The Human Resources department in any industry plays large role in a company’s success. So, what exactly is human resources and why is it so important? Many professionals think HR is just there to hire new employees or handle complaints, but there is so much more. Here, we can go over some of the different areas within a HR department and discover if this may be the right field for you!
Talent Acquisition, Engagement & Development
Recruitment: One of the more well-known areas of HR is recruitment and onboarding. This job requires researching and getting to know potential candidates, scheduling interviews, handling job postings and working with all levels of business professionals who are looking for new team members. Possible job titles: Recruiter, Sourcer, Hiring Manager, Talent Acquisition Manger/ Generalist/ Specialist/ Coordinator
Early Talent Development: Once hired, the human resource department remains extremely involved with the new team members, specifically early talent. Many companies are pouring a lot of time and energy into early talent so they will choose to stay with the company for years to come. HR takes on this responsibility by coordinating professional development events, arranging tuition reimbursement opportunities and creating succession plans. Possible job titles: Staffing Coordinator, Human Resource Analyst, Training Manager/ Assistant, Generalist, Early Talent Development Specialist, Coordinator
Adult Learning and Training: Professional development doesn’t end with early talent, HR makes sure that all team members are consistently given the opportunity to learn and grow. If you are working in development & training, responsibilities may include teaching classes about topics such as changes within the company, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and important skills that can make an employee a better-rounded professional. Possible job titles: Trainer, Learning and Development Specialist, Staffing Coordinator, Human Resource Analyst, Training Manager/ Assistant/ Generalist/ Coordinator
Talent Engagement: The human resources department is there to aid a team member throughout the entire employee lifecycle. One major aspect of this is continuously checking in on an employees working status to determine what the next steps are for employee and company success. This involves running consistent talent reviews, meeting with managers and giving constructive feedback to employees at all levels. Possible job titles: Talent Specialist/ Coordinator/ Manager, Engagement Specialist
Employee Relations and Citizenship
Diversity and Inclusion: Working in Diversity and Inclusion can mean a lot of things, but the main goal is to ensure that your company is being inclusive of minority groups and is working towards making/maintaining a diverse environment. Some of the duties in this position include implementing diversity training, coordinating affinity groups, addressing harassment claims, and alleviating bias during the hiring or promotion process. Possible job titles: Diversity and Inclusion Officer/ Manager/ Specialist
Corporate Social Responsibility: As companies are being held more accountable for their social impact, the career trajectory for this field has skyrocketed. In this role, you may be responsible for coordinating company community service events, organizing company fundraisers or matching gift programs and implementing sustainability initiatives. Possible job titles: Corporate Social Responsibility Manager/ Coordinator/ Specialist
Operations and Management
Information System Analysts (HRIS): This role involves researching and maintaining various HR and recruiting technologies, working directly with the information technology department and educating the department on up and coming HR related tech. Many departments are looking to streamline recruitment and training platforms, making this a highly desirable position. Possible job titles: Human Resource Information Specialist, Human Resource Information System Analyst
HR Business Partner: If in this role, you would be responsible for more of the operational areas of the department rather than administrative work. A HR Business partner acts as a strategic resource to help provide support in regard to policy enforcement, benefit packages, and spends a lot of time building relationships between the organization and other clients. Possible job titles: HR Business Partner
Compensation and Benefits:
This sector of HR deals with mainly analytical and numerical processes. Someone working in compensation & benefits may be responsible for the payroll system, re-adjusting salaries and bonuses, end of employee life cycle finical matters and possible monetary issues such as maternity/paternity leave. This field is particularly interesting because each year there are new regulations to learn and adjust to. Plus, they get to work with people from every department. Possible job titles: Compensation and Benefits Manager/ Specialist, Compensation Coordinator
Whether you are interested in getting to know people, working with numbers or delving into computer programming, the field of human resources may be a perfect fit. Don’t forget this field offers a lot of upward mobility and flexibility providing you with endless opportunities! If you want to learn more about the world of human resources be sure to schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor.
