Graduate Job Guide: Human Resources

Human resources is one of those professions most people have heard of, but if asked, many could not define. In essence, human resources is the practice of managing staff, or human capital, of an organization. From hiring to firing, discipline, employee benefits and training, preparation and enforcement of employee guidelines, the aim is to ensure that an organization’s human capital investments add value and provide the optimal return.

Industry Overview:

A famous industrialist once said that if you took away his factories, but left his people, he’d start new factories, but that if you took away his people, he’d be left with empty buildings.

It’s very true that people are what make organizations function. Without the employees of a business doing their respective jobs, you would not have companies. It’s that simple.

Making sure that an organization’s employees fulfill their tasks, in the most productive and therefore most profitable manner is a critical function within companies of any size, in any industry, and the market for well trained, exceptional individuals within the HR industry is great.

Human resources professionals may also be tasked with implementing or overseeing programs such as health and safety, employee wellness, overseeing leave and even involvement in training programs. It’s a career that includes analysis of problem areas, problem solving and hands on implementation, as well as administration and routine tasks, and there really is no day that is quite the same as another. 

By taking control of the human capital of any organization, human resources professionals ensure that a company’s theoretical plans and strategies go from the drawing board to reality. It’s a fast paced, high pressure environment, involving management skills, legal issues, interpersonal relationship building and a host of other hard and soft skills.

Requirements:

Human resources involves dealing with people at all levels, from labourers to board directors, so people skills, and a love of working with people is critical to success.

A degree of some kind is generally prerequisite for entry into the human resources field, and generally, one in business or administration will serve entrants to the field well. Post graduate studies in human resources can also further prospects, and ease entry into the field, as can volunteering in a human resources capacity with a charity or similar organization to develop key skills.

Great communication, management and leadership skills as well as the ability to function as a part of a team, are also required.

Given these requirements, it would seem that a degree in business, or in a communication field would provide a solid basis to further study, and towards a successful career in the human resources.

In the UK, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development provide training and accreditation that will be required for a good career in human resources, and they do offer varying degrees and levels of study.

Positions:

Every company, in every industry, that employs people, has a need for HR professionals.

Jobs for HR professionals range from positions within large organizations to a careers in recruitment and executive search. Other job types include specializing in payroll administration, or even becoming a career advisor.

You may choose to further specialize, in areas such as employee development, training, or recruitment, thereby narrowing your options in terms of employment, but increasing your earning potential.

With the credit crunch, many companies are restructuring, downsizing or otherwise re-examining their staff commitments, all requiring specific procedural and even legal expertise within the personnel field, which means that where other professions are seeing instability, human resources professionals remain in great demand. In fact, a leading research agency, in 2006 and 2007, reported a 65% increase in the number of vacancies!

With starting salaries at around £21,000, for an HR assistant, and HR directors netting around £75,000, this can definitely a very lucrative career!

Human resources has become less of a support function, and more of a management position, taking an active role in the running of a company by furthering the organizations goals and strategies, ensuring that staff and employees put new decisions, productivity strategies and other concepts into practice.

Career Prospects:

With so many options within the human resources industry, and even the possibility of starting your own business, for example in payroll, health and safety, or some other form of consulting, there are great possibilities and opportunities in this industry.

If you are employed by a large company, moving up within the human resources department is a distinct possibility, and hard work will certainly pay off! However, even starting off in a small to midsized company, and providing great results opens the doors for lateral or upward moves, either, in the case of the former, in a new, larger company, or in the latter, within the same organization.