Be prepared to start in entry level positions within organizations and work up to positions of greater responsibility. Develop an area of expertise along the way.
Graduate education including MBA, M.S., or J.D. qualifies one for higher salaries and positions with greater responsibility
Obtain internships in an area of interest such as human resources, training, or organizational development
Participate in related co-curricular activities and obtain leadership positions to broaden skills
Successful human resource professionals are business-minded and well-rounded. Cultivate "hard skills" such as technology and statistics along with "soft skills" such as mediating and advising
Demonstrate a strong desire to work with people of various backgrounds and educational levels
Learn desktop publishing and other software packages
Become familiar with current business literature and news
Join professional associations in field of interest, such as American Society for Training and Development, Society for Human Resource Management, American Management Association, Employment Management Association, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and others
Related Fields
Public Accounting
Human Resources
Benefits
Compensation
Employee Relations
Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
Labor Relations
Selection and Placement
Recruiting
Retention
Occupational Safety
Equal Employment Opportunity
Diversity Issues
Policy Development
Employers
Financial institutions
Hotel, restaurant, and retail chains
Manufacturing firms
Hospitals and healthcare organizations
Educational institutions
Employment and staffing agencies
Professional employment organizations (PEOs)
Other medium and large size organizations
Nonprofit organizations
Labor unions
Federal government agencies including:Department of Labor, Employment Security Commission, Bureau of Labor
Local and state government agencies
Strategies
Develop strong computer skills, especially with spreadsheets and databases
Obtain internships in human resources
Develop presentation skills and conflict resolution abilities through coursework and activities
Cultivate strong analytical skills. Be willing to start in an entry-level human resources or benefits assistant position
Learn about Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and compliance
Earn a graduate degree (MBA, masters, or law) to reach the highest levels of human resource management
Learn government application procedures
Complete a federal government internship program
Training and Development
Industrial Training
Technology Training
Management Development
Performance Improvement
Organizational Change
Employers
Corporate universities
Consulting firms
Manufacturing companies
Retail and customer service industries
Restaurant and hotel chains
Business and industry training facilities
Educational institutions
Strategies
Obtain related experience through internships and part-time or summer jobs
Develop the ability to comprehend operational systems and to process new information quickly
Acquire current knowledge of issues intechnology, industry, and business education through professional association journals
Develop solid knowledge of the content area being addressed in training
Be prepared to start working in another area of human resources before moving into a training position
Learn about Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and compliance
Learn about International Organization for Standardization (ISO) criteria
Non-Profit
Development
Volunteer Coordination
Programming
Administration
Employers
Community agencies
Healthcare organizations
Private foundations
Strategies
Volunteer in community development projects orwith an organization of interest
Take on leadership roles in campus organizations
Learn how to administer a budget through coursework or volunteering
Develop planning skills
Obtain an internship in fund-raising or related field
Law
Arbitration and Mediation
Labor Relations
Employment Law
Employers
Law firms
Large corporations
Government agencies
Public interest legal agencies
Strategies
Obtain a law degree
Join a debate team and participate in mock trial
Take courses in employment law, conflict management, and labor relations
Develop planning skills
Gain experience with mediation
Industrial / Organizational Psychology
Organizational Development
Assessment and Evaluation
Personnel Selection
Performance Appraisal
Job Analysis
Individual Development
Labor Relations
Ergonomics
Teaching
Research
Employers
Consulting firms
Educational services
Colleges and universities
Private and public companies
Government agencies
Military research organizations
Test preparation companies
Strategies
Double major or minor in psychology as an undergraduate
Earn a doctoral degree inindustrial/organizational psychology
Demonstrate strong interest in studying the behavior of people at work
Obtain internships in areas of organizational development
Conduct independent research study in areas of interest
Develop aptitude in statistical analysis and computers