We’ve all heard the phrase “work-life balance”, but what if that’s not enough anymore? For many senior HR professionals, particularly those who’ve spent years climbing the corporate ladder, there comes a point where balance doesn’t quite cut it. The demands of life shift – whether it’s caring responsibilities, health considerations, a longing for more freedom, or simply wanting to enjoy life outside of work more fully.
This July, we’re exploring the idea of designing a career in HR that works for you – rethinking what success looks like and putting life first, not job first. And a key question to start with is this: what if your career could fit around your life, instead of the other way round?
Rethinking what success really means
Success in HR has often been defined by seniority, salary, scope of responsibility, and visibility within an organisation. And while there’s nothing wrong with those achievements – many of us have worked hard to get there – it’s worth asking whether those measures still reflect what you want now.
For some, success might now look like:
- Having the freedom to choose when and how you work
- Being present for family without constant guilt or diary juggling
- Working with clients you genuinely enjoy and value
- Using your skills in a way that feels meaningful and impactful
- Having time for hobbies, volunteering, or rest – without needing permission
Shifting your definition of success doesn’t mean giving up ambition. It just means redirecting it – towards something more aligned with the life you want now.
What a flexible HR career could look like
One of the biggest barriers to change is not knowing what the alternative actually looks like. If you’re used to working full-time in a senior internal role, it can be hard to picture how you could still use your expertise in a more flexible way.
Here are a few examples of what a flexible HR career might involve:
- Consultancy on your own terms: working with SME clients, choosing how many clients you take on and how often you work.
- Project-based roles: taking on specific HR projects (e.g. policy development, restructuring support, training) on a freelance basis.
- Portfolio career: combining consultancy with mentoring, interim work, or even a side venture in another field you love.
- Franchise model: joining an HR franchise like face2faceHR that offers ready-made structure and support, but with full flexibility and autonomy over your schedule.
Each of these options puts you in control – not your boss, not a full-time contract, not someone else’s KPIs. That’s the power of a career that fits around your life.
Spotting the signs you’re ready for a change
It’s easy to keep going in a role that looks successful on paper but no longer feels right in practice. If you’re unsure whether it’s time to explore something different, here are some common signs:
- You dread Sunday evenings and the pace of the week ahead
- You’re constantly juggling work and life – and dropping balls in both
- You feel like you’ve outgrown your role or your values no longer align with your organisation
- You fantasise about working for yourself but don’t know where to start
- Your energy is going into surviving, not thriving
Recognising these signs doesn’t mean you have to make a drastic leap tomorrow. But it is a nudge to pause and reassess.
Designing your next step: practical things to think about
So, you’re curious. Maybe even excited about the possibility of redesigning your HR career. Where do you begin? Here are a few practical steps:
Reflect on what you want more (and less) of
Take time to think about what an ideal working week would look like for you. When do you like to work? How many hours? What kind of clients or issues energise you – and what drains you? What do you want more time for outside of work?
Even a few bullet points can be incredibly powerful in shaping your thinking.
Audit your transferable strengths
What are you really good at – not just technically, but in terms of how you work? Are you great at building trust with stakeholders, untangling people problems, simplifying policies, or navigating tricky ER cases?
Identifying your core strengths can help you understand the value you could offer clients or employers outside the corporate setting.
Talk to people doing it differently
Seek out HR professionals who’ve made the switch – whether they’ve gone freelance, joined a franchise, or created a portfolio career. Ask what their day-to-day looks like, what surprised them, and what they’d do differently.
It’s often the most powerful way to see what’s possible – and to remind yourself that you’re not the only one asking these questions.
Explore support and structure
If you’re considering working for yourself, don’t assume you have to figure everything out alone. Whether it’s business coaching, peer communities, or structured models like franchising, there are plenty of ways to get support – without sacrificing your autonomy.
In fact, many HR professionals find that combining flexibility with support is the key to making the leap successful and sustainable.
Embracing the idea that your career can evolve
A flexible HR career doesn’t mean taking a step back. It means taking a step towards something that reflects where you are now – in life, in values, in energy.
Careers aren’t static. What worked for you five or ten years ago might not work now. And that’s ok. The beauty of working in HR is that your skills and experience are hugely transferable – and deeply needed across a range of settings, especially in the SME world where good HR advice is in high demand.
Your next chapter starts with curiosity
You don’t have to make a big decision right now. But you can start asking better questions:
- What would a work-life blend that suits me actually look like?
- How can I use my HR experience in a more meaningful, flexible way?
- What kind of support would I need to make a change?
And if the idea of a flexible HR career lights a little spark in you – follow it. Take small steps. Start researching. Reach out for a chat.
Because a career that fits around your life is possible – and we’re here to help you explore what that could look like.
Download our prospectus to find out more about how a flexible HR consultancy career could work for you, or get in touch – we’d love to hear your story.