Directors of Employee Relations: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of directors of employee relations 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 directors of employee relations to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of directors of employee relations 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 directors of employee relations.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Directors of Employee Relations?

Do directors of employee relations need a degree? What kind of experience do directors of employee relations 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 directors of employee relations to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Employee Relations

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of directors of employee relations. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 60% of positions. In 16% of job listings no education level was listed and in 13% of postings a master's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Directors of Employee Relations

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 directors of employee relations. In 39% of job postings for Directors of Employee Relations, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 35% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 12% of job postings for directors of employee relations.

What Kind of Degree Do Directors of Employee Relations Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for directors of employee relations, 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 10 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective directors of employee relations, and in 2023 a total of 131,996 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 directors of employee relations.

Top Degree Programs for Directors of Employee Relations

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 Directors of Employee Relations

What Skills Do Directors of Employee Relations Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by directors of employee relations 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 directors of employee relations, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Directors of Employee Relations
Based on 8,306 job postings

Based on 8,306 job postings related to directors of employee relations, employee relations was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 70% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for labor relations, performance management, conflict resolution, labor law and employee relations investigations were also highly sought.

As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for directors of employee relations, followed by communication, investigation, leadership, writing and problem solving.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about directors of employee relations? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for directors of employee relations.

What do directors of employee relations do?
How much do directors of employee relations make?

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