Career paths in human resource management
Human resource management is the course of action through which a business employs, trains, compensates, and develops policies and strategies to retain its employees (Armstrong, 2006). Nowadays, the human resource management is a wide field according to most business organizations. For example, in the past, the human resource department was responsible for processing payrolls, arranging company outings, and conducting administrative roles among other activities (Armstrong, 2006). This shows that the roles played by the human resource field have evolved from the past to what they are today. This paper will discuss the career paths in the field of human resource management.
There are numerous functions in human resource departments which are directly correlated to the responsibilities that are executed in other departments. Some of the most prevalent sections of this department include staffing, development of workplace policies, compensation and benefits administration, dealing with laws affecting employment, training and development, awareness of external factors, and worker protection (Society for Human Resource Management, 2012). These tasks are majorly performed by human resource professionals.
In addition, this department requires individuals who posses quality skills. Some of the common skills required include organization, multi-tasking, clear understanding of definite job areas, ethics, and a strategic mindset (Society for Human Resource Management, 2012). The skills mentioned are essential to any human resource manager. As a matter of fact, most companies require the human resource department or a manager with human resource skills. The most fundamental responsibility in this department is to align the human resource strategic plan with the strategic plan of the business (Armstrong, 2006).
There are several career paths in the human resource department. The career opportunities can be divided into the generalist or specialist category. Human resource generalists are professionals who have a wide array of responsibilities, while the specialists specialize in definite areas. The responsibilities performed by human resource generalists are similar to the prevalent sections in the human resource department (Mathis & Jackson, 2004). As stated above, these tasks include staffing, training, managing a diverse workforce, and developing personnel skills among other tasks. In this department, there are various job titles which only apply to the generalists. They include human resource generalist, human resource business partner, chief human resource officer, and human resource branch manager (Society for Human Resource Management, 2012).
On the other hand, large organizations require human resource specialists who have prior technical knowledge in certain areas, in the human resource department. There are certain areas that are quite prevalent in the human resource department. The most common specialist roles include workforce planning and employment, total rewards, human development, risk management, and labor relations (Mathis & Jackson, 2004). Research asserts that some of the human resource specialists deal with global human resources.
In conclusion, most of the roles performed by human resource professionals are similar (Society for Human Resource Management, 2012). Furthermore, the salaries for these professionals differ significantly depending on certain factors. In the human resource department, the factors that define the salary to be paid to such professionals include economic activity, geographic location, profitability, and the size of the organization (Society for Human Resource Management, 2012). Recently, the specialty sector has become a growing field in human resource management. Moreover, some individuals in this field pursue human resource consultancy, which involves teaching human resource in academic institutions of higher learning (Mathis & Jackson, 2004).
Armstrong, M. (2006). A handbook of human resource management practice. New York: Kogan Page Publishers.
Mathis, R., & Jackson, J. (2004). Human resource management. Texas: South-Western College Publishers.
Society for Human Resource Management. (2012). Careers in human resource management. Retrieved from http://www.shrm.org/Communities/StudentPrograms/Pages/careersinHRM.aspx
