Need a New Career? Consider Human Resources

Human resources probably wasn’t a career you dreamed of (or even heard about) as a child, but for many adults, it’s an exciting opportunity. This growing field offers excellent job growth and salary prospects for many employees. If you have strong organizational and people skills, human resources could be a great field for you.

What Is a Human Resources Specialist?

Human resources (HR) specialists are the people who deal with employee-related matters at the company level. They’re often the ones who recruit, screen, and interview potential employees. At some companies, they may also handle training, employee relations, and compensation or benefits.

There are a wide variety of tasks associated with HR roles. Depending on the job, you may end up:

• Managing programs that recruit, hire, or train new employees.
• Planning and overseeing the organization’s employee benefits program.
• Administering payroll or supervising the payroll department.
• Overseeing employment policies in either union or nonunion settings, including negotiating labor contracts.
• Helping the organization make the best possible use of employees’ talents.
• Connecting management with employees.
• Mediating disputes and directing disciplinary procedures.
• Advising other managers on HR issues such as sexual harassment.
• Traveling to visit other branches of the organization you work for or recruit employees.

In general, an HR department’s goal is to maximize employee productivity and manage or prevent workforce-related issues. Some organizations’ HR departments take a more active approach with initiatives that support employee wellness and career development. As an HR specialist, your work can help bridge the gap between employees and management if either side has concerns.

Why Human Resources?

HR is a growing field with very good pay potential. Human resources specialists earn a median annual wage of $67,650, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. If you eventually grow to become a human resources manager, you can expect to earn roughly $136,350.

Like most office jobs, HR specialists and managers tend to work during regular business hours. These jobs are usually full-time, although part-time options may be available with some organizations.

Both human resources specialist and manager job openings are projected to grow faster than most occupations over the next decade. Now is a great time to get into the field.

How to Move Into the Human Resources Field

Most employers expect human resources specialists to have a bachelor’s degree in human resources, communications, business, or a related field. If you are a working adult and don’t already have a degree, you may be able to find an employer who offers education-related benefits to help you pay for your education. 

Getting an HR certificate can also help you show employers your knowledge. You might want to look into options like the SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional) or the aPHR (Associate Professional in Human Resources) certification.

Experience is very important to most employers. Many students who plan to enter the HR field do at least one internship during college. Part-time jobs, volunteering, and related full-time work are also great ways to get started. If you can get practice with talent acquisition, training, or employment law, you will have a much better chance of being hired.

Human Resources Skills

To do a human resources job effectively, you need excellent communication skills, decision-making skills, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills. Working on these soft skills will help you succeed in your job and impress potential employers during interviews.

With related job experience, you can also gain the hard skills and experience employers are looking for. Many job openings ask for candidates who are familiar with human resources information software (HRIS) like Workday, ADP, Paylocity, Rippling, UKG, or Oracle.

LG Resources is a staffing agency that is constantly hiring for a wide range of jobs. We sometimes hire for HR and HR-related professional roles throughout the U.S. If you’re looking to move into the HR field, apply with us today.