Sometimes referred to as the Personnel Department, the HR Department in larger companies may even have departments of its own, for instance the Corporate Division and a Labor Relations department. However, within any company, the HR department acts as a go-to link between the workers and the upper echelon of its directors.
Depending on the size of the corporation, the job of HR generalist, manager, and director may be blended or broken up into separate departments. An HR generalist works specifically to manage the day-to-day business functions of the HR programs, and implements procedures and policies. The generalist has a myriad of job descriptions such as recruitment, logistics, employment and compliance, policy development, and employee services, to name a few. An HR director or manager, on the other hand, will manage and guide the entire HR department.
HR Careers and Jobs
The highest-ranking role in the HR department is usually the manager or director, followed by the generalist and below that an HR assistant. The job descriptions for each of those vary depending on the size of the company. The job requirement for a generalist, manager, or director usually requires having a specific HR college degree. Some HR careers are so diverse that they require a degree in law as well as a degree in HR. If the company employs or places some of its workers in foreign countries, there may even be a foreign language requirement for a specific career.
HR Job Opportunities
There are job opportunities in every sector of HR. An HR assistant, for example, works under the above mentioned managers and generalists, and that job may encompass various responsibilities such as employee relations, development and training, organization development, and of course recruitment.
Some other opportunities may be for conciliators or mediators who will counsel and advise labor and management in order to prevent and resolve labor disputes. Within that department one may find jobs for arbitrators, who basically fulfill the need for referees or umpires.
Again, depending on the size of the organization, there are many jobs that fall into this heading that may or may necessitate a college degree. If you are going to work in the payroll department for example, your experience as a bookkeeper or accountant is necessary. If working with people is your goal and you lack a college degree, you can still work for the HR department in administrative and clerical office jobs such as data processing.
Job Outlook
The job outlook in HR is in high demand, and will continue to be so as more and more companies realize the importance of keeping their employees satisfied with their jobs. Various changes in regulation, legislation, and other laws affecting employees also make HR more and more important in today's companies.
