What Does a Human Resources Consultant do?

Find Your Degree!

hr consultant

What is Human Resources Consulting?

Human resources departments are responsible for maintaining solid communication between employees and administration. HR professionals perform a variety of tasks related to maintaining this line of communication. They perform tasks such as:

  • regulating federal guidelines on discrimination
  • hiring employees
  • terminating employees

Like other jobs, HR is not restricted to one level or tier. Human resources managers oversee HR departments and provide further administrative support to higher management professionals. What is an HR consultant? A human resources consultant holds a position of authority among other HR professionals. They act in a supervisory role with a wide range of responsibilities. Read on to learn more about the role of a human resource consultant.

What are Education and Certifications Requirements?

It might surprise those interested in this career that an HR consultant does not need an advanced degree in order to become a successful professional in the field. The Society for Human Resource Management lists a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field as the only degree requirement. In addition to the bachelor’s degree, human resources consultants also need three years of professional experience working in an HR department.


What is HR consulting? Because HR policies change frequently, HR consultants are required to stay up-to-date on the latest rules and regulations. HR consultants are expected to remain educated on the latest technology and services available in the human resources industry in order to perform human resource consultation. Human resources consultants may be required to attend various professional development seminars. They also need to adhere to state and local guidelines for continuing education.

What are the Major Responsibilities?

What does an HR consultant do? According to the SHRM, an HR consultant will “Perform advanced, specialized and administrative duties in a designated human resource program or section area” and is “responsible for providing high-level support in the administration of an HR program.” Human resource consultants undertake a lot of administrative responsibility in their day-to-day tasks. HR professionals:

  • interpret human resources policy
  • offer advice on policy implementation
  • answer questions on policy
  • present training sessions on complex HR procedures

HR consultants are largely responsible for a company’s continued compliance with HR policy.

What is the Job Outlook and Salary?

In its 2021 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) listed the median salary for human resource managers as $126,230 per year with a projected job outlook of 9 percent growth over the next decade. Years of experience as well as other factors influence the salary. Suffice it to say, the median salary and job growth expectations look promising for HR consultants. As professionals who perform high-stress jobs in HR departments, their pay is commensurate with the experience and qualifications necessary for the job.

Related Resource: Top 10 Best Online Human Resources MBA Programs

Conclusion

Now that you can answer the questions, “What do HR consultants do and what is an hr consultant,” you can prepare for the next step to perform human resource consultancy. HR consulting offers a rewarding career path with great job advancement. It is great for those who enjoy working with individuals, companies, and organizations to maximize employee potential and helping to solidify growth. As legal requirements evolve and companies are required to meet the ever-changing demands of professional ethics, human resources consultants will be valued for their ability to perform top-notch support to HR departments across the country.

Related Resources: