What Do Human Resources Generalists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for human resources generalists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what human resources generalists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Human Resources Generalists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about human resources generalists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Human Resources Generalists recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.
Popular Job Titles For Human Resources Generalists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Human Resources Generalists
- Recruiters
- Human Resources Specialists
- Talent Acquisition Specialists
- Human Resources Coordinators
- Staffing Coordinators
- Employment Specialists
- Human Resources Representatives
- HRIS Analysts
- Human Resources Recruiters
- Human Resources Analysts
- Talent Acquisition Coordinators
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for human resources generalists can be found.
Best Industries for Human Resources Generalists
Human Resources Generalists Jobs By Industry
- Employment Services: 15%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 6.4%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 4.5%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 4.3%
- Federal Government, Military: 4.2%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 3.8%
- Other: 61.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of human resources generalists can be found working in the Employment Services sector. In 2023, about 15% of all jobs for human resources generalists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (6.4%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (4.5%), Federal Government, Civilian (4.3%), Federal Government, Military (4.2%) and Computer Systems Design and Related Services (3.8%).
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What Do Human Resources Generalists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what human resources generalists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work human resources generalists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that human resources generalists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for human resources generalists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Human Resources Generalists
Based on 263,588 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Human Resources Generalists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Information System (HRIS) | 45,921 | 17% |
| Applicant Tracking Systems | 34,800 | 13% |
| Employee Relations | 31,787 | 12% |
| Auditing | 27,403 | 10% |
| Full-Cycle Recruitment | 22,690 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Human Resources Generalists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 118,852 | 45% |
| Management | 81,999 | 31% |
| Customer Service | 65,937 | 25% |
| Detail Oriented | 59,600 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 58,946 | 22% |
Based on 263,588 job postings related to human resources generalists, human resources information system (hris) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 17% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for applicant tracking systems, employee relations, auditing, full-cycle recruitment and talent management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for human resources generalists, followed by management, customer service, detail oriented, microsoft office and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Information System (HRIS) | 45,921 | 17% |
| Applicant Tracking Systems | 34,800 | 13% |
| Employee Relations | 31,787 | 12% |
| Auditing | 27,403 | 10% |
| Full-Cycle Recruitment | 22,690 | 9% |
| Talent Management | 22,562 | 9% |
| Talent Sourcing | 21,646 | 8% |
| Project Management | 21,018 | 8% |
| Recruitment Strategies | 20,416 | 8% |
| Employee Onboarding | 20,356 | 8% |
| Performance Management | 19,496 | 7% |
| Talent Acquisition | 19,483 | 7% |
| Human Resource Management | 19,024 | 7% |
| Marketing | 18,488 | 7% |
| Labor Law | 17,434 | 7% |
| Data Analysis | 15,081 | 6% |
| Process Improvement | 15,036 | 6% |
| Data Entry | 14,102 | 5% |
| Administrative Support | 13,722 | 5% |
| Finance | 11,977 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 118,852 | 45% |
| Management | 81,999 | 31% |
| Customer Service | 65,937 | 25% |
| Detail Oriented | 59,600 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 58,946 | 22% |
| Writing | 53,981 | 20% |
| Microsoft Excel | 51,764 | 20% |
| Leadership | 51,458 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 47,824 | 18% |
| Operations | 42,208 | 16% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 40,319 | 15% |
| Organizational Skills | 40,231 | 15% |
| Time Management | 35,064 | 13% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 33,396 | 13% |
| Research | 33,235 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 31,414 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 31,187 | 12% |
| Planning | 30,643 | 12% |
| Scheduling | 29,939 | 11% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 26,896 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Human Resources Generalists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Generalists | 90,498 | 32.6% |
| Recruiters | 38,629 | 13.9% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 24,555 | 8.8% |
| Talent Acquisition Specialists | 16,434 | 5.9% |
| Human Resources Coordinators | 17,047 | 6.1% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was human resources generalists, with 34,522 unique job postings. Recruiters were second, with 10,467 postings, followed by human resources specialists, talent acquisition specialists and human resources coordinators.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to human resources generalists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Generalists | 90,498 | 32.6% |
| Recruiters | 38,629 | 13.9% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 24,555 | 8.8% |
| Talent Acquisition Specialists | 16,434 | 5.9% |
| Human Resources Coordinators | 17,047 | 6.1% |
| Staffing Coordinators | 13,996 | 5% |
| Employment Specialists | 9,313 | 3.4% |
| Human Resources Representatives | 11,320 | 4.1% |
| HRIS Analysts | 6,334 | 2.3% |
| Human Resources Recruiters | 5,550 | 2% |
| Human Resources Analysts | 5,529 | 2% |
| Talent Acquisition Coordinators | 5,001 | 1.8% |
| Healthcare Recruiters | 5,609 | 2% |
| Technical Recruiters | 4,360 | 1.6% |
| Corporate Recruiters | 5,059 | 1.8% |
| Talent Acquisition Partners | 4,072 | 1.5% |
| Staffing Specialists | 3,523 | 1.3% |
| Onboarding Specialists | 3,684 | 1.3% |
| Human Resources Associates | 3,699 | 1.3% |
| Recruiting Specialists | 3,397 | 1.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for human resources generalists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for human resources generalists.
How much do human resources generalists make?
Human Resources Generalists: How do you become one?
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