Choosing a career path is an important decision that requires careful consideration of your skills, interests, personality, and goals. Human resources (HR) is a broad field that focuses on managing people in the workplace. An HR career can be rewarding for the right person, but also has some potential downsides.
What does an HR professional do?
HR professionals typically perform some or all of the following duties:
- Recruit, interview, and hire new staff
- Handle employee relations issues, including disputes and complaints
- Administer employee benefits programs
- Oversee staff training and development opportunities
- Manage compensation, rewards, and performance evaluation programs
- Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations
- Analyze workforce data and metrics
- Advise managers on HR-related issues
The specific responsibilities can vary based on the size and industry of the organization. In a large corporation, an HR professional may focus on a specific area like recruiting or compensation. In a small company, the HR manager likely handles all aspects of HR.
What skills does an HR pro need?
Excellent HR professionals possess the following core competencies:
- Communication skills – HR pros interact daily with employees at all levels and must be able to communicate effectively via written, verbal, and digital means.
- HR expertise – HR managers must have in-depth knowledge of key HR disciplines like employment law, compensation, talent acquisition, training, and labor relations.
- People skills – Building relationships, influencing others, conflict resolution, coaching, and negotiating are critical HR skills.
- Ethics – HR pros often handle sensitive employee information, so integrity and a commitment to ethical practices are imperative.
- Business acumen – Understanding core business functions allows HR to better align HR strategies with organizational goals.
- Critical thinking – Assessing complex situations, analyzing data, and finding solutions to people challenges require sharp critical thinking abilities.
- Technology skills – HR information systems and analytics have become vital tools for managing the workforce, so HR pros must be tech-savvy.
Additionally, successful HR managers are organized, analytical, adaptable, and able to influence others. The right blend of hard and soft skills can position someone for HR success.
What are the educational requirements?
A bachelor’s degree is typically the minimum educational requirement for most HR roles. Common majors include human resources, business administration, psychology, communications, and labor relations. Coursework should provide a solid HR knowledge base along with critical thinking and communication skills.
Higher-level HR positions often require a master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or business administration (MBA). Some colleges and universities offer graduate-level HR certificates as well.
Professional HR certifications like SHRM-CP and PHR demonstrate mastery of key subject matter and a commitment to the profession. While usually not mandatory, certifications can enhance an HR pro’s qualifications and career advancement prospects.
What are the salary and job outlook?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for HR specialists and managers is $63,490. The lowest 10% earn less than $39,520 and the top 10% earn more than $122,270. Average salaries vary based on position, industry, experience, and geographic location.
HR job growth is projected to be 7% from 2021-2031, about the average rate when compared to other occupations. Demand for HR expertise should remain steady given the ongoing need for talent management, HR digital capabilities, employee relations, and compliance assistance.
HR Position | Average Salary |
---|---|
HR Manager | $121,220 |
HR Generalist | $70,720 |
HR Specialist | $63,490 |
HR Coordinator | $46,360 |
The above salary data is from the BLS and is based on 2021 figures for the U.S. overall job market. Salaries can span a wide range based on specific job descriptions and markets.
What are the pros of an HR career?
Working in the HR field offers several potential advantages:
- Impact people and organizations – HR initiatives like training, diversity, and compensation help attract and retain top talent.
- Variety of responsibilities – Daily tasks are diverse and allow for creativity when developing HR solutions.
- Collaborative work – HR pros regularly interact with employees, managers, executives, and vendors.
- Continuous learning – Keeping up with the latest HR trends and best practices prevents boredom.
- Good job prospects – Many organizations find it challenging to manage workplace issues, so talented HR pros are valued.
- Lucrative salaries – Experienced HR managers can potentially earn six-figure incomes, especially in large organizations.
Overall, an HR career provides the opportunity to positively impact organizations and employees while building expertise in a fast-paced, diverse field.
What are the cons of an HR career?
While rewarding for many, an HR career also comes with some potential challenges:
- Long hours – Heavy workloads can lead to 50+ hour workweeks.
- Stress – Conflicts, complaints, layoffs, and legal issues create stress.
- Little public recognition – HR department accomplishments often go unnoticed.
- Less hard power – Unlike finance or sales, HR carries little direct enterprise power.
- No revenue generation – HR is a cost center, not a profit center.
- Keeping up is difficult – Regulations, trends, and technologies constantly change.
HR pros must have stamina to handle delicate company issues amidst periods of overtime and organizational pressure. While HR is a support function, excellence can provide influence and respect.
Conclusion
An HR career offers the chance to help build successful companies and employee teams. The field combines critical thinking, communications, HR expertise, ethics, and relationship-building. Professionals get exposure to diverse business issues while driving initiatives that impact people and performance.
The role does come with tradeoffs like stress and long hours in support of business goals. However, talented HR practitioners can find the work highly rewarding. Solid pay helps offset the pressures. With sound fundamentals and experience, HR managers have REAL opportunities to advance into executive leadership roles.
For those passionate about workplace culture, talent development, and employee relations, HR offers an exciting path. Candidates should assess their own skills and motivations. But the ability to cut through complexity and politics while balancing company and employee needs can lead to an engaging and prosperous HR career.