When it comes to choosing a career for yourself, the number of options available is simply staggering. Rather than making life easier, the fact that there are so many choices can actually make it more difficult to narrow down which area you wish to focus; the more options there are, the more you’ll struggle to actually make a decision.
When it comes to choosing your career, the only way you can combat this is to inform yourself of the ins and outs of each individual job that appeals to you. By researching, you can ensure that you have the facts available to make an informed choice, rather than just trying to choose based on your gut instinct.
So, in an effort to assist you in this task, today we’re going to focus on one of the most popular modern career choices: human resources. HR is a growing sector that has become more and more important in recent years, and choosing to focus your career in this area could be hugely beneficial. However, for those currently outside of HR, what it actually entails can be rather confusing. If you want to find out more, then read on for an overview of this exciting profession…
What is human resources?
People who work in HR tend to work for companies, both large and small. Their role is primarily based around the management of the staff of the company.
What are HR personnel responsible for?
The job varies depending on the company you’re working for, but you can expect a role to consist of tasks such as:
- Management of staffing; for example, recruitment and also dismissals.
- Work related to the compensation, benefits, and salary negotiations of individual staff members.
- Organisation of training and learning experiences for staff, for both new recruits and established staff members.
- Dispute management. This can relate to disputes between the company and an employee, between an employee and a boss, or just employee-to-employee.
- The management and maintenance of all documentation related to employees; for example, contracts.
- Providing support to employees who may be struggling in their role and helping each employee to make the most of their time at the company.
Do you need qualifications to work in human resources?
If you want to work in general human resources, then the answer is likely to be no. You could start as a basic HR assistant and then learn on the job, potentially to the point of being able to be promoted.
However, if you are looking beyond entry-level, then yes, you will need some form of qualification to show your specialisation in human resources. These qualifications can take many forms, but the most popular is usually an MBA with a focus in HR. If the idea of going back to school concerns you, then you may want to research online MBA HR programs that will allow you to obtain the qualifications you need in a way that fits with your lifestyle.
As with most forms of employment, the more specific qualifications you have for HR, the more likely you are to be able to be able to command high-paying work in future.
How much do people working in human resources earn?
As you might expect, the amount varies depending on the company they are working for, the level of experience each employee has, and a number of other variable factors. However, here’s a few stats that should help to shed light on the situation:
- A Human Resources Assistant earns just over $30,000 per year.
- A Human Resources Generalist (someone who works in HR with no specific speciality) earns just over $50,000 per year. This figure is calculated as a median salary.
- A Human Resources Manager earns a median salary of just over $99,000 per year.
What kind of people suit human resources as a career choice?
- People who work in human resources are ideally outgoing; much of your job will require interacting with other people, so extroversion is particularly beneficial.
- A keen sense of empathy is also beneficial, as you will need to relate to employees and ensure that their working lives are as simple as possible.
- Organisational skills are also an integral part of working in human resources.
- You will also need good time management skills; human resources can be fast-paced and changeable, so you’ll need to be able to manage your working day so you can keep up.
In conclusion
So whether you’re looking for your first job or want to make a change to your existing career plan, you should now have the facts you need to allow you to ascertain if HR is a good fit for you.