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From small businesses to big tech firms, every organization needs an HR department for basic requirements and much more. The HR professionals look for suitable candidates for the opening positions in their company, supervise employee benefits, and cultivate company culture among employees.
The organization has recognized the strategic value of HR, thus the demand for skilled HR professionals in this domain has skyrocketed.
This article will discuss the various HR career paths, from entry-level positions to leadership roles, essential skills & strategies needed to succeed in this evolving field.
The key takeaways:
- Human Resources as a Career Path
- Various Human Resources Career Paths
- Essential Skills of HR Professional
- Globally Accepted HR Certifications
- Frequently Asked Questions for HR Career Path
- Final Thoughts
Human Resources as a Career Path
There are many misconceptions among people that human resource management job is easy. But the reality is different! It's endless when you begin listing the number of tasks associated with HR professionals.
Human resources professionals primarily deal with employment law, talent acquisition, labor relations, development programs, company culture, employee benefits, human capital, performance management, and many other tasks. To get help in creating a perfect CV template for an entry-level senior recruiter position, read this article for your guidance.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, HR specialists are estimated to grow 8% from 2023 to 2033 which is faster than the other occupations as compared with hr jobs. Similarly, the number of Human Resources Managers or benefits manager is expected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033 which is much faster than the average other occupations.
Various Human Resources Career Paths
The human resources career path is simple yet differs in job roles & duties for each organization. Some companies might have all the job titles for HR professionals while others might have few HR role job titles & combine the job description of two into a single one.
The salaries of the HR specialists also differ according to the companies & their job roles under human resources. But with the help of online job portals like PayScale, Glassdoor, Salary.com & the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a general idea about the average HR role's salary can be analyzed.
Below, we have listed the typical HR career path in hierarchical order-
1. HR Assistant
The HR assistant or HR officer is an entry-level position. It requires a bachelor’s degree in any field not necessarily related to the human resources field of study. One can get into this field through an internship too.
You can start in human resources with learning and development professionals then your first role will be as an L&D administrator. Or, if you wish to begin your journey in recruitment, your role will be as a talent acquisition or scheduler.
Responsibilities of HR Assistant
- The HR assistant's job is to help its senior in easing out the various HR processes. This includes completing administrative paperwork for new hires, managing benefits plans for employees, terminations, talent management and other assigned tasks.
- HR assistants also supervise & solve common workplace issues like absences, wages, overtime, etc.
- The HR assistant is tasked with sending memos, reminders, employment verification, organizing company events, etc.
Salary of HR Assistant
The salary of HR assistants is almost $40,950 per year. Some of the organizations can pay an entry-level position up to $34,611 per year. They can be strict with the education & certifications required for this job role.
2. HR Coordinator
Subject matter experts assign HR assistant or HR specialist duties to the HR coordinator. It is the best position in the early years of the human resources career path (post-entry level position). You get an overview and experience of all aspects of the HR job role and the challenge of managing time & priorities in one go.
HR coordinator prefers a bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in this field but it's not always required.
Responsibilities of HR Coordinators
- HR coordinators or recruiters mainly focus on recruiting candidates for the vacancy.
- They assist their seniors in managing healthcare plan enrollments, employee requests, new onboarding, record keeping, payroll, background checks, and other tasks.
- HR coordinators also seek talent, check applicant references, arrange interviews of suitable candidates, maintain employee records, and conduct onboarding.
- The HR professional's other daily tasks include sending emails to candidates, making photocopies of important documents, and maintaining employee records.
Salary of HR Coordinator
The average salary of an HR coordinator is $60,606 per year but the number can reach up to $65,090 per year, depending on the company & candidature skill.
3. HR Specialist
Opting for an HR specialist position means you have specialized in HR & begin to focus on one specific human resources function. You became an HR clerk, payroll manager, training and development manager, or employee relations manager.
HR specialist requires a bachelor’s degree and almost 3 years of experience in this field. Your unique skill sets will come into play, involving training, benefits, hiring, or payroll.
Responsibilities of HR Specialist
- Human resources specialists are best known as mid-career-level employees.
- The HR specialist's responsibilities focus on seeking and recruiting new employees to fill up the open positions.
- The HR professional's day-to-day job includes creating job postings for vacant positions, reviewing the submitted resumes, screening the right candidates for the vacant positions, and conducting interviews with the candidates.
Salary of HR Specialist
The average salary of human resources specialists is around $85,736 per year. Big & large companies promote HR specialists to senior HR specialists even before they reach the HR generalist position. The Senior HR specialists earn almost $112,849 per year.
4. HR Generalist
HR generalist is considered the training role for higher positions like HR managers. Many companies hire candidates as HR generalists and promote them directly to HR manager, rather than appointing a manager.
An HR generalist requires a bachelor’s degree & around 3 years of experience in this field.
Responsibilities of HR Generalist
- The HR generalist performs all tasks the HR department needs from conducting a training session, payroll team, and compliance to hiring new candidates for the vacant post and negotiating with the health insurance provider.
- The HR generalist also manages the coordinators or assistants and supervises the daily tasks when required.
- This HR generalist job role remains in the generalist realm but it also requires relevant experiences.
- They have a wide range of responsibilities and require involvement in strategic planning and decision-making.
- The senior HR generalist might supervise HR generalists & other HR professionals' responsibilities.
- The senior generalists have mentoring tasks for the junior or entry-level position HR team as their duties.
Salary of HR Generalist
The average salary of an HR generalist is around $64,609 per year and a Senior HR generalist's salary is around $99,340 per year.
5. HR Manager
HR Manager is the senior level position in human resources management. The position responsibilities vary with the company. In small to medium-sized companies, the HR manager is the highest rank job post in the human resources department. Whereas, in large companies, the HR Manager needs to report to an HR Director or high-ranking HR officer.
This job also requires more than 5 years of experience in this field and problem-solving & leadership skills. A bachelor’s degree in human resources is preferable to become an HR Manager. However, degrees in business administration, psychology, and communications are also acceptable for many organizations.
Responsibilities of HR Manager
- HR Manager duties include working along with their team of specialists and generalists to make sure that HR department objectives and goals are achieved.
- The HR Manager also engages in business planning & budget development and is responsible for HR programs in the company.
- Usually, HR Managers are responsible for recruitment, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding new employees.
- Approvals for job postings for said vacancies to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations are some of the HR Managers perform.
- This HR professional also ensures that every aspect of HR practices like vacation leave, parental leaves, insurance programs, flexible work programs, and so on are followed as per the guidelines.
- HR Manager's day-to-day task involves developing training materials, creating compensation plans, and assisting in resolving conflicts between employees.
Salary of HR Manager
The average salary of an HR Manager is around $82,328 per year and Senior Human Resources Managers are almost $124,258 per year.
6. HR Director
The HR Director is one of the senior-level employees in the human resources department.
To become an HR Director, you need a bachelor’s degree and almost 5 years of experience in HR management. However, most companies prefer more than 10 years of experience and a master's degree for the HR Director position.
They also require the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification or SHRM- senior certified professional credential.
Responsibilities of HR Director
- They play a crucial role as they oversee the entire HR management sector & collaborate with senior leaders like HR managers.
- HR Director also supervises the C-suite executives to plan an organization’s goals & strategy.
- HR Directors act more like strategic partners to the employees in the company and deal with everyday problems & complaints regarding HR processes.
- HR Directors also deal with compliance & legal matters related to the company or businesses.
- HR Directors mostly engage in training, recruitment, and team-building activities.
Salary of HR Director
The average salary of an HR Director is almost $149,122 per year and a Senior HR Director's salary is around $197,659 per year.
7. HR Vice President
The Vice President of human resources position is present in certain companies with an executive employee section. The VP of human resources is the key decision-maker & responsible for the final confirmation of any new project, procedure, or process.
In a large company, the Vice President position is known as VP of people relations or Vice President of people operations. Many large companies often break the roles down.
To become a Vice President of human resources, you need a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field. But sometimes, companies prefer a master’s degree in law or business administration along with professional certification. At least 10 years of experience in HR management is required for this job post.
Responsibilities of HR Vice President
- HR Vice President supervises all the HR operations - policies, procedures, best practices, and short & long-term strategies.
- This HR professional needs to be competent with employment-related laws & regulations.
- The HR Vice President's main responsibility is to make sure the company is legally compliant related to insurance, benefits, workplace safety, and employment.
Salary of HR Vice President
The average salary for the Vice President of Human Resources is around $167,463 per year & the Senior Vice President of HR is around $195,070 per year.
Essential Skills of HR Professional
- Organisational Skills
- Communication Skills
- Adaptability Skills
- Confidential Skills
- Administrative Skills
- Advising
- HR Strategy Creation & Execution
- Proactivity
- Technology Expertise
- Knowledge and Expertise in HR management
- Coaching
- Managing Priorities
- Knowledge in Technology
- Employee Training
- Teamwork
- HR Reporting Skills
- Active Listening Skills
- Cultural and Commercial Awareness
Globally Accepted HR Certifications
- Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI)
- Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR)
- Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
- Professional in Human Resources International (PHRi)
- Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- Global Payroll Master (GPM)
- WorldatWork Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
Final Thoughts
HR career path offers various career opportunities for advancement, from entry-level to senior leadership job positions like Director or Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO )of human resources.
You can easily progress in your HR career & make a significant impact in your company by focusing on continuous learning, developing key skills, and staying updated with the latest HR trends.
