Human Resources Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of human resources specialists 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 specialists 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 specialists 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 specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Human Resources Specialists?
Do human resources specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do human resources specialists 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 specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Human Resources Specialists
Jobs Postings for Human Resources Specialists 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 specialists. 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 Specialists
Jobs Postings for Human Resources Specialists 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 specialists. In 49% of job postings for Human Resources Specialists, 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 specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Human Resources Specialists 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 specialists, 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 specialists, 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 specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Human Resources Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Human Resources Specialists (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 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Human Resources Specialists
Find ways to attract, train, and retain the very best talent by implementing effective benefits and labor-relations strategies.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Learn the strategic skills needed to be a leader in the evolving field of Human Resources.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Be a dynamic HR leader by building your expertise in workplace law, organizational development and strategic human resource management, with Franklin’s online accredited 12-month MBA with a Specialization in Human Resources.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Human Resources Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by human resources specialists 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 specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Human Resources Specialists
Based on 78,912 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Human Resources Specialists
| 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 Specialists
| 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 specialists, 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 specialists, 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 specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for human resources specialists.
What do human resources specialists do?
How much do human resources specialists make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.