Human Resource Career: Job Training

Human resource (HR) professionals help recruit, manage and direct employees within an organization. A company's HR department plays a crucial role in ensuring its success by selecting the best employees possible for each position and providing satisfying working conditions to increase employee retention.
 
Career analysts expect the number of Human Resources jobs to increase over time, providing a bright future for skilled HR professionals. Overall, employment of HR professionals is projected to grow by 17 percent between 2006 and 2016.

Getting Started in Human Resources

Although it is possible to enter the field of human resources without a degree, for anyone looking to obtain managerial positions or to launch an HR career in a specialized industry, earning a four-year degree is a good idea.
 
When planning to start or further your career in human resources, two directions should steer your educational game plan:
  1. how much time and money you�re willing to invest in further schooling

  2. the specific HR field and management level that interests you.
Once you have decided on these factors, you can begin to explore the different educational options in human relations.

HR Certification Programs

Getting a certificate in human resources management can be an excellent strategy for the HR professional looking to move into a more senior position, such as human resources manager or director of human resources.
 
One such program is the Human Resources Management Certificate, which involves human resources training and development coursework in:
  • discrimination complaints
  • harassment
  • labor relations
  • leadership.
 
Such certification, which generally takes up to a year to attain, can qualify you for a number of positions. One high-paying example is a human resources specialist in labor relations with the federal government, which has a salary of about $93,000.
 
Another type of certificate is an Advanced Management Strategy Certificate. In this six to twelve month program, students prepare themselves for senior levels of business. Coursework focuses on:
  • communication
  • marketing
  • strategies for leading indiviuals and departments.
 
The return on the costs of advanced certification can be considerable. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the median salary for a human resources director and related business executives is over $140,000.

Associate's Degree in Human Resources

It�s certainly possible to enter the HR field with an associate's degree, but you should be prepared to do so as a human resources assistant, human resources recruiter or human resources coordinator, all of which are less lucrative positions. The main advantage to the two-year program is the ability to enter the workforce earlier because an associate's degree takes less time to complete.
 
Most people going this route attain an Associate's in Business Administration with a Human Resources focus. A recent study found that HR professionals entering the workforce with an associate's degree earned about $26,000 a year.

Bachelor's Degrees in Human Resources Management

More commonly, HR professionals earn a bachelor�s degree before entering the workforce. Employers consider the bachelor's of arts or science an asset because it gives professionals a more well rounded view of business and global issues.
 
Additionally, the Society of Human Resource Management requires at least a bachelor�s degree for its undergraduate certification in management programs, including:
  • Human Resource Professional
  • International Human Resource Professional
  • Senior Human Resource Professional.
 
A bachelor�s degree typically generates a starting salary of about $35,000 a year in most human resources jobs.

Master�s Degree in Human Resources Management

Those seeking management positions in the human relations arena often find a master�s degree to be a necessity. For example, labor relations and other intricate legal issues make a Master's in Law especially useful in HR management.

How Much an HR Education Costs

The costs of furthering your education in human resources vary, depending on the institution offering the program and the level of the training itself.
 
The following outlines the average time and cost associated with different types of education programs:
  • associate's degree - two year commitment at a cost of about $5,000
  • bacherlor's degree - four year commitment at a cost of about $6,000 - $23,000
  • certificate program - one year commitment at a cost of about $2,000 - $5,000
  • master's degree - one to two year commitment at a cost of about $6,000 - $23,000
 

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