How to Become an HR Specialist

Recently, we wrote about how to launch your career in human resources, and here we’ll explain how to get a job as a human resource specialist, which is an excellent role that you should consider pursuing if you’re interested in HR topics.

HR is a competitive, challenging industry, but it’s also one that’s perfect for anyone who enjoys working with people, or who is interested in helping an organization improve its efficiency and effectiveness. 

In this post, we’ll explain why you might want to consider a career as an HR specialist, what you’d be asked to do on the job each day, what you’ll need to learn to be successful in this position, and how to increase the odds of launching a successful lifelong career in the field.

After you’ve learned all you need to know about becoming an HR specialist, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our online Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, which will provide you with all the skills and abilities you need to realize your career goals.

If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

Is Human Resources Really a Good Career Field?

Absolutely. HR is an excellent career field for a variety of reasons.

Three of the most compelling reasons to become an HR specialist include:

1. Demand for the role is increasing, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that employment will rise 10% between 2020 and 2030.
2. HR specialists play a critical role in virtually every modern organization. Since HR is a central pillar of effective business strategy, it’s an excellent field to consider if you’re looking to have a real impact on organizational success.
3. HR Specialists are capable of earning considerable salaries, with BLS reporting their 2020 median pay was $63,490 per year, while more senior-level roles, like that of HR Manager, are capable of earning substantially higher incomes.

BLS also reports that there’s no work experience required to land your first job in HR, which makes this an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to get into a stable, lucrative profession without having to first develop a ton of on-the-job experience.

What do HR Specialists Actually Do?

That depends! Human Resources is a huge field and different HR positions may end up with vastly different responsibilities, but there are several things that human resource experts typically get tasked with, including:

• Recruiting & Hiring – HR professionals typically run the show when it comes to securing new talent and may be asked to handle tasks like crafting job descriptions, posting job listings, receiving, screening, and reviewing resumes, as well as other elements of the hiring and onboarding process.
• Benefits and Compensation – HR employees are responsible for managing an organization’s benefits and compensation program, including payroll, designing effective performance reviews, establishing bonus and stock options plans, and serving as the organization’s liaison with insurance carriers.
• Labor and Employee Relations – HR is usually asked to handle all conversations, issues, and sometimes even all communications between employees and management, including dealing with unions, resolving disputes and grievances, and directing the company’s health and safety programs.
• Training and Development – As we covered in our article about becoming a training and development specialist, HR professionals usually take on the task of employee training and professional development, handling new employee orientations, and delivering ongoing training and educational resources.
• Job Analysis – HR is typically responsible for evaluating and understanding an organization’s personnel, including identifying and documenting work duties and daily requirements for each position, creating training materials and methods to onboard new employees and coaching existing employees through organizational changes, as well as writing the organization’s job titles, descriptions, and applications and onboarding materials.

In short, you can think of HR professionals as being the backbone of any company, handling all the internal issues and projects so that other departments can get their own jobs done efficiently and effectively.

Because this is such a critical role, anyone looking to get into the industry should consider getting a Bachelor’s Degree in HR before applying for roles in the field.

Do I Really Need a Degree to Get a Job as an HR Specialist?

Probably, as the BLS reports that HR specialists typically need a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources or another related field.

While you might be able to get a job in HR without first completing a bachelor’s degree, it could limit your opportunities within the field, as well as your chances of advancement.

Additionally, a degree will ensure that you’ve been exposed to the latest HR concepts and techniques, providing you with the foundational knowledge and skills you’ll need to succeed as a leader in this competitive industry.

What Will I Study in an HR Management Degree Program?

CSU Global’s 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in HR Management was designed to provide you with everything you need for a successful career in human resources.

To ensure you’re able to deliver value from your first day on the job, our program will develop your ability to:

• Review, assess, and evaluate a whole host of human-related strategies, programs, and initiatives used to advance organizational performance.
• Understand the importance of aligning organizational goals with HR department goals, as well as learning how to complete that alignment.
• Create talent acquisition strategies so your organization can attract top talent, retain that talent, and ensure it’s staffed with a diverse, successful workforce.
• Evaluate local, national, and international laws and regulations to ensure that your organization remains in compliance with all relevant rules and standards.
• Develop and enforce effective workplace policies.

Our program will also provide you with a great deal of knowledge and skills in traditional HR responsibilities, including:

• Conflict resolution.
• Business policy.
• Employee laws.
• Training and professional development.
• Management of team dynamics.

What Can I Do to Increase My Odds of Success?

It’s important that you earn a Bachelor’s Degree in HR, but what else should you consider doing to increase the odds of building a lifelong career in the field?

First, we suggest looking into your options for getting a Master’s Degree in HR, like CSU Global’s online M.S. in HR Management program.

This program was designed to deepen your understanding of HR concepts and topics, while also preparing you to become an established leader in HR best practices.

You’ll graduate capable of assuming a variety of leadership roles in HR, increasing the odds that you’ll be able to advance your career past entry-level positions.

You may even want to consider picking up some relevant HR certifications, which can help pad out your resume and increase your chances of catching the eye of hiring managers.

According to Indeed, the best certifications for HR professionals include:

• Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR)
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
• Global Professional in Human Resources
• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
• Certified Staffing Professional
• Certified Search Consultant
• Certified Health Care Staffing Professional
• SHRM CP Certified Professional
• SHRM CP Senior Certified Professional
• Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)
• Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP)
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• Certified Compensation Professional
• Human Resources Information Professional

If you’re interested in advancing your career and acquiring a leadership or management-level role, then you’ll certainly want to consider completing our online Master’s program in HR Management, which could make it much easier to acquire a more complex role in the field.

Should I Get My Degree Online?

Yes, we suggest studying online instead of on-campus, as online programs offer far more flexibility and freedom than in-person programs.

In fact, should you choose to study with us at CSU Global, you’re sure to enjoy excellent benefits offered by our online learning programs, including:

• No requirements to show up at set times or in physical locations.
• Monthly class starts.
• Accelerated courses.

We developed our programs specifically to support the needs of busy, working professionals, and if you’ve already got a busy schedule full of family or work responsibilities, then you’ll want to consider studying online with us.

Why Should I Choose to Study at CSU Global?

CSU Global’s 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs.

The program also features a curriculum that’s aligned with the Society for Human Resources Management HR Curriculum Guidebook and Templates, so you can rest assured that you’ll be studying useful, practical applications.

Our B.S. in HR Management was designed to provide you with everything you need to launch a successful career as an HR specialist, and the data reported by our graduates prove that it works:

• 87% of our alumni report working in Human Resources, which is an extremely high rate of placement.
• Program alumni report earning an average salary increase of 26% four years after completing their degree.

Higher education authorities also recognize the value that our program delivers, which is why it’s earned several excellent rankings, including:

• A #1 ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s in Human Resources from The Best Schools.
• A #5 ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s in Human Resources from Successful Student.
• A #17 ranking for Best Human Resources Degree Programs from Best Value Schools.

CSU Global itself is also widely regarded as an industry leader in higher education and has earned its own respected rankings, including:

• A #16 ranking for Best Value Online Graduate School from Value Colleges.
• A #3 ranking for Best Colleges in Colorado from Best Value Schools.

Finally, we’re dedicated to helping make higher education affordable for our students, which is why we offer competitive tuition rates, and a Tuition Guarantee that ensures your low tuition rate won’t increase for as long as you remain enrolled with us.

To get additional details about our fully-accredited online Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now!