Human Resources Specialists

Career summary

Human resources specialists do tasks in all areas of human resources. They recruit potential job applicants, review employment applications, and conduct background checks and interviews. When applicants are hired they process the paperwork, conduct employee orientations, and explain details, such as policies and procedures. Specialists may also address employee relations issues, process payroll, and administer benefits.

Human resources specialists may focus in one or more areas including:

Employment interviewers

Employment interviewers interview potential job applicants for openings. They then refer qualified applicants to employers.

Labor relations specialists

Labor relations specialists handle all aspects of a labor contract. This contract covers issues such as wages and salaries, employee welfare, health care, pensions, and union and management practices. They also handle work complaints.

Placement specialists

Placement specialists help employers find qualified employees. They search for potential job applicants who have the skills, education, and work experience needed for jobs. They then try to place qualified applicants with employers.

Recruitment specialists

Recruitment specialists search for and screen potential job applicants. They search for job applicants by posting job listings, going to job fairs, and visiting college campuses. They also may test applicants, contact references, and make job offers.

All human resources specialists must maintain current knowledge of federal, state, and local guidelines and laws.

Related careers

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Employee Training Specialists
• Government Benefits Interviewers
• Human Resources Assistants
• Human Resources Managers
• Public Relations Specialists

Military careers

• Recruiting Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to human resources specialists.

• Prepare or maintain employment records related to events such as hiring, termination, transfers, and promotions.
• Use human resources management system software.
• Interpret and explain policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
• Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
• Inform job applicants of details such as duties, responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and other information.
• Address issues such as harassment allegations, complaints, and other concerns.
• Maintain current knowledge of guidelines and laws.
• Schedule and conduct new employee orientations.
• Maintain and update human resource documents, such as handbooks or directories.
• Confer with management to develop and implement personnel policies.
• Refer qualified job applicants to managers, making hiring recommendations when appropriate.
• Review employment applications.
• Conduct reference or background checks on applicants.
• Conduct exit interviews.

Common work activities

Human resources specialists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Use computers
• Perform administrative tasks
• Document and record information
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Get information needed to do the job
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Evaluate information against standards
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Process information
• Provide advice and consultation to others
• Schedule work and activities
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Teach others
• Assist and care for others
• Develop and build teams
• Coach others
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Think creatively
• Analyze data or information
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Recruit, interview, or hire others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Develop goals and strategies
• Perform for or work with the public
• Coordinate the work and activities of others

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, human resources specialists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high degree of social interaction. They have phone conversations, write emails, and talk in person with employees and coworkers every day.
• Are placed in conflict situations in which others may be rude or angry on a weekly basis.
• Are sometimes responsible for the work done by other specialists and assistants.
• Have limited responsibility for the health and safety of others.

Physical work conditions

• Primarily work indoors.
• Usually have their own office or a shared office space.

Work performance

• Must be sure their work is exact. Errors or omissions could cost the organization money in lost time or employees.
• Make decisions that strongly impact their employer. They often make important choices about benefits and retirement plans.
• Make decisions that affect employees on a weekly basis.
• Rarely talk with a supervisor before deciding on their daily tasks and goals.
• Sometimes repeat the same activities, such as filing paperwork or using a computer.
• Abide by strict weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Usually work a set schedule.
• Work around 40 hours per week.

Physical demands

Human resources specialists frequently:

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for human resources specialists to be able to:

• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for human resources specialists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

Skills and abilities

Human resources specialists need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand written information.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Human Resources Management
• Organizational Behavior

Other programs of study to consider

• Business Management and Administration
• Business, General
• Office Support

Training

To work as a human resources specialist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• have a bachelor's degree.

Education after high school

Most employers prefer to hire college graduates, but a degree is not always necessary. Although candidates with a high school diploma may qualify for some interviewing and recruiting positions, employers usually require several years of related work experience as a substitute for education.

Some positions, such as human resources generalists, may require work experience in addition to a degree.

Work experience

Work experience involving close contact with the public can qualify you for some jobs. Candidates often gain experience as human resources assistants, in customer service positions, or in other related jobs.

On-the-job training

Many employers provide training for new specialists. One of the first things you learn about is the company's policies and work place practices. In addition, you observe experienced workers as they complete paper work, and make contacts with employers and job seekers. Training may last up to three months.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be recruiting specialists. Training lasts four to six weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training is on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum  may be different from your state's graduation requirements .

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Communications
• Computer Applications
• Ethnic and Gender Studies
• Introduction to Business
• Psychology
• Sociology

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers often prefer to hire college graduates. Work experience can sometimes be substituted for college education. Many employers prefer applicants who have knowledge of human resources programs, employment laws, and human resources information systems.

In addition, employers look for applicants who can speak and write well. Specialists must be able to deal with conflicting points of view and work well under pressure. In addition, employers look for applicants who have a persuasive, friendly personality.

Costs to workers

Some workers join professional associations, which may have membership fees and annual dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Human Resources Specialists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. Wages also vary depending on the specialist's level of education and experience. In addition, wages vary based on the type of position.

Human resources specialists receive typical benefits. These include sick leave, vacation, and health insurance. Most also receive retirement plans.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of human resources specialists in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings. 

National employment

Major employers:

• Government agencies
• Business management companies
• Employment agencies

National outlook

Demand will grow as the employment services industry grows. Many companies outsource human resources to companies that specialize in human resource functions. In addition, companies will likely need more specialists to handle increasingly complex employment laws and health care coverage options.

The need for labor relations specialists will not be strong due to declining membership in unions. Automation has also changed how companies recruit and hire new employees. Online and telephone interviews are more common. This results in fewer positions for human resources specialists.

Job prospects will be best for those with a bachelor's degree.

Other resources

International Association of Workforce Professionals 
3267 Bee Caves Road
Suite 107-104
Austin, TX 78746
888.898.9960

International Public Management Association for Human Resources 
1617 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.549.7100

Society for Human Resource Management 

TechServe Alliance 
1420 King Street, Suite 610
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.838.2050

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

• Business Management and Administration

Career path

• Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net  occupation

• Human Resources Specialists (13-1071.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Certification and Selection Specialist (099.167-010) 
• Employee Relations Specialist (166.267-042) 
• Employer Relations Representative (166.257-010) 
• Employment Interviewer (166.267-010) 
• Personnel Recruiter (166.267-038) 
• Program Specialist, Employee-health Maintenance (166.167-050) 
• Recruiter (166.267-026) 
• Supervisor, Contingents (205.367-050) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Enterprising/Conventional/Social

COPSystem

• Business Skilled