Some possible jobs within this career area are:
Depending on your personal career path, you might need to get licensed to start work. Counselors, for example, need special training. There are also many professional organizations related to human services careers. While your degree might qualify you for employment, membership to a national association could give you the credentials you need to get promoted or advance your career.
Some certifications related to human services careers include:
- Professional Licensing/Certification
- Associate’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- PhD
Human services careers are steadfast in the job market. Human resources professionals help companies grow, and also help to recruit talented workers. Nonprofit organizations provide services to people in need or crisis. Whether it’s a guidance counselor in high school or a marriage counselor in adulthood, chances are good that we’ll encounter someone who devotes their life to a career in human services.
Human services careers follow traditional education patterns, which means that you could earn an Associate’s Degree in two years and a Bachelor’s Degree in four years. Your career, however, could require additional certification, licensing or training. Consult a career counselor to make sure you’re doing all you need to start your career.
How to Become a Human Resources Manager
A human resources manager (or HR Manager) supervises employees in the human resources department. For large organizations, the manager may oversee individual departments that are responsible for different functions of human resources. These functions include: hiring and retaining qualified employees, maintaining workforce morale, training, and labor relations.
Increasingly today, human resource managers consult with management on corporate policies that can improve worker productivity such as matching employee skill sets with corporate goals.
Training Required for a Human Resource Manager Career
To become a human resources (HR) manager, you typically need a bachelor's degree, although educational backgrounds can vary. Interdisciplinary fields of study can be beneficial for a human resource manager career. These fields of study include: social sciences, business administration, and behavioral sciences. Advanced degrees are becoming increasingly important. Indeed, some corporations require an advanced degree in industrial or labor relations.
In addition to meeting educational requirements, you will likely need work experience in human resources in order to become a human resources manager.
Human Resource Manager Salaries
Human resource manager salaries vary with the type of industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary overall is $96,100. The median human resource manager salary by industry is shown in the following examples:
- Companies and Enterprises = $107,300
- Hospitals = $91,600
- Local Governments = $89,200
- State Governments = $76,600
(Salary data retrieved 6/24/11)
To get the education you need to become a human resources manager, find a degree program now!