Why HR is a Reliable Career Path for Graduates

Human Resources, otherwise known as HR, is a highly varied role that expects anyone stepping into it to have a particular, and flexible, set of skills. This guide is here to explore what skills you need to succeed in human resources, and why HR is a reliable career path for graduates everywhere.

Job Skills of an HR Employee

There are lots of core skill areas that an HR role requires you to tap into, such as:

• The ability to mediate difficult situations with neutrality
• Implementing solution-focused practices with employees at the heart of everything
• Knowing how to corroborate and implement companywide training strategies
• Spontaneous thinking while simultaneously maintaining focus on adhering to company rules and strategies
• Ability to hand out positive criticism and deliver guidance for KPI projections
• Being open-minded and accepting of all cultures, faiths, and demographics
• Navigating all aspects of onboarding, engagement, and termination

What Does an HR Person Do?

An HR person is there to connect with employees, create a positive work environment, oversee staff and training, and embark on engagement and onboarding or exit strategies. Their core function is to provide the tools for all team members to excel, grow and find their own two feet within an organisation. They support and nurture. They train and teach. They get people started and help people leave amicably too. There are lots of masks that an HR leader may wear throughout their time with a company.

Experience Required for an HR Role

So, what experience do you need for an HR role? A study history that has clear links to business, sociology, industry, and hospitality will help secure a role. For higher paying positions, experience in an HR department for a number of years is essential too.

Typical HR Tasks

Typical HR tasks could look like this:

• Health and safety protocols
• Conducting interviews
• Carrying out incentive schemes for staff
• Payroll
• Pensions
• Equality and diversity training programmes
• General training

Opportunities for Progression: Job Description Examples

All these skills above show why this career choice has real potential for graduates to grow and shape the core values of any career mantle. However, HR also has a lot of places you can move and grow which only adds to the credibility of the choice as a career path.

HR Consultant

As a consultant, you will explore the role of auditing and improving HR facilities and general workplaces. This takes you in different directions depending on the project and allows for a flexible, self-employed, and therefore an autonomous way of working. You will be there to maximise potential and suggest improvements where needed.

HR Administrator

One of the most common job descriptions in this remit, typical HR responsibilities as an administrator will include a variety of the following:

• Payroll
• Staff training
• Engagement strategy
• Onboarding

HR Director

HR directors have strong leadership skills, innovative solutions, and creative yet logical mindsets. They are in charge of everything HR, therefore making this one of the higher paid positions in this area.

There are many places to move with an HR position. The career prospects can lead to an autonomous role and the skills picked up along the way are highly valuable and transferable.