Human resources jobs and careers

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, HR jobs are expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. College graduates with specialized certifications will have the best human resources career opportunities. Human resources jobs will be created as a result of an increased demand for experts to address changes in legislation affecting wages, pensions, health care, occupational health and safety and equal employment opportunity. Training and development specialists may benefit from strong demand as employers devote more and more resources to training programs as result of technological advance and the replacement of baby boomers in the workforce.

Human resources specialists have a wide range of duties and varying degrees of responsibility. As such, their educational backgrounds very significantly. Although certification is not necessarily required, it is an asset for specialized HR jobs and may in fact be a requirement for advanced jobs, such as management. The best career opportunities are generally available to those who have a college degree and who have obtained certification. HR professionals also have a wide range of titles including HR consultants, HR development specialists, and HR coordinators.

HR, training, and labor relations managers and specialists are generally responsible for developing recruitment strategies, interviewing job candidates, dealing with benefits questions, hiring employees, and establishing employment policies. They also help put in place programs to increase employee morale, address employee turnover, and improve productivity. They may also develop training programs to improve employee skills and enhance career opportunities. In smaller companies, a human resource generalist may be responsible for all tasks relating to human resources. In larger companies, there are typically a number of specialists within the human resources department who are each responsible for areas such as employment and placement; compensation, and benefits; training and development; or labor relations.

Employment, recruitment and placement
Employment, recruitment, and placement specialists recruit and place workers. Recruiters are generally responsible for finding job candidates, interviewing them and determining their qualifications. They also may be responsible for conducting reference and background checks and making job offers.

Compensation, benefits, and job analysis
Compensation, benefits, and job analysis is a very specialized area within the human resources field. These specialists are typically responsible for developing and analyzing employee compensation (including salaries and bonus plans) and benefits programs (such as health insurance plans and 401k plans).

Training and development
Training and development specialists are generally responsible for enhancing employee skills and knowledge by designing, implementing and supervising training and development programs for employees.

Education, Training and Other Qualifications
The educational backgrounds of human resources professionals are as varied as their responsibilities. For entry-level HR jobs, many employers require that candidates have college degrees with majors in human resources, human resources administration, or industrial and labor relations. However, an HR related degree is not a prerequisite for all employers.

Degrees
There are many college programs that lead to degrees in the following disciplines:
• Personnel
• Labor relations
• Human resources
• HR administration
• HR management
• Training and development
• Compensation and benefits

HR career opportunities can be enhanced by taking courses in various fields such as business, social sciences and behavioral sciences. Having a technical or specialized background such as finance, law or engineering can be a great asset. If you want to pursue a management position, an advanced degree such as a master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or in business administration with a concentration in HR management is desirable.