What does a human resource specialist do?
HR specialists recruit new employees, and provide a number of services to existing employees, such as promoting employee morale and offering information and assistance regarding employee benefits.
There are several areas of focus for human resource (HR) specialists. One branch of human resources is recruitment. An HR recruiter (also called simply a recruiter) is responsible for finding employee candidates and are an integral part of the interview process. They often serve as a contact person for job inquiries.
Hiring employees is only the first step to a successful human resource department. HR specialists known as employee benefits managers are also in charge of a variety of issues involved with maintaining employees. This can include everything from fielding complaints to managing benefits packages and paid leave requests.
Lastly, some human resource specialists, referred to as employee welfare managers, have the task of organizing professional development and other on-the-job training. These training experiences are vital to employee growth. Likewise, employee welfare managers may also head up team-building exercises, special occasions, or any function that aids employee morale.
What kind of training does a human resource specialist need?
Most entry-level HR specialist positions require a bachelor degree in human resources or business. However, because this is such a diverse field, employers will consider prospective employees who hold a liberal arts degree, and perhaps even an associate degree.
Employers also value relevant work experience, either through previous jobs or through related internships. Since human resource specialists must be skilled at working with people, employers are looking for applicants who can demonstrate exceptional people skills. (1)
What are the prospects for human resources careers?
As governments and higher courts set more standards concerning employee rights and compensation, and with more companies focusing on employee development and retention, the need for specialists to fill human resources jobs is projected to increase by 17% between 2006 and 2016, taking the total number of jobs from 868,000 to an impressive 1,015,000. (1)
How much do human resource specialists make?
Entry-level HR specialists can expect to earn somewhere between $33,000 and $55,000, with HR assistants earning $34,000 yearly on average. Advancement to HR management or HR director positions can increase annual salary from $70,000 to well over $90,000. (2)
HR specialists have a unique opportunity to focus more on the human side of business while also serving an important role in the overall growth and productivity of a company. Those who enjoy the business environment but wish to focus their efforts on interpersonal duties may find a career in human resources especially worthwhile.
