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Human resources is a field that constantly features on lists of the greatest careers due to its diverse specialties and opportunities for meaningful work that affects people at all organizational levels. The human resources specialist contributes to the health and growth of an organization’s most valuable asset: its employees. This affords several chances for personal and professional development, as well as the acquisition of both hard and soft people skills.
What Is a Human Resources Specialist?
As a result of their extensive training in all facets of human resources, human resources specialists are well-equipped with the knowledge and abilities to manage personnel issues inside a business, find and hire new talent, and support onboarding and training for new employees. But they specialize in a particular area of human resources and use a greater level of technical competence and specialized knowledge to assist their firm. This is why they are specialists.
These specific HR responsibilities can be found in:
- Risk Management
- Workforce Planning and Workflow Analysis
- Total Rewards
- Employee and Labor Relations
- Training and Development
What Does a Human Resources Specialist Do?
The responsibilities of a human resources professional can change from day to day. A specialist may have a varied set of activities to perform each day while still having a specialized human resources area to focus on and filling other departmental roles as necessary.
Some of these specialized roles and duties, as stated by the Society for Human Resource Management, can be:
Recruitment and Retention Specialist
Implementing the company’s recruitment strategy, conducting interviews, giving pre-employment tests, assisting with background checks, and processing transfers, promotions, and terminations are just a few of the duties that fall under the purview of workforce planning.
Compensation and Benefits Specialist
The element of Total Rewards that many employees care the most about is compensation and benefits. They may be in charge of conducting and analyzing pay surveys, reviewing and administering benefits programs, tracking benefit expenditures, and researching job descriptions and responsibilities to assist in salary setting.
Training and Development Specialist
They provide training sessions, manage on-the-job training programs, assess the effectiveness of the programs, and keep track of employee involvement and advancements achieved as a result of the programs with the goal of continuously expanding an organization’s workforce.
How Does one Become a Human Resources Specialist?
A specialist in human resources often holds a bachelor’s degree in business, human resources, or a similar field. Human resources professionals that work in a more specialized subject may obtain a degree in that field. For instance, a training and development specialist may hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology or education, but a compensation and benefits specialist may hold an accounting degree.
Typically, these specialists have previous job experience in another division of the firm or in an entirely different industry or discipline. A certificate in human resources may be the ideal complement for people with experience and a degree in a different discipline. Without the time and expense of earning a second degree, this credential can provide HR skills and expertise.
Certificates can range from Professional Certificates to Master Certificates to Graduate Certificates. It depends on the breadth of knowledge you seek, the talents you’re aiming for, and the professional objectives you’ve established.
Is Human Resources Specialist a Good Career Choice?
Getting into human resources could be a good next step for your career, whether you are just starting out, getting back into the workforce, or looking to switch to a more strategic or people-focused role. The role of human resources specialist gives you the chance to use and expand your knowledge while helping an organization protect its most valuable asset: its people.
