Human resource (HR) specialists can make or break a company. The HR team is responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising ongoing education for staff members of corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. HR specialists can focus on recruitment, training, mentoring, benefits and compensation programs, job design, organizational planning, and labor relations roles. You may administer tests, conduct employment searches, or analyze workplace diversity.
How to Prepare for a Career in HR
Thanks to the development and success of online strategic HR degrees and human resources training programs, many HR professionals begin careers as staff members of a company HR department or professional job recruitment firm while they earn their degree. Knowing the ins and outs of office procedure, employment law, and business practice can give you an edge in pursuing a career.
HR Career Education Requirements
Online HR degree and training programs are offered at colleges, universities, and business trade schools. For those who want to progress beyond an HR staff role, graduate degrees in HR, business, finance, or training management can be your ticket to advancement into management positions. Some managers complete an MBA with an HR orientation.
Salary Ranges and Job Outlook for HR Professionals
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment, recruitment, and placement specialists earned a median annual income of $45,470 in 2008, with top-level earnings at $85,760. Human resource managers earned a median 2008 income of $96,130, with the high-end of the scale at $163,220. The BLS predicts a 22 percent increase in HR management jobs during the 2008 to 2018 decade.