Developing an understanding of the key issues facing employers naturally makes a candidate more desirable to employers. At the highest level, these qualifications are equivalent to a Master’s degree and show that the candidate has undertaken postgraduate-level study in HR.

For professionals at a senior level in their career, such as Head of HR or HR Director, this knowledge is invaluable to maintain a compliant and legally sound workplace. Even within an entry-level role, this knowledge can prove a commitment to self-development and open up routes for career progression.