Human Resources Assistant

Employment of human resources specialists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Companies are likely to continue to outsource human resources functions to organizations that provide these services, rather than directly employing human resources specialists. In addition, the services of human resources generalists will likely be needed to handle increasingly complex employment laws and benefit options.

However, employment of human resources specialists will be tempered as companies make better use of available technologies. Rather than sending recruiters to colleges and job fairs, for example, some employers are increasingly conducting their entire recruiting process online. In addition, administrative tasks are more efficient with software that allows workers to quickly manage, process, or update human resources information.

Job Prospects

Job prospects for human resources specialists are expected to be favorable, with 67,700 openings projected annually, on average, over the decade.

Overall, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and professional certification should have the best job prospects.

The median annual wage for human resources specialists was $61,920 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,180, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $105,930.

In May 2019, the median annual wages for human resources specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Many human resources specialists, particularly recruitment specialists, travel extensively to attend job fairs, visit college campuses, and meet with applicants.

Most specialists work full time during regular business hours.

Duties

Human resources specialists typically do the following:

• Consult with employers to identify employment needs
• Interview applicants about their experience, education, and skills
• Contact references and perform background checks on job applicants
• Inform applicants about job details, such as duties, benefits, and working conditions
• Hire or refer qualified candidates for employers
• Conduct or help with new employee orientation
• Keep employment records and process paperwork

Human resources specialists are often trained in all human resources disciplines and perform tasks throughout all areas of the department. In addition to recruiting and placing workers, human resources specialists help guide employees through all human resources procedures and answer questions about policies. They sometimes administer benefits, process payroll, and handle any associated questions or problems, although many specialists may focus more on strategic planning and hiring instead of administrative duties. They also ensure that all human resources functions comply with federal, state, and local regulations.

The following are examples of types of human resources specialists:

Human resources generalists handle all aspects of human resources work. They may have duties in all areas of human resources including recruitment, employee relations, compensation, benefits, training, as well as the administration of human resources policies, procedures, and programs.

Recruitment specialists, sometimes known as personnel recruiters or “head hunters,” find, screen, and interview applicants for job openings in an organization. They search for applicants by posting listings, attending job fairs, and visiting college campuses. They also may test applicants, contact references, and extend job offers.