Do you enjoy working with people? Do you enjoy helping others and solving problems? If so, then a career in human resources may be the right fit for you. Every company requires help in the form of human resources. The role is often mixed in with other job duties for smaller companies, while larger ones have entire offices full of human resource professionals. Learn more about how to get into human resources and start a successful career.
What Does Human Resources Involve?
Many students have either never heard of human resources, or if they have, don’t know quite what it means. The term can sound a bit odd, but the job itself is quite exciting.
Work With Employees
The main task of any human resource professional is to work with the employees within a company. In a sense, the employees are the main focus of the job. While companies significantly differ in what they produce or provide to customers, human resource professionals’ position is much the same no matter where they work.
Working with employees is the primary and most crucial part of the job itself. Some companies drop the human resource name and choose to call this department talent management or personnel, but it is all the same. The following responsibilities of human resources can help you decide if you want to pursue a degree in this field.
Talent management is one of the most important aspects of any HR career
Hiring New Talent
If you’ve ever applied for a larger company, you probably communicated with someone in the human resource department. One of the main goals of a human resource professional is to hire new talent for the company. They are given job openings and must market and advertise for the position. Hiring new employees requires sorting through applications and resumes, interviewing potential employees, and then working with managers to find the best fit for the job.
Benefits and Insurance
Helping employees with their benefits and health insurance is another part of the job as a human resources professional. Some employees receive different benefits packages upon hiring, which usually requires a lot of paperwork. Human resource professionals help employees sign up for health insurance, set up their direct deposit for paychecks, and answer any questions about their compensation package.
Training and Education
Every new employee at a company needs adequate training for their position. The human resources office is usually responsible for training employees about safety and protocols for the company. New employees receive initial training, while long-term employees often need to brush up on some safety items and training throughout the year. The human resources department often is in charge of the training and education of employees.
Attendance and Payroll
Keeping tabs on who showed up for work and who didn’t is often a part of the human resources department. Managers will ultimately know when an employee isn’t at work, but the human resources office is in charge of tracking how many sick or vacation days an employee can use. Attendance significantly affects hourly workers and their corresponding paychecks, so human resources professionals must keep useful data and track who is at work daily.
Disciplinary Actions
Keeping the workforce in check is another part of the job as a human resource professional. While companies hope that disciplinary action is not needed, it is vital to keep the company healthy. Employees who misbehave, don’t comply with company policies or break the law need disciplinary intervention. This aspect could be as minor as giving an employee a simple warning or as significant as escorting a fired employee off the premises.
Laws and Regulations
There are plenty of laws and regulations to keep track of when it comes to having employees. National laws, as well as state and local laws, are necessary to obey. Human resource professionals must keep up with these always-changing laws and rules that could get the company in trouble if not followed. The rules and procedures with health insurance can be much of the job for a human resources professional.
Celebrations
While some companies don’t require their human resources department to be the party planning committee, celebrations are often a fun part of the job. The human resources department knows everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries within the company. At a minimum, they usually acknowledge these events for employees and might even organize a party for those retiring or when an employee has a baby. Celebrating and rewarding employees is an exciting part of the job as a human resource professional.
Educational Requirements for Human Resources
While some companies hire human resource associates without any prior education, most people looking at how to get into human resources must have a degree. Earning a master’s degree in the field is a great way to climb the professional ladder for a long and successful career.
Earning a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management is a great way to show employers that you are serious about this career. This type of degree program offers a unique set of knowledge and skills in business and human resource management. You’ll not only have a comprehensive understanding of leading in the human resources department, but your background in business processes and analysis will give you an advantage and allow you to explore a variety of career opportunities.
As an Everglades University student, you’ll take the following classes:
Business Administration Courses
These 21 credits include classes designed to elevate human resource professionals’ knowledge in the position’s business side.
- Accounting for Decision Makers
- Leadership Skill for Managers
- Managerial Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing Management
- Applied Managerial Statistics
- Business Policy and Decision Making
Human Resource Management Concentration & Capstone Courses
The following 15 credits help enhance a human resources professional’s duties with a bachelor’s degree in the field.
- Advanced Organizational Behavior
- Employment Law
- Recruitment, Selection, and Placement
- Training and Development
- Graduate Business Capstone Course
In total, the Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management is 36 credits. Most students take about 12 months or 48 weeks to complete the course. Graduates with a master’s degree can often apply for promotions within their companies to a managerial position.
Earning an MBA from Everglades University is a great way to reach your personal and career goals. Choosing a Human Resource Management concentration helps further develop your professional skills and learn more about the ever-changing world of human resources. Learn more about how to get into human resources by contacting our admissions office today!