Human Resource Jobs Are in Demand

The number of positions in human resources has increased tremendously over the years and will continue until 2014. As the need for personnel and management goes on growing, HR jobs would increase. If you are on the road of considering the client aspect or management in human resources, a job in the HR industry can make the difference to your life. If you are interested in a position in this industry and have the proper qualifications, your monthly pay packet could exceed $60,000. If you have a major in human resources in your college and recently finished your graduation or about to do so, then the time is right for you to research into this paying job market.

Positions in human resources are in demand and will continue to grow at least through 2014. The need for personnel and management is growing quite rapidly, and today's digital systems are making their mark. Whether you are considering the client aspect or management in human resources, the time is right to find out what you can do to make a difference. Depending on the type of position in which you are interested—and with the right training—the salary can exceed $60,000. If you majored in human resources in college and have recently graduated or soon will, you may be surprised to learn just how great the job market is right now.

Skills Needed for Human Resource Jobs



Human resource jobs are an important aspect in every company. Normally, these positions comprise the hiring department and deal with any problems employees may have. Whether in another city or within the same building, the human resource department is responsible for you, the employee. These positions oversee everything from documentation to hiring status, wages and benefits, and tax information.

Entry-level positions are often filled by recent college graduates. Some employers expect the successful candidate to have a degree in human resources, administration of human resources, or a labor and industrial relations major. The required skills depend entirely upon the position. Basic skills essential for almost every position include computer knowledge, the ability to work with others, and communication skills in order to work with clients and personnel.

Computer skills learned during educational experiences in college will serve you well in a human resource job as most companies track vital employee in databases that must be maintained and updated. In addition, human resource employees often conduct background checks on potential employees. Such checks are becoming more common. Since many positions now require handling money or sensitive data, employers want to know that their employees are trustworthy.

Human resource employees may also be responsible for interviewing job applicants and making recommendations for the position. This requires being able to communicate with people and being a good judge of character. Filling vacancies is a top priority for companies as it ensures that productivity will not suffer.

Positions Available in Human Resource Careers

Several positions are available in the field of human resources. Common positions are listed here, along with the salaries you might expect (keep in mind that these may change based on supply and demand, size of company, benefits offered, and location of employment).

1) Human Resource Assistant I: Depending upon the company, this position may require an associate's degree or comparable training as well as up to two years of work experience. Duties likely include recruiting new employees, managing employment-related issues, working with personnel records, conducting job evaluations, completing work related to benefits, and conducting training. Initial salary averages about $26,000 per year.

2) Training Specialist I: This employee will handle training for different programs, including new employees. People in this position must familiarize themselves with the company's procedures and expectations. The salary averages $37,000 per year.

3) Human Resources Generalist I: This position collects data pertaining to the various human resource functions and making recommendations to superiors as well as handling information relating to benefits or policies, reporting this information to a manager. The salary averages $37,000 per year.

4) Labor Relations Specialist: This position is involved in labor contract talks, which means applicants should be knowledgeable of laws dealing with local as well as state and federal issues. Employees in this position may provide opinions regarding any changes they feel should be made to existing policies to ensure that the company is in compliance with new or existing regulations. This position earns on average $44,000 per year.

5) Human Resources Manager: The manager is responsible for a wide array of duties, including creating detailed plans of the company's programs for employees, reimbursements, company benefits, training of new employees, programs to ensure the health and safety of employees, and activities related to fully staffing all positions. The manager fulfills these requirements with the help of other employees whom they manage. Starting salary usually averages about $63,000, but could be more depending upon experience.

Future Outlook

Joe Vocino, senior compensation consultant of Mercer Human Resource Consulting, says the last 10 years have brought dramatic changes to human resource careers. ''You are seeing human resources being valued much, much more in organizations,'' he stated. ''More and more, we are seeing human resources right at the CEO's side at the time of strategic decisions, acquisitions and divestitures.'' The competition for human resource positions is going to get fierce as more graduates hit the job market looking for career positions. Whether you are looking for entry-level human resource positions or are ready for the management positions, companies are hiring and will continue to do so over the next several years. Now is the best time to embark on a career in human resources.