Making the leap from a corporate HR role to running your own consultancy is more than just a career shift – it’s a complete mindset and lifestyle change. If you’ve been in a senior in-house HR role for a long time, the idea of working for yourself might feel exciting… but also a bit unsettling.
This article explores what life after corporate HR really feels like – from the emotional rollercoaster to the practical adjustments – and offers tips for navigating the transition successfully.
Letting go of the corporate identity
One of the biggest emotional shifts when you leave a corporate HR role is stepping away from the identity that comes with it. Your job title, company brand, team structure, and even your calendar have probably been part of your professional life for years.
Suddenly, you’re the brand. You’re the decision-maker. And there’s no built-in IT helpdesk.
This can feel liberating – finally, no endless sign-offs or politics – but it can also create a sense of disorientation. It’s completely normal to feel a little lost at first.
Tip: Give yourself space to adjust. Instead of rushing to fill the ‘gap’ left by your old role, take time to redefine what work means to you now. Create a simple routine that gives structure to your days while you build your new business identity.
Reconnecting with your purpose
One of the most common things new consultants say is how refreshing it is to focus on the parts of HR they actually enjoy. No more sitting in meetings that could have been emails, or managing endless internal politics.
Working for yourself allows you to reconnect with the reasons you got into HR in the first place – whether that’s supporting managers with confidence, helping businesses grow the right way, or championing employee wellbeing.
Tip: Use this opportunity to be intentional. What kind of work energises you? What kind of clients do you want to work with? Defining this early will help guide your marketing and shape your offer.
Reframing what success looks like
In corporate HR, success is often measured by promotions, pay grades, and big wins in the boardroom. But when you’re self-employed, those markers don’t exist in the same way.
Success might look like securing your first client, working three days a week instead of five, or feeling excited about Monday mornings again.
That shift can be freeing – but also uncomfortable, especially if you’re used to external validation and clear career ladders.
Tip: Set personal goals that align with why you chose consultancy. That could be a certain income level, more time with family, or building a local client base. Track your own version of success – not someone else’s.
Managing uncertainty (and your mindset)
Let’s be honest – life after corporate HR comes with some wobbles. The structure and predictability of a salaried role are hard to replicate. There may be times when you question whether you’ve done the right thing.
This is where mindset matters. Instead of seeing uncertainty as a threat, try to view it as space – space to grow, adapt, and make decisions based on what you want.
Tip: Invest in mindset support. This could be a coach, a peer network, or even a regular journal practice. Having a place to process your thoughts can make a huge difference.
Building your own rhythm
Corporate life often means 9–5 (or longer), back-to-back meetings, and little time for deep work. As your own boss, you get to decide how your day looks – and that can be both empowering and daunting.
There’s no one to tell you what to do. You have to create your own rhythm, set your own boundaries, and decide what ‘enough’ looks like.
Tip: Design your week around your energy levels. Are you more focused in the morning? Save admin for afternoons. Prefer a four-day week? Build that in from the start. Structure creates freedom.
Finding your community
One of the biggest emotional shifts after leaving corporate HR is losing that built-in team. There’s no colleague to bounce ideas off over lunch, or manager to check in with you during a tough week. That sudden independence can feel quite isolating at first.
But being self-employed doesn’t have to mean being on your own. Many successful HR consultants build strong communities around them – through professional networks, local business groups, or former colleagues.
If you join a franchise like face2faceHR, that community is often ready-made. You’ll usually have access to other consultants doing exactly what you’re doing, along with a head office team offering support, resources and reassurance when you need it. That connection can make a huge difference, especially in the early days.
Tip: Look for networks of other HR consultants, freelancers, or small business owners – or explore franchise options that offer built-in support and community from day one.
Discovering confidence through action
It’s completely normal to feel nervous when you start out. But something powerful happens when you begin taking action – however small.
Each client conversation, each proposal you send, each piece of content you post builds your confidence. Bit by bit, you start to realise: you can do this.
Tip: Don’t wait until you feel 100% ready – you’ll be waiting forever. Pick one small task each day that moves your business forward, and celebrate the progress as you go.
Final thoughts: it’s not just a career change – it’s a mindset shift
Choosing life after corporate HR means choosing a more flexible, fulfilling way of working. But it also means adjusting your expectations, letting go of old patterns, and giving yourself permission to do things differently.
It won’t always be smooth – but it will be worth it!
If you’re starting to picture what life after corporate HR might look like for you, and wondering how to make that leap a little less daunting, we’d love to help. Whether you’re still just exploring the idea or are ready to take the next step, please download our prospectus or get in touch for a friendly chat to see if we could support you on the journey.