Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Manager and Specialist

What Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Managers and Specialists Do

Recruiting agencies, training departments and human resources offices are home to some of the fastest growing careers in the country right now. Human resources and labor relations mangers work in-house or for consulting firms to help companies attract, train and maintain the most highly skilled and talented professionals, improving the overall efficiency and boosting productivity and profitability for their business. Depending on the size of their office or if they work for a separate firm, human resources professionals may be responsible for all sorts of tasks or specialize in a certain area of HR, like recruiting and placement, interviewing, managing employee compensation and benefits, responding to employee complaints, resolving legal issues, and developing and carrying out training exercises. This job requires great communication and conflict resolution skills, and the ability to anticipate both a company's needs in terms of employment and a job applicant's ability to fit with and contribute to the company.

How to Become a Human Resources, Training, or Labor Relations Managers and Specialist

Depending on what kind of human resources job you want, you may or may not need a degree in labor relations. Bachelor's degrees are generally held as the minimum standard for employment, and some companies want to hire individuals with degrees in human resources, personnel administration, labor relations, or a related field, while others will be satisfied with a degree in the liberal arts, like business, communications, or English. Graduate degrees are preferred for individuals who want management positions, higher level consulting jobs, or more technical positions in the field that involve contract negotiation or mediation and arbitration. As you gain more experience in human resources, you will be able to apply for more management and supervisor positions, too. Continuing education can also be a good idea, in areas like foreign language, international business, business psychology, or another field that is related to your particular job. You may also want to pursue certification in your HR specialty to give you an edge when it comes to finding a job or seeking employment. You can train to become a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist, receive certification from the American Society for Training and Development, or seek licensure from a number of other human resources professional organizations.

Career Outlook for Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Managers and Specialists

The job outlook is very good for human resources, training and labor relations managers and specialists. Employment should grow by 22%, which means an added 197,400 jobs for the entire industry. The most jobs will be added for employment, recruitment and placement specialists, followed by training and development specialists, and compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists. Human resources managers will also see a 10% increase in job growth through 2018. Depending on firm size, industry and location, your salary as a human relations manager or specialist will vary greatly, but the median annual wage for human resources managers in May 2008 was $96,130. The highest earners in that group worked in management of companies and enterprises, followed by those at general medical and surgical hospitals, then local government, colleges and universities, and finally those working at the state government, who still earned an average of $76,570.