Human Resources Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

When people think of the way a small business is structured, they usually envisions an owner and a manager, which are sometimes the same person, as well as several lower ranking employees that perform the most interaction with the customers or clients. These employees are trained to cater to the customer’s every need and make sure that they are always satisfied with the products and the services rendered. However, this organizational structure becomes more complicated when companies get bigger and have hundreds or even thousands of employees. Human resources professionals are trained to look after the needs and treatment of the employees in these larger companies. It is their responsibility to recruit, hire, train and maintain the workforce of the company that they are employed by.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$70,200
Salary Range
$55,800 - $98,100

Work Environment

Because they are hired to look out for the best interests of the organization in the hiring process, and the employees once they are hired, human resources specialists are employed in just about every industry and type of company. They typically work in an office setting at the company’s main branch or location where they will be centrally available for employees who have questions or need to voice concerns.

High School Preparation

Students who think that they might enjoy the tasks of a human resources specialist should focus on gaining knowledge about administrative duties, and how to be a good leader while they are in high school. Other courses that will be helpful in their career include computer skills, data processing, psychology, English, foreign languages, and sociology. Experience with data entry, customer service and business management is also helpful.

Requirements

Because they are used in almost every type of industry and company structure, the requirements for becoming a human resources specialist can vary depending on the company that is hiring. In most cases, it will be required that the candidates have a bachelor’s degree in business management, English, organizational communications, human resources, or personnel administration. Those who wish to fine tune their education might seek certification as a Professional of Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR).

Career Outlook

The demand for qualified human resources specialists is expected to experience healthy growth over the next ten years, with experts calling for a twenty to thirty percent increased in the amount of jobs that are available. Those that wish to set themselves apart from the competition will be knowledgeable about new technologies and forms of communication that can be utilized in recruiting the most qualified candidates to their companies.

Professional Organizations

Society for Human Resource Management
1800 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (800) 283-SHRM
www.shrm.org