The Outlook for a Career in Human resource

A career in human resources is a popular choice among young professionals entering the corporate world. HR has moved beyond its origins when it served largely as an administrative function dealing with interviews, hiring, performance reviews, and salary disbursals. Given how people are now recognized as the most important resource of an organization, HR serves as a strategic partner to company leadership in working toward attaining organizational goals.

How well-paying is a job in HR?

A career in HR offers a variety of roles such as talent manager, HR manager, compensation and benefits specialist, and others. For a human resources manager, the median annual salary is USD 113,300, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This of course varies as per years of experience, location of work and stay, specialization or particular tasks handled, and other factors.

Is there a difference in salaries in different sectors?

Given how HR jobs are available in a wide range of industries, there is variance among different industries and sectors when it comes to HR salaries. According to the BLS, technical consulting and scientific firms offer the highest salaries, while the highest-paying specializations are organizational development and labor relations.

Do earnings differ by the level at which the person is employed?

There is a significant variance as per level of employment. As per BLS data for people working in human resources management,

•The top 10 percent earned a median annual salary of USD 201,380

•Compensation and benefits managers earned a median salary of USD 121,010

•HR recruiters and specialists earned a median salary of USD 60,880

How is job growth in the HR sector?

Statistically speaking, the demand for human resource professionals outstrips the average national job growth for all other professions combined. Over the next 10 years, here is what the BLS projects:

•Jobs for training and development managers to grow at 8-10 percent, higher than the average growth rate

•Jobs for HR managers to grow at 7-9 percent, slightly higher than the average growth rate

•Jobs for HR specialists to grow at 5-7 percent, at the average growth rate

What are the skills and qualifications required for a job in HR?

To begin work in the HR field, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is usually asked for. If the candidate pursues or already holds a higher degree such as a master’s, the person becomes a more attractive candidate when compared to others seeking the same job.

Another popular option to add to the skill sets relevant for a job in HR is to take up one of the best certifications for HR professionals. An HR certification shows the employer that the candidate possesses the latest skills and know-how in the field. It also proves the person wants to invest in continuous learning and is ready to take on higher responsibilities.

How does one break into the HR field?

For those starting out in the world of HR, the right expectations are important. Initial jobs and responsibilities tend to be administrative in nature, but then the person does come only with a three-/four-year degree and no experience. Such entry-level positions give valuable experience and wisdom to take on bigger responsibilities and tougher decisions.

It is always helpful to get some work experience. This could be part-time in nature or by way of an internship. Networking with professionals in the field is also very useful.

Another point to consider is working for a small versus a large company. The former will bring a lot of responsibilities as HR teams are likely to be small, but will not allow much specializations. The latter will allow specialization in particular HR areas, but being part of a large team, the person is not likely to stand out.