The human resources job description can vary depending on what type of human resource position is being discussed. There are several types of human resource positions which we will take a closer look at in this article. In larger corporations the Director of Human Resources will manage several HR (Human Resource) managers who individually specialize in overseeing human resources functions such as employment & placement, training & development, and compensation & benefits. In smaller companies a human resource generalist is the individual who would be responsible for covering all of the tasks just mentioned, and this requires and extensive amount of knowledge and experience in the field of human resources.

Human Resources Job Overview

All businesses want to attract the most qualified employees, match them to the best jobs for which they are suited, motivate them and retain them for as long as possible. The human resources department is responsible for making this happen by providing benefits, relations, training, recruitment and placement. In past years the human resources department followed processes established by upper management; however, nowadays HR managers and directors work more closely with executives or top management to give input and help to develop processes. Human resources mangers play a much more active role than they have in the past in business today.

Human Resources Job Descriptions

Employment and Placement

Human resources employment and placement managers are responsible for overseeing the recruiting and placement of newly hired employees. These managers supervise recruiting and sometimes interview specialists.

Human resources recruiting specialists are responsible for the recruiting, and hiring of new employees. They are responsible for finding qualified candidates to fill open job positions. They may follow standardized company processes, or may have the freedom to prospect for applicants however they so choose. These specialists also act as gatekeepers by conducting initial interviews before passing candidates along to hiring managers for further interviews.

Recruitment specialists often need to travel and reach out to the community in order to find qualified applicants. They spend their time setting up booths on college campuses and at career fairs in order to find promising job candidates. In addition to face-to-face recruiting they also use the telephone and internet in order to find qualified applicants as well.

Training and Development

Human resources training and development managers work with and oversee specialists in these particular areas. These specialist develop programs which can enhance employee skills in order to maximize production and business results for their organizations. Not only does training help to improve a companies overall production, but it has also been found to build workforce loyalty among employees. Company training programs can also be used as good selling points by human resources recruiting specialists when trying to lure qualified candidates to come and work for their company. These training programs can help an employee enhance and acquire new skills which can be helpful for job advancement or for finding a new job in the future. For these reasons mentioned, a companies training and development programs play a vital role in a companies human resources department.

Compensation and Benefits

Human resources compensation managers are responsible for maintaining an organizations pay structure. Working together with compensation specialists or analysts they are able to formulate compensation plans which ensure equitable and fair pay structures for all employees. Compensation managers review salary surveys in order to find out how their companies pay structure measures up against competing companies in the same industries. They also make sure the organizations scale of pay complies with ever changing employment regulations and laws.

Human resources benefits managers are responsible for administering and overseeing employee benefits programs. These benefits programs include retirement, stock options, healthcare and much more. As employer provided benefits continue to play a larger role in an employees overall compensation package; the negotiating, designing and implementation of these programs has become increasingly more important. These benefits programs have also become increasingly more complex; for example retirement plans may include 401k, pensions, profit sharing, and employee stock purchase. Healthcare benefits generally include medical, vision, dental, and sometimes life insurance.

Human Resources Educational and Skills Requirements

The educational and training backgrounds can vary quite a bit depending on the type of work and the level of the position regarding human resources positions. As you can see from our human resources job descriptions above the tasks, roles and responsibilities can range vastly from position to position.

Regarding entry level human resources positions, employers seek out college graduates with 4 year degrees. Having a degree in a related field of study like human resources, and human resources administration can help candidates stand out. However, some employers look for graduates who have business, technical degrees, or liberal arts degrees. Depending the industry the educational requirements for the most desired candidates will vary.

For those looking for advancement into managerial and director positions an advanced or graduate degree will help, and may even be required in some organizations and businesses. A master’s degree in labor relations, business administration, or in human resources is ideal.

Depending on experience, entry level employees in this field usually start out in intern positions or by performing remedial human resources tasks. Entry level tasks include, putting together employee handbooks, internet & employee research, data entry, handling routine questions over email or by phone, answering phones and other similar tasks. This type of experience helps entry level HR employees to learn the fundamentals necessary to be effective in roles which require more responsibility and experience.

Those pursuing careers in this field should also be social and have outstanding interpersonal skills. These types of skills can be developed through corporate internships in human resources positions or through teaching, training and other positions which require face to face human interactions. The job also requires strong written and verbal skills. Those who speak more than one language or who have a multicultural backgrounds will be in high demand. A fundamental understanding of computers and technology is also necessary for this career.

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