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
- High School or GED: 20,401 (37%)
- No Education Listed: 19,522 (35%)
- Bachelor's degree: 14,531 (26%)
- Master's degree: 1,001 (2%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 225 (0%)
High School or GED is the level of education sought the most by employers of human resources specialists. According to job data, a High School diploma or GED was required for 37% of positions. In 35% of job listings no education level was listed and in 26% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Human Resources Specialists
Jobs Postings for Human Resources Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 14,707 (46%)
- 2-3 Years: 14,346 (45%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,629 (8%)
- 7-9 Years: 238 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 139 (0%)
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 46% of job postings for Human Resources Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 45% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 8% 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 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective human resources specialists, and in 2021 a total of 21,882 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 (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 18,408 |
| Human Resources Development. | 2,315 |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution. | 1,159 |
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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.
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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 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 0 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Human Resources Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
Top 5 Common Skills for Human Resources Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 23,022 | 43% |
| Detail Oriented | 15,546 | 29% |
| Microsoft Office | 15,272 | 28% |
| Customer Service | 14,913 | 28% |
| Clerical Works | 14,226 | 26% |
Based on 0 job postings related to human resources specialists, was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with % of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for human resources specialists, followed by detail oriented, microsoft office, customer service, clerical works and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 23,022 | 43% |
| Detail Oriented | 15,546 | 29% |
| Microsoft Office | 15,272 | 28% |
| Customer Service | 14,913 | 28% |
| Clerical Works | 14,226 | 26% |
| Microsoft Excel | 13,480 | 25% |
| Administrative Functions | 13,272 | 25% |
| Management | 12,865 | 24% |
| Organizational Skills | 10,684 | 20% |
| Filing | 10,621 | 20% |
| Writing | 10,386 | 19% |
| Operations | 10,255 | 19% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 8,222 | 15% |
| Scheduling | 8,182 | 15% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 7,714 | 14% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 7,682 | 14% |
| Multitasking | 7,498 | 14% |
| Coordinating | 6,809 | 13% |
| Problem Solving | 6,749 | 12% |
| Computer Literacy | 6,535 | 12% |
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?
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