Is Human Resources a Good Career?

If you think you might enjoy working with people from all walks of life to help make their jobs more satisfying and fulfilling, human resources might be a good career for you. You could work for a small company and have a variety of responsibilities or be a part of an HR team in a large enterprise and specialize in one area of HR.

Interesting Work in Human Resources

HR is the ultimate people-person job. You work with people, help people, deal with people. Depending on the size of your organization, you might specialize in a particular area such as compensation and benefits, recruiting and hiring, or negotiating with labor unions. Or you might do some combination of them all. Other responsibilities in human resources can include:

• Set Performance Management Standards
• Implement Training and Development Programs
• Ensure Health and Safety
• Implement Organization Structure and Design
• Develop Team Building and Employee Satisfaction Activities
• Establish Policies and Procedures

And because you know all the employees, you have a trove of valuable information that managers and executives might need to make important decisions. On a particular day you might discuss an upcoming court case with the company’s attorneys, meet with the chief financial officer about salary increases, or help plan business goals with the CEO.

HR Careers in Demand

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Human Resource Management jobs are projected to grow much faster than average through 2029. With job openings at record highs, companies need competent HR personnel to recruit, hire, and train new staff.

Opportunity for Growth in Human Resources

You can start at an entry level human resources job and work your way up the ladder for additional responsibilities and higher salaries and better benefits. Here are just a few examples of jobs at each stage of a human resources career:

• Entry Level

Recruitment Specialist – Place ads with job descriptions to advertise openings, and schedule interviews with appropriate company personnel.

Activities Coordinator – Plan team building and employee engagement activities such as golf outings or charitable work.

Newsletter Writer – Publish a newsletter with company news and events for internal employees.

• Mid-level

Talent Acquisition Manager – Interview and hire new employees.

Training and Development Specialist – Help department managers identify required employee training.

Compensation and Benefits Analyst – Work with upper management to determine employee benefits. Help select company health and retirement plans.

• Upper Level

Vice President of Human Resources – Manage a team of HR professionals responsible for hiring, benefits, training, safety, and organization structure and design.

Labor Relations Manager – Negotiate annual contracts with labor unions.

Chief Diversity Officer – Ensure diversity and equality through bias-free hiring and promotion practices, and equitable benefits distribution. Conduct audits to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.

What Kinds of People are Successful in a Human Resources Career?

HR would be a good career fit for you if you…

• Enjoy Working with People

If you love to meet new people and learn about their skills and life experiences, you will enjoy the recruiting and hiring process. You will need to interview people regarding their background and ask all the right questions, and then decide if they would be a good fit for your company.

• Are Friendly and Approachable

Employees will come to you for help on problems they might have in their job, or for advice on how to advance in their career. Being friendly and approachable is appreciated at all levels of a company. The ability to maintain confidentiality will also be critical to develop trust with employees.

• Have Great Communication Skills

There will be times when you get to deliver good news such as when you extend a job offer and times when you have to let someone go. A human resources professional knows how to communicate with employees at all levels to make sure regulations are followed while at the same time expressing empathy and understanding.

You also need excellent writing skills to create reports and complete performance reviews. In addition, you may be required to conduct training sessions on issues like diversity and sexual harassment.

• Are a Multitasker

You’ll have lots of HR responsibilities and you may need to work on many different projects concurrently. If you are organized and love to complete tasks on time and error-free, you can be successful in this field.

• Have Effective Analytical and Strategic Skills

You might be asked to design and implement a reorganization of the reporting structure in a company or recommend strategies for more effective management. You will have to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of current employees, and recommend where their talents can best be utilized within an organization.

At National American University, we offer a Bachelor’s Degree as well as professional certificates in Human Resources Management that will help prepare you for a rewarding career. If you already have some coursework or experience in a business field, you may be able to transfer those credits to your degree program. That way you will save both time and money. Call 800-209-0182 to speak to a counselor or click learn more now.