Human Resources Specialists

Career Overview

Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

Also Known As

  • HR Coordinator (Human Resources Coordinator)
  • HR Generalist (Human Resources Generalist)
  • Human Resources Specialist (HR Specialist)
  • Recruiter

Alternate Job Titles

  • Business Intelligence Engineer
  • Career Development Specialist
  • Career Development Technician
  • Career Specialist
  • Certification Specialist
  • Contract Recruiter
  • Corporate Recruiter
  • Credentialing Coordinator
  • Credentialing Specialist
  • Credentials Specialist
  • Employee Advisor
  • Employee Counselor
  • Employee Health Maintenance Program Specialist
  • Employee Operations Examiner
  • Employee Placement Specialist

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
  • Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
  • Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Prepare or maintain employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.
  • Address employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, or other employee concerns.
  • Review employment applications and job orders to match applicants with job requirements.
  • Inform job applicants of details such as duties and responsibilities, compensation, benefits, schedules, working conditions, or promotion opportunities.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Administrative
  • Administration and Management
  • English Language

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

  1. Speaking
  2. Reading Comprehension
  3. Active Listening
  4. Writing
  5. Critical Thinking

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Comprehension
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Speech Recognition
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Speech Clarity
  • Written Expression
  • Near Vision
  • Information Ordering

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Attention to Detail
  • Social Orientation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Achievement
  • Working Conditions
  • Recognition

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Apple macOS
  • Cisco Webex
  • ESRI ArcGIS software
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Facebook

Tools & Equipment

  • 10-key calculators
  • Computer scanners
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital audio recorders
  • Digital video disk DVD players
  • Laptop computers
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Office inkjet printers
  • Personal computers
  • Photocopying equipment
  • Video projectors
  • Web conferencing cameras

Work Environment

  • E-Mail
  • Telephone Conversations
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Contact With Others

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$45,440
Median$72,910
Top Earners (90th percentile)$126,540

Workers Employed Nationally: 917,460

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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