How To Start An Hr Career

How To Break Into A Career In Hr

How to Start Your HR Career

It’s easier to break into a career in Human Resources if you plan your life, education, and work experience around the field. The income and opportunity prospects, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, are favorable for the next decade or two.

HR is a professional career that demands integrity, confidentiality , and a high level of interpersonal interaction abilities from its practitioners. Increasingly, for a successful career in HR, you will also need business management, finance, and accounting education and experience when possible.

You must be prepared to develop a thorough understanding of the business your employer is engaged in to succeed in a career in HR.

What Is Human Resources

Human resourcescommonly known as HR is a division of a business that focuses on the employees. Those in this department will handle the employment side of a business, including hiring and terminating employees, compensation, workplace culture and employee relations. HR professionals are often responsible for training, recruiting and developing employees, as well as managing workplace operations, such as benefits, payroll, government regulations and compliance. Those who work in HR often moderate and assist in the resolution of conflicts between employees. They may also be responsible for handling personnel concerns and fostering organizational success and productivity.

Many colleges and universities offer programs and degrees focused on human resources. If you are interested in pursuing a career in HR, you may choose to earn a degree in a related field of study to prepare you for the duties associated with working in human resources. After completing your degree, you can start looking for job opportunities so that you can gain work experience in HR. Entry-level HR jobs can be challenging to find, but many companies hire new graduates to learn more about HR through hands-on work.

What Is The Expected Career In Human Resource Industry

The Human Resource industry in todays world is constantly evolving and the importance of HR in a company is constantly increasing. For a firm to be successful, efficient usage of the resource i.e., the manpower is quite important which totally depends upon the HR. The planning, analyzing, communication, and other work still remain with the Human Resource department even after the introduction of the Human Resource Management Software.

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Humans As You May Know Are Complicatedbut Breaking Into Hr Doesn’t Have To Be

Start out on your human resources career path.

Human resources is the department of a company that manages the workers, whether theyre full-time, part-time, temps, or contractors. As such, HR is the core of any business.

What started out as personnel and payroll has evolved into many specialty areas, such as employment and placement compensation and benefits recruitment labor relations and training and development.

Depending on the company, a human resources job can encompass everything from recruiting to training to compensation, or it can focus on a single human resources specialty. A small organization may have just one human resources generalist or human resources manager.

How Do I Get Into Hr Consulting

As HR consultancies vary in size and the range of services offered, you could be working in different environments, though you’ll spend a lot of time at client sites. These roles are usually only offered to experienced HR professionals with CIPD qualifications.

A postgraduate qualification in the subject – for example, the one-year full-time MSc Human Resource Management and Consulting at the University of Bath – may boost your chances of employment in this field.

Keep an eye out for consultancy jobs at PM Jobs. You can also read the management consultant job profile for more information on HR consulting careers.

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Know Where To Look For Remote Hr Career Opportunities

Telecommuting HR jobs are out there, so you just need to focus on where to find them. You can do some research and target potential employers that are already operating in a fully remote capacity. Theyre sure to allow their HR team to work from home.

You can also find job boards dedicated to remote openings, such as:

AngelList connects hiring startups with remote job seekers. You can complete a profile and apply for multiple jobs with just one application.
Alight provides a variety of business services and has a job board with various types of roles, including HR.
Remote.co provides resources to companies that want to offer remote work and lists openings for remote positions.
Virtual Vocations is a job board dedicated exclusively to remote jobs in every field. A membership fee allows you to view their full listings and access a dashboard to track positions youve applied for.
FlexJobs specializes in remote, work-from-home, and flexible job opportunities, featuring thousands of remote HR roles.

There are also HR-specific sites for job seekers with remote job postings, such as HR Jobs Remote and PeopleOpsJobs.

With many job boards, you can set up email alerts for specific keywords. That way, relevant job opportunities land directly in your inbox.

Learn The Full Scope Of Hr

There are a variety of career paths that HR professionals might follow as they advance their careers. From talent acquisition associate to payroll guru, its helpful to understand each aspect of HR before settling on a specialization. HR generalist roles are a great way to dip your toes into a variety of functions and gain insights into HRs most common challenges.

If youre on a small HR team, youll most likely be asked to perform an array of tasks and be challenged to execute across disciplines. Youll likely have a hand in culture, benefits, payroll, and hiringbut as your team grows, youll have more time to focus on a specific function that appeals to you. Whichever function you zero in on, having generalist experience can make you well-positioned to take on a managerial role down the road.

Explore all areas of HR before deciding on one specializationthere are a lot of different areas of HR . It’s nice to see all aspects before deciding to specialize in a particular areaor you may even decide to be an HR generalist that handles a variety of duties in the long run.

There are three ways to gain exposure to the full spectrum of HR duties. Weve summed them up below:

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Job Description Of An Hr Manager

According to the BLS guide for human resources managers, human resources managers plan, direct and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. In particular, they oversee recruitment, consult with executives on strategic planning, and connect management with staff. HR managers may also specialize as: labor relations directors or employee relations managers, who oversee employment policies payroll managers, who supervise the payment of workers and recruiting or staffing managers, who lead the search for new talent.

Per the BLS, environments HR managers typically work in are management of companies and enterprises professional, scientific and technical services manufacturing government and health care and social assistance. The bureau notes that HR managers usually work in offices, although those employed by national or international organizations may have to travel to different branches. HR managers may also have to regularly attend professional conferences and recruitment events.

Job Outlook And Salary

Minute Mentor – How To Start A Career In Human Resources (HR)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , job growth in HR management is expected to grow by 9% from 2020 to 2030.

The median annual salary for a human resources manager is $121,220, according to the BLS. Human resources managers in the top 10 of earners make $162,720 annually, while managers in the lowest 10% earn $71,180. Salary can vary depending on several factors, including geographic location.

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What Does An Hr Consulting Business Do

The main responsibility of an HR consulting business is to provide guidance and advice to companies that want to improve their HR operations. This can involve having consultants visit a business to observe their HR department at work, make recommendations for improvements in HR procedures and develop solutions for challenges they notice in the workplace. HR consulting businesses can operate in almost any industry, so there are typically many opportunities for an HR consulting business to find clients.

Most HR consulting businesses hire a combination of experts in different areas of HR to build a strong team of professionals who can service a wide array of clients and projects.

Why Pursue A Career In Human Resources

People interested in careers for a human resources major need excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills. Human resources professionals onboard new hires and help resolve issues that employees encounter on the job. Those in managerial positions oversee the work of other human resources professionals, making sure they meet the company’s standards.

Most careers with a human resources degree take place in an office setting. Businesses expect human resources employees to understand and follow company procedures. Individuals looking to pursue a human resources career need empathy, strong critical thinking skills, and the ability to work closely with others.

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How Do I Start A Human Resources Career

Most human resources jobs require a bachelor’s degree. Individuals interested in this field should strongly consider going to college and earning a degree in human resources or a related field, like psychology, business administration, or communication. Those who wish to advance in the field might also want to earn a master’s or doctorate in human resources.

A: Gain Hr Work Experience

How to Kick Start Your Career: HR Assistant

After receiving a bachelors degree in human resources or a related field, it is a good idea to enter the workforce to gain experience. Essentially, any advanced or upper management position in human resources requires that students provide proof of having attended seminars or post-secondary training, in addition to real-world experience.

Entry-level positions include human resources assistant, associate, or specialist. Typical responsibilities include assisting with record-keeping of employee benefits, tracking work performance, managing compensation for employees, conducting employee orientations and training, and leading personal and team development strategies.

Degrees In Human Resources

Undergraduate and graduate HR degree programs offer deeper learning opportunities, but tend to focus more on theory than practical skills.

Because an understanding of business operations is crucial for those wanting to advance to a human resources management role, experts say an MBA carries the most weight among advanced degree programs.

Although many HR professionals pursue an MBA to gain basic business fundamentals, it’s also valuable to know that MBA programs are becoming more geared toward HR pros. Today, many U.S. universities offer graduate programs, including MBAs, that feature concentrations in human resources.

Whereas in the past, HR may have veered more toward master’s programs in organizational development, leadership, or HR management, today’s MBA programs not only offer traditional curricula about finance and marketing issues but also change management, including how to get things done and the people side of business.

At some institutions, students can major in HR management. At others, HR-related courses such as team building are offered as first-semester requirements or as electives.

The business competencies youll acquire with an MBA include

financial processes
organizational design and development
strategic planning to address external factors

Your Presence Is Your Present

Dont neglect the importance of cultivating a positive presence in your current job. Consistency, reliability, the right attitude, and the ability to work as part of a team all add to the type of impression it takes to get noticed and promoted.

In business, people are often cautioned that no one is irreplaceable. However, some people are more replaceable than others. Establishing yourself as a keystone member of the workforce strengthens your current position.

HR career development today takes more than skill it also takes strategy. Beginning a career in human resources is also a pledge to embrace lifelong learning, commit to growth, and make connections with others to help navigate the complexities of the contemporary HR job market.

The best way to get into human resources and climb the ladder is to get an advanced degree. The University of Scrantons online Master of Science in Human Resources Management will give you the competitive edge as you aim to advance your career. Learn more about the program today and begin your journey to the apex of human resources management.

Market Knowledge Is Key

During interviews, junior executives are often asked a slightly different set of questions compared with their senior counterparts because of the formers lack of work experience.

For example, instead of answering questions about what they have done, junior executives will be tested on market knowledge , scenarios, personal growth plans and their thoughts on the industry.

Hiring managers ask these questions to test knowledge and passion for the industry. They are not just looking for junior support staff per se they are looking for talent to groom.

Resources For Human Resource Managers

How to start in HR Career | How to get hr job without MBA

For more information on careers in HR, job boards, and other professional development resources, check out the list below:

Evil HR Lady
Society for Human Resource Management
HR Magazine
The Definitive Guide to Onboarding
SHRMs HR Jobs

Purdue University

Purdue University offers an online master of business administration program with a concentration in human resources. The SHRM has acknowledged that this online concentration fully aligns with SHRMs HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates. This guidebook defines the minimum human resource content areas that should be studied by HR students at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

The program comprises 60 to 76 credits, while the HR concentration is made up of 16 credits including courses such as employment law training and development strategic reward systems and recruitment and selection.

Location: West Lafayette, IN

Saint Marys University of Minnesota

An online master of arts in human resource management offered by the Saint Marys University of Minnesota also has an SHRM-aligned curriculum ensuring that students receive the most up-to-date information. Graduates of this program will be ready to become versatile HR professionals gaining an understanding of conflict management, goal assessments, and rewards systems as they relate to a companys execution, planning, and completion of objectives.

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Southern New Hampshire University

Location: Manchester, NH

Capella University

King University

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Job Outlook And Earnings Of An Hr Manager

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, the prospects for various Human Resources jobs vary by position. However, they range from growing as fast as the average growth for other occupations to having an even faster growth than the average for other occupations.

Research the available job prospects and potential earnings as you make your decisions about a career focus in the HR field. This is a description of how much money a human resources manager earns.

Taking The Cipd Route

The CIPD is the only recognised professional body in the UK which offers approved HR and learning and development qualifications.

Depending on your existing experience and qualifications, you can apply for one of 3 levels Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced, each of which is delivered in a variety of ways such as part-time, full-time or distance-learning. Employers may be willing to support you financially.

Pros: Barney Ely says CIPD qualifications gained in work offer the benefits of simultaneous work experience and technical training.

Cons: Studying while working can be a slog and for some students, reaching each successive level while holding down a demanding job may take time.

What Key Skills Do Hr Professionals Need

When applying for an HR role, you will need to differentiate yourself from the competition. To do this you will need to demonstrate a real commitment to HR as a profession: attending CIPD seminars and other networking or sector events can help. You could also try to do some unpaid work experience as this will demonstrate dedication, give you some experience of the HR working environment and may even lead to a permanent position.It is worth your while to attend HR events in the UK you can find excellent job opportunities, as well as get the chance to network with industry professionals and learn more about roles and expectations.In order to start a career in HR, you will also need to show first class communication and interpersonal skills as the majority of the role will be people orientated. You will deal with people at all levels within an organisation so must be able to show your adaptability. Organisational skills and flexibility is also a must in order to deal with a busy and unpredictable workload. Private sector organisations will also look for people who can demonstrate commercial acumen.

Things You Need To Know About Starting A Career In Hr

Despite todays weaker market sentiment, the human resources industry has always been acknowledged as one of the more stable markets in Singapore. This is set to continue in 2022, as companies realise the value of aligning HR processes and policies, in particular employee retention, with business goals.

With the role of HR evolving into a more strategic one, more new graduates are now expressing an interest in stepping into the industry. If thats you, heres what you need to know about starting a career in HR.

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A Bachelor’s Degree In Hr

Many companies expect candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in HR as part of their hiring requirements or at least an associate degree. You can find colleges and universities worldwide that offer HR degrees in person and online, or you can get a business degree with an HR emphasis. If you get an online bachelor’s degree, the full cost of tuition will likely fall between $43,000 and $64,000 . Examples of HR degrees you can get and the average completion time include:

Associate degree in human resource management: two years to earn
Bachelor’s degree in human resource management: four years to earn
Master’s degree in human resource management: 16 to 24 months to earn after earning a bachelor’s degree