Human Resources Clerks: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of human resources clerks about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for human resources clerks to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of human resources clerks expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for human resources clerks.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Human Resources Clerks?
Do human resources clerks need a degree? What kind of experience do human resources clerks typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for human resources clerks to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Human Resources Clerks
Jobs Postings for Human Resources Clerks By Education
- No Education Listed: 26,768 (32%)
- Bachelor's degree: 26,434 (32%)
- High School or GED: 25,947 (31%)
- Master's degree: 2,925 (4%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 920 (1%)
No education was listed by most employers of human resources clerks. According to job data, no education was required for 32% of positions. In 32% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 31% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Human Resources Clerks
Jobs Postings for Human Resources Clerks By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 16,514 (38%)
- 2-3 Years: 21,369 (49%)
- 4-6 Years: 4,977 (11%)
- 7-9 Years: 589 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 301 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for human resources clerks. In 49% of job postings for Human Resources Clerks, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 38% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 11% of job postings for human resources clerks.
What Kind of Degree Do Human Resources Clerks Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for human resources clerks, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 4 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective human resources clerks, and in 2023 a total of 163,060 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective human resources clerks.
Top Degree Programs for Human Resources Clerks
Top 5 Degree Programs for Human Resources Clerks (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Human Resources Development. | 1,731 |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. | 1,067 |
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Degree Options for Human Resources Clerks
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Learn the strategic skills needed to be a leader in the evolving field of Human Resources.
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- Months To Complete: 14
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- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
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What Skills Do Human Resources Clerks Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by human resources clerks to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for human resources clerks, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Human Resources Clerks
Based on 78,912 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Human Resources Clerks
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Support | 14,880 | 19% |
| Human Resources Information System (HRIS) | 14,792 | 19% |
| Auditing | 10,960 | 14% |
| Data Entry | 9,799 | 12% |
| Employee Relations | 7,081 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Human Resources Clerks
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,307 | 45% |
| Customer Service | 23,555 | 30% |
| Detail Oriented | 23,221 | 29% |
| Management | 21,340 | 27% |
| Microsoft Office | 20,360 | 26% |
Based on 78,912 job postings related to human resources clerks, administrative support was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 19% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for human resources information system (hris), auditing, data entry, employee relations and employee onboarding were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for human resources clerks, followed by customer service, detail oriented, management, microsoft office and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Support | 14,880 | 19% |
| Human Resources Information System (HRIS) | 14,792 | 19% |
| Auditing | 10,960 | 14% |
| Data Entry | 9,799 | 12% |
| Employee Relations | 7,081 | 9% |
| Employee Onboarding | 7,038 | 9% |
| Applicant Tracking Systems | 5,479 | 7% |
| Office Equipment | 4,950 | 6% |
| Invoicing | 4,832 | 6% |
| Human Resource Management | 4,785 | 6% |
| Accounting | 4,296 | 5% |
| Payroll Processing | 3,732 | 5% |
| Office Supply Management | 3,636 | 5% |
| Benefits Enrollment Processes | 3,483 | 4% |
| Labor Law | 3,347 | 4% |
| Project Management | 3,290 | 4% |
| Marketing | 3,085 | 4% |
| Performance Management | 2,975 | 4% |
| Benefits Administration | 2,927 | 4% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 2,759 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 35,307 | 45% |
| Customer Service | 23,555 | 30% |
| Detail Oriented | 23,221 | 29% |
| Management | 21,340 | 27% |
| Microsoft Office | 20,360 | 26% |
| Microsoft Excel | 18,447 | 23% |
| Writing | 15,568 | 20% |
| Organizational Skills | 14,896 | 19% |
| Operations | 14,566 | 18% |
| Administrative Functions | 14,399 | 18% |
| Clerical Works | 13,597 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 12,429 | 16% |
| Scheduling | 12,341 | 16% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 11,722 | 15% |
| Filing | 11,230 | 14% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 11,169 | 14% |
| Problem Solving | 10,986 | 14% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 10,844 | 14% |
| Multitasking | 10,355 | 13% |
| Time Management | 10,354 | 13% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about human resources clerks? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for human resources clerks.
What do human resources clerks do?
How much do human resources clerks make?
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