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Human Resources Specialist

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AVG. SALARY

$66,040

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Business Management and Administration cluster Human Resources Management pathway.

Beyond High School

Here's a list of programs that you should consider if you're interested in this career:

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

Bachelor's degree

Human resources specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in human resources, business, communications, or a related field.

Insider Info

Additional Information

The education levels of employment and placement specialists vary greatly. Employment counselors might just have a two-year diploma. Or they might be working toward a degree.

That degree is "usually in human resources or education, or sometimes business administration," says employment officer Eric Ritskes. "A lot of the people who work here are either working toward their degree or have their degree. A lot of people in other offices have their diploma from a community college."

Ideally, those who seek a long-term career in this field have earned a master's degree, says Janet Lenz. She is the associate director of the career center at Florida State University.

"If they are functioning as a professional in the field, they have gotten a master's degree in counseling or higher education or maybe something on the business side in organizational behavior or human resource management."

The National Career Development Association (NCDA) offers training toward becoming a certified career development facilitator.

"Basically, you learn the skills that you need to function as an employment and placement specialist," says Lenz. She's the southern region trustee for the NCDA.

"You learn about the labor market. You learn about job hunting. You learn about running programs. You learn about helping diverse groups [and] job searching on the Internet."

Extra Requirements

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). In addition, the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) offers a range of certifications for varying levels of expertise. Although certification is usually voluntary, some employers may prefer or require it. Human resources generalists, in particular, can benefit from certification, because it shows knowledge and competence across all human resources areas.

For additional information, visit these websites:

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support