Human Resources Career Guide

An organization’s employees — its people — are, by far, its greatest resource. Wise employers recognize this fact and expend time and money to cultivate this incredible asset. 

However, managing people and their talent in a business is a full-time job. And since it’s a multi-faceted task, you’ll require a wide array of paperwork, business lingo, and legal know-how to navigate. You’ll have to –

• Provide support.
• Resolve conflict.
• Provide training.
• Issue benefits and bonuses.
• Recruit and hire new talent.

No wonder Human Resources departments are so important! Human Resources, or HR, plays a pivotal role in promoting employee satisfaction and loyalty. There are diverse roles and responsibilities within HR. So, if you love building people up, a career in HR might just be right for you!

Key Responsibilities

1. Recruitment and Onboarding

HR is the cornerstone of the hiring process. HR specialists collaborate with department heads to build their teams by identifying roles they need to meet company goals. HR may post job listings internally or work alongside a third-party recruiter. They screen and shortlist applications, schedule and coordinate interviews, and sometimes they’re involved in the interview itself. HR specialists communicate with the new hire, process the paperwork, and complete onboarding.

2. Training and Development

HR also oversees employee training and development. While they don’t always provide training personally, they coordinate training programs, workshops, and continuing education. They may provide any of the following:

• Role-specific training.
• Leadership training.
• Personal development.
• Compliance training.
• Safety training.

HR also maintains excellence by defining objectives and performance standards along with training. Depending on the company structure, they may personally manage performance appraisals —or train managers to carry the responsibility.

3. Employee Relations and Engagement

 A primary HR objective is employee satisfaction and emotional, mental, and physical well-being. So, HR oversees the day-to-day employee experience. To clarify, HR is not a helicopter monitoring every moment of an employee’s day. It does, however, remain accessible to support each person — including management. HR will do any of the following crucial tasks.

• Mediate conflict.
• Boost morale and engagement.
• Make policies understandable and accessible.
• Issue disciplinary action for policy violations.
• Help shape and preserve company culture.

HR bridges the gap between the employees and management, helping both “sides” feel represented and supported. This factor proves especially helpful during conflict or an internal investigation.

4. Compensation and Benefits

HR works closely with company leadership and finance to create a fair and competitive pay structure. They may analyze company roles in light of incoming candidates’ skills and experience to establish role-specific salaries. HR monitors pay equity, ensures compliance, and informs workers about employee benefits.

HR rarely issues payroll but works closely with accounting to ensure everyone receives accurate pay. They provide the payroll department with crucial information about workers’ salaries, benefits, deductions, bonuses, hours, and employment status. 

5. Compliance and Legal Responsibilities

Another important HR responsibility is ensuring compliance and legal adherence! HR creates and monitors adherence to policies that meet federal, state, and local labor laws in these areas:

• Labor law compliance.
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).
• Workplace safety and OSHA compliance — especially in light industrial.
• Employee claims — harassment, wrongful termination, discrimination, etc. 
• Employee training in workplace ethics, safety, and harassment prevention.

Roles within HR

With such a wide array of HR responsibilities, applicants can select from various jobs within a given HR department. Entry-level roles include HR assistant, HR coordinator, or recruitment coordinator. These are support roles, assisting in record keeping, scheduling interviews, maintaining employee files, and other day-to-day administrative tasks.

In smaller HR departments, an HR generalist often oversees multiple duties, while an HR specialist may supervise one area, such as recruitment or training. 

Conversely, HR roles may be highly specialized in a large HR department. You’ll find recruiters, talent acquisition specialists, learning and development managers, benefits administrators, and compliance officers — just to name a few. And at the apex is the chief human resources officer (CHRO).

Required Skills and Education

While HR is a people-centric job, it is also fundamentally a business function that includes immense paperwork, detailed data entry, and compliance tracking. Accuracy is crucial. Legal and industrial standards must reign supreme. All that being said, HR professionals must possess a wide range of skills. If you are considering an HR position, strive for proficiency in these areas.

• Strong communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Emotional intelligence.
• Cultural awareness.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Negotiation skills.
• Objectivity.
• Attention to detail.
• Data-driven decision-making skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Understanding of federal and local labor laws.
• Proficiency in HR software such as Applicant Tracking Systems.
• Payroll experience (depending on the role).

Most HR positions require candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree in an associated field, such as

• Human Resources Management.
• Business Administration.
• Organizational Development.
• Labor Relations.
• Psychology.

Job Outlook for HR

HR professionals are in demand because business leaders must consistently attract, retain, and manage talent, especially in tech, healthcare, and finance industries. Solid employee engagement initiatives are becoming more crucial for business success. The current cultural climate calls for greater diversity within the workforce. Technology and automation drive more business structures and processes — including recruiting and payroll. Business leaders need the expertise and guidance of skilled HR professionals to help them navigate an increasingly fast-paced business environment.

So, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, HR jobs aren’t going anywhere (except up), with a projected growth of 8% from 2023 - 2033. Notably, this growth slightly exceeds the projected growth for other industries and occupations.

Although salaries vary by role and location, last year’s median annual salary for an HR specialist in the United States was $67,650.

Tips for Attaining an HR Position

If you are considering a role in HR, here are a few things to consider beyond obtaining a degree and honing needed skills.

1. Gain Experience.

A degree alone may not land you that dream HR job. Make sure you tuck some experience under your belt with some college internships. 

2. Network with HR Professionals. 

Take every opportunity to connect with and receive mentoring from other HR and business professionals. Network like a social butterfly on caffeine! It’s not only about what you know but also who you know. Plus, you can learn much practical, hands-on wisdom from those farther down their career paths than you are.

3. Keep a Business Mindset.

Human Resources is still driven by facts, policies, and procedures. It is still about business. Mike Kahn, SHRM-SCP (a senior-level HR designation) and executive senior partner at Human Resources Search at Lucas Group in Houston, offers some insight. He observes that “companies want strong businesspeople with HR expertise. They want business acumen, analytics, and systems capabilities.” So, if you want to be competitive in the HR world, strive to gain a strong head for business!

4. Earn Certifications. 

Working towards HR certifications can give you an edge when job searching and can help you continue learning after you’ve landed a job! The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) are just a couple of organizations that offer various HR certifications.

Are you interested in joining the workforce as an HR professional? Partnering with a staffing agency specializing in placing the right people in the right jobs might be your next best step! For over 50 years, Career Concepts has matched the best people with the best employers. We take you and your career seriously and can help you find what you’re looking for — contact us today, and let’s get started!