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Degrees and Schools
A bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources management is the ideal degree to pursue for this field. If the program a student enrolls in does not offer this concentration, students should be sure to take electives such as labor and employment relations, organizational training and development and compensation and benefits planning. Business administration programs are widely available at universities and colleges although concentrations in human resources management are not an option in every program.
Coursework
Coursework that prepares students for a career in human resources is listed below:
- human resources management
- compensation administration
- employee benefit planning
- organizational training and development
- labor and employment relations
- employment law
- human resources information systems
- business ethics
Online Classes and Programs
A number of online programs in business administration with human resources concentrations are available through online schools as well as campus-based schools. These schools should be accredited by a regional accreditation agency.
Employment Requirements
A bachelor's degree in business administration, ideally with a concentration in human resources, is the preferred degree although many positions are open to those with a variety of bachelor's degrees. Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification, which is awarded by the Society for Human Resources Management, is highly valued by many employers. Other organizations offer more specialized certifications which can also be valuable to employers. Employers also look for candidates with excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as strong computer skills.
How to Evaluate Schools and Programs
When choosing a program that will lead to a position as a Human Resource Specialist, the following questions should be considered:
- Electives - Are electives available in a student's area of interest such as training, compensation or labor relations?
- Employment - What type of assistance does the school provide to help students find a position after graduation? What positions have past graduates obtained?
- Cost - What are the tuition and fee costs for the program? What financial aid is the student likely to receive? Will the amount of loans taken out be reasonable?
- Accreditation - Is the program accredited by one of the six regional accreditation agencies?
Human Resources Specialists Job Description
Meeting an organization's human resource needs has become a complex endeavor which can affect a company's ability to hire and retain a high quality workforce. Without Human Resources Specialists to take care of the many detailed aspects of a company's employee relationships, employee satisfaction can suffer, resulting in high turnover and low productivity. Human Resource Specialists assist companies with recruiting and interviewing, compensation and benefits administration, employee training and development, labor negotiations and regulatory compliance. They work in every type of industry and every type of organization including commercial, governmental and non-profit.
Responsibilities of a Human Resources Specialist will vary depending on the area in which they work. Some typical responsibilities for various positions would include:
- recruiting and interviewing job candidates
- planning and directing training programs
- providing career counseling
- analyzing and proposing pay scales
- conducting research for labor union negotiations
- ensuring equal employment opportunity compliance
- managing employee records
Resources
Society for Human Resources Management - The SHRM, through its HR Certification Institute, provides professional certifications for human resource professionals and supports its members through research, publications, training, conferences and local chapters .
The American Society for Training and Development - The ASTD supports workplace learning and performance professionals through certifications, publications, research, online resources, conferences, workshops and a career center.
International Public Management Association for Human Resources - IPMA-HR supports human resource professionals who work for federal, state and local governments. They provide professional development training, publications and online resources to human resources professionals.
Certified Employee Benefits Specialist Program - This program awards four designations for human resources benefits and compensation specialists. This program is offered by the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans.
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