Working in human resources (HR) can be a great career move for those who enjoy making a positive difference in the workplace while helping others and crafting workplace culture. At the same time, the HR field is vast, so knowing how to find your niche can be challenging, especially early on in your career.
With a better understanding of what a career in human resources entails and the many roles you can pursue with an HR management degree, you can better understand which area of this expansive field may be best suited to your professional goals and interests.
Human Resources: A Dynamic, People-Centered Career Field
Today, every business and organization that hires talent relies on human resources professionals to recruit, retain, train, and develop their teams of employees. This includes every imaginable industry, from healthcare to technology and everywhere in between.
Despite the humble beginnings of the HR profession, where these professionals mostly served administrative functions, HR teams now form the backbone of many organizations, focusing on crucial areas such as organizational development, company culture, talent strategy, and analytical decision-making.
If you want to be part of this essential field, earning a degree in HR management can open the door to a variety of long-term roles with real career potential.
HR Generalist: The Foundation of Human Resources Work
So, what can you do with a degree in HR management? One of the most common entry-level roles pursued by new graduates is that of HR generalist.
HR Generalist Job Description
HR generalists are versatile professionals who handle a wide range of responsibilities within an organization. Some of these duties include hiring, onboarding, benefits administration, compliance, and employee relations. Typically, HR generalists work in organizations where human resources needs are centralized under a single role.
If you enjoy multitasking, communicating with others, and being part of numerous HR functions, then this type of role could be right for you.
Skills Needed
Because HR generalists are often one of the first points of contact between organizations and their employees (or potential employees), they need to have strong interpersonal communication skills. Problem-solving and time management skills are also a must, especially when working on multiple projects or tasks at once.
Because HR generalists need to conform with important employment laws (including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act), a strong knowledge of these regulations and HR systems is essential for maintaining compliance.
HR Specialist: Focused Expertise in a Specific Area
What if you’re more interested in focusing on a specific area of HR rather than being a “jack of all trades”? If this is the case, you may want to use your HR management degree to seek a job as an HR specialist.
HR Specialist Job Description
Unlike a generalist, an HR specialist focuses on a single function within human resources. Some common areas of specialization within the field include:
- Recruitment and talent acquisition
- Compensation and benefits
- Training and development
- Employee relations
- Compliance and risk management
A specialist role can be ideal for graduates who want to develop deep expertise in one area of the field. It’s not uncommon for larger organizations to hire several HR specialists to handle different functions that keep workplaces running smoothly.
Skills Needed
The specific skills needed as an HR specialist will depend on the area in which you want to work. For example, for those in compensation and benefits roles, strong data interpretation skills may be required. For recruitment roles, on the other hand, communication and interpersonal skills are a must. Meanwhile, those in training and development may need to be proficient in instructional design, and HR compliance specialists will need a strong understanding of policy implementation.
HR Manager: Leading HR Teams and Driving Strategy
With some experience under your belt as an HR generalist or specialist, you may be able to move into an HR management position. In this vital role, you’ll oversee teams and implement strategic HR functions.
HR Manager Job Description
HR managers play a leadership role in shaping workplace culture and supporting organizational success. Some common responsibilities for professionals in this role include:
- Developing policies
- Overseeing employee relations
- Ensuring legal compliance
- Aligning HR initiatives with business goals
Working as an HR manager typically requires an undergraduate degree in HR management (or a related field), as well as previous experience in an HR generalist or specialist role.
Skills Needed
Successful HR managers tend to have strong leadership skills and the ability to manage teams of various sizes and backgrounds. These professionals must also be strategic thinkers and problem-solvers, often drawing on their own analytical thinking to make the right decisions. Additionally, HR managers need to have a strong sense of emotional intelligence and the ability to resolve conflicts when working with teams.
HR Business Partner: Strategic HR with a Seat at the Table
Another HR role to consider is that of business partner, a job title that allows you to work directly with leadership teams while positively influencing business outcomes.
HR Business Partner Job Description
Whereas an HR manager may be more focused on the day-to-day operations within an organization, HR business partners tend to think “big picture” while working towards long-term strategic goals. More specifically, HR business partners work with department heads to help businesses align people strategy with organizational strategy. This includes advising leaders on such topics as:
- Workforce planning
- Organizational structure
- Employee development
Skills Needed
Thriving as an HR business partner requires a strong sense of business acumen, especially when advising teams. It also requires excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as an extensive understanding of workforce analytics that can be used to make decisions. Relationship management skills are also helpful, especially when working with stakeholders, decision-makers, and other leaders.
HR Analyst: Using Data to Optimize Workforce Performance
As organizations continue to rely more on data to make business decisions, the need for HR analysts continues to grow.
HR Analyst Job Description
HR analysts are responsible for the collection and analysis of HR data as it relates to such topics as turnover, hiring, compensation, and employee engagement. HR analysts then use that data to guide policy decisions, improve HR processes, and work toward organizational goals.
Often, HR analysts work alongside human resources information specialists (HRIS) to inform decision-making. They may also make use of spreadsheets and data visualization tools to better understand, interpret, and communicate data findings to stakeholders.
Skills Needed
A career as an HR analyst is ideal for those with strong statistical literacy, especially when it comes to data analysis and interpretation. These professionals must also be proficient in HRIS and commonly used reporting tools while maintaining a keen eye for detail. In sharing statistical findings with stakeholders, excellent verbal and written communication skills are also a must.
Specialized and Emerging HR Roles to Watch
In addition to the roles outlined above, HR graduates may also want to explore job openings in such niche roles as:
- Employee Experience Manager – These HR professionals work to improve the overall experience employees have in working for companies to optimize workplaces and improve retention.
- HRIS (HR Information Systems) Specialist – These HR specialists are dedicated to leveraging HR software that handles a wide range of functions, including employee record-keeping and payroll/benefits.
- Global HR Advisor – These HR professionals typically work for global organizations, ensuring that HR policies and procedures are consistent across different regions of operation.
- Remote Work Program Manager – With more employees now working in remote positions, some companies are hiring dedicated remote work program managers to oversee these workers and their unique HR needs.
- Talent Management Consultant – These are HR professionals who work with organizations to optimize and improve their talent acquisition, recruitment, and training processes for long-term success.
- Compliance & Ethics Officer – These HR experts play a critical role in ensuring that organizations comply with all laws and regulations related to their specific industries while making ethical hiring and training decisions.
Which HR Role Is Right for You?
While many HR professionals start off in generalist positions, taking the time to explore and reflect on your own strengths and goals can help you identify the potential career paths that could be right for you.
You Might Thrive as an HR Generalist If…
If you enjoy variety and the sense of adaptability that comes from wearing many different hats in the workplace, then an HR generalist role may be right for you. This is especially true if you’re still early in your career and want to gain exposure to different areas of HR before choosing a specialty.
This type of role is also ideal for those who enjoy helping people navigate complex processes while putting their organizational and communication skills to good use.
You Might Be a Great HR Specialist If…
As you learn about the area(s) of the field that interest you most, you might choose to master one area (such as training, benefits, or recruitment). From there, if you enjoy following clear procedures and developing expertise in a topic that interests you, a career as an HR specialist may be right for you. This type of role can also be ideal for those who enjoy problem-solving within a focused field and want to become known as subject-matter experts in a particular niche.
You Might Excel as an HR Manager If…
A role as an HR manager could be fitting for natural-born leaders who enjoy guiding teams and using their strategic decision-making skills. These leaders tend to be confident in addressing conflict, creating workplace policies, positively shaping company culture, and having a say in big-picture initiatives. Professionals in this role enjoy being able to strike a balance between people management and planning in their everyday work.
You Might Be Suited for HR Business Partner Work If…
Do you enjoy consulting and advising others? If so, and if you’re a forward-thinking professional who loves building strong professional relationships, then a role as an HR business partner may be right for you. People who thrive in this role tend to see HR as a tool to drive long-term business outcomes, not just support a function. Professionals who succeed in this role are effective in aligning people strategy with business strategy while serving as spearheads of organizational change.
You Might Be an Ideal HR Analyst If…
Finally, HR professionals who love working with numbers (including raw data, spreadsheets, and dashboards) can do well in HR analyst roles. In these roles, these professionals can use their analytical skills to discover trends and solve complex problems, ultimately helping companies make smarter workforce decisions through evidence-based insights.
What You Can Expect from an HR Management Degree at Baker College
No matter which of these HR roles you can envision yourself enjoying, having an HR management degree can make all the difference. At Baker College, our Bachelor of Business Administration – HR Management program offers the real-world applications future HR leaders need to take on entry-level and mid-level roles in the field, with courses covering such critical topics as:
- Recruitment
- Labor law
- Compensation
- HR strategy
- Conflict resolution
Meanwhile, the flexible online format of this program is convenient for working adults and transfer students alike.
Ready to Take the First Step Toward an HR Career?
With so many job roles in human resources to explore, choosing your path requires careful consideration of your own interests, as well as your strengths and long-term career goals. Whether you envision yourself inspiring teams as an HR manager or making data-driven decisions as an HR analyst, the right education can set you up for a rewarding career.
Baker College’s online HR management degree program is an IACBE-accredited program that’s designed for students who want to make a difference in the workplace. Through a blend of classroom instruction and hands-on experience, this program equips graduates to tackle organizational challenges in recruitment, retention, compensation/benefits, training, and more. Learn more about our online HR management degree program, which is available both on campus and online, by reaching out. You can also start your online application to get the ball rolling today.