We’ve all heard the phrase “people person.” Lots of people use this phrase to describe themselves; however, it’s one thing to be friendly and another thing entirely to choose a line of work that puts you in contact with people and their problems every day. Some people out there were just built for administering that kind of personal touch. A degree in human resources is one way to go if you find yourself interested in that kind of work. This degree is ideal for people who are personable and friendly and who enjoy spending one-on-one time with other employees in the workplace, helping them to solve problems or addressing internal staffing issues.
Related Resource: Entry Level Human Resources Jobs
Choosing a Human Resources Program
Choosing a Human Resources degree can be difficult, seeing as there are quite a few different programs to choose from. The most important thing to keep in mind is whether the program in question is accredited. What accreditation means for you is that you’re getting assurances of the program’s quality. Graduates of unaccredited programs may face certain difficulties later in life with regards to transferring credits or even successfully getting a job.
What Can You Do With It?
A Human Resources degree can prove to be quite flexible in the real world; there are many possible applications for a degree of this type. The most common entry-level position for graduates of human resources programs is probably that of a Human Resources Assistant. The primary duty of an HR assistant is to interact with employees directly to help them resolve problems, understand their benefits, or adjudicate disputes between employees. Administrative duties might include facilitating communications between management and the workforce, conducting recruiting and staffing duties, as well as performing new employee orientations.
Human Resources Generalists share many of the above duties, with a possible added emphasis on new employee management. In addition, both of these positions may be responsible for planning company functions, which brings an element of fun and creativity to the role.
Higher up the employment ladder, Human Resources Managers are responsible for overseeing entire human resources departments, including the management of an HR team. If you believe that you possess excellent leadership qualities and communication skills, this might be a role worth striving for.
In the event that you find yourself working for a large company with a sizable work force, you may be interested in pursuing a career as a Labor Relations Manager. You’ll be entrusted with several important responsibilities including assisting employees with contracts and negotiating on behalf of the company in the event that collective bargaining takes place. It’s a high-profile job that puts you directly in the middle when a company needs to communicate to a large workforce, and vice versa. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding way to put your human resources degree to work, this might be the career for you.
The Path to Advancement
Not only is a human resources degree useful for finding a job after graduation, but it’s also the first step toward a long and rewarding career with possibilities for advancement. Find an accredited program and get started today.
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