The Career Experiences of Women in Personnel

Abstract

Sets out to look at the career experiences of women in personnel. A survey was undertaken of 149 women studying for examinations leading to membership of the Institute of Personnel Management. The results show that the issues facing women in personnel were the same as those facing other women in organizations. Women in personnel face a glass ceiling around Personnel Officer level. In addition, however, these women identified that the personnel role often lacked status in organizations and that the qualities they possessed, which had attracted them into the personnel profession, were not particularly valued in organizations. However, with the take‐up of human resource policies and the emphasis on “people skills” women in personnel could be in a key position to capitalize on the changing needs of organizations and play an important role in the process. In order to ensure that women in personnel have equality of opportunity, there is a need for positive action from the top of organizations, from the Institute of Personnel Management and from women in personnel themselves.