Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of human resources organizational development consultants 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 organizational development consultants 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 organizational development consultants 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 organizational development consultants.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants?
Do human resources organizational development consultants need a degree? What kind of experience do human resources organizational development consultants 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 organizational development consultants to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants
Jobs Postings for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 2,452 (46%)
- Master's degree: 1,448 (27%)
- No Education Listed: 846 (16%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 343 (6%)
- High School or GED: 215 (4%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of human resources organizational development consultants. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 46% of positions. In 27% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 16% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants
Jobs Postings for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 244 (9%)
- 2-3 Years: 640 (23%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,016 (37%)
- 7-9 Years: 452 (16%)
- 10+ Years: 401 (15%)
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 organizational development consultants. In 37% of job postings for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 23% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for human resources organizational development consultants.
What Kind of Degree Do Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants 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 organizational development consultants, 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 organizational development consultants, and in 2021 a total of 147,244 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 organizational development consultants.
Top Degree Programs for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants
Top 5 Degree Programs for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology. | 2,283 |
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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 Organizational Development Consultants
Leverage advances in positive psychology and executive coaching to impact the development of individuals, teams, and communities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Understand what’s behind the structure, behavior and environment of your organization.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Strengthen your grasp of brain science and personality styles, individual and organizational intelligence and innovation and change management and become a transformational leader, with Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Business Psychology.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Create a high-performance culture by broadening your knowledge of leadership theory, change management and managerial psychology through Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership.
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by human resources organizational development consultants 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 organizational development consultants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants
Based on 3,918 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Development | 2,446 | 62% |
| Project Management | 1,250 | 32% |
| Change Management | 1,216 | 31% |
| Talent Management | 826 | 21% |
| Performance Management | 822 | 21% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Human Resources Organizational Development Consultants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | 2,282 | 58% |
| Communications | 2,168 | 55% |
| Management | 1,846 | 47% |
| Planning | 1,077 | 27% |
| Coaching | 1,056 | 27% |
Based on 3,918 job postings related to human resources organizational development consultants, organizational development was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 62% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, change management, talent management, performance management and organizational effectiveness were also highly sought.
As for common skills, leadership was the most desired skill found in job postings for human resources organizational development consultants, followed by communications, management, planning, coaching and presentations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Development | 2,446 | 62% |
| Project Management | 1,250 | 32% |
| Change Management | 1,216 | 31% |
| Talent Management | 826 | 21% |
| Performance Management | 822 | 21% |
| Organizational Effectiveness | 770 | 20% |
| Psychology | 697 | 18% |
| Succession Planning | 567 | 14% |
| Learning Management Systems | 561 | 14% |
| Organizational Change Management | 514 | 13% |
| Organizational Architecture | 511 | 13% |
| Employee Engagement | 493 | 13% |
| Instructional Design | 469 | 12% |
| Industrial And Organizational Psychology | 463 | 12% |
| Business Strategies | 453 | 12% |
| Adult Education | 449 | 11% |
| Data Analysis | 430 | 11% |
| Process Improvement | 425 | 11% |
| Organizational Leadership | 423 | 11% |
| Surveys | 356 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership | 2,282 | 58% |
| Communications | 2,168 | 55% |
| Management | 1,846 | 47% |
| Planning | 1,077 | 27% |
| Coaching | 1,056 | 27% |
| Presentations | 1,022 | 26% |
| Leadership Development | 980 | 25% |
| Consulting | 978 | 25% |
| Writing | 960 | 25% |
| Training And Development | 920 | 23% |
| Influencing Skills | 854 | 22% |
| Research | 825 | 21% |
| Innovation | 785 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 779 | 20% |
| Customer Service | 731 | 19% |
| Microsoft Excel | 691 | 18% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 690 | 18% |
| Operations | 690 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 688 | 18% |
| Coordinating | 617 | 16% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about human resources organizational development consultants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for human resources organizational development consultants.
What do human resources organizational development consultants do?
How much do human resources organizational development consultants make?
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