Signs a Career as a Human Resources Officer is for You

A Human Resources Officer is responsible for ensuring the workforce of an organisation is as effective as possible. You’ll help with recruitment and providing training and development opportunities for staff and address disciplinary measures should they arise. Here are the signs you’d make a good HR officer:

You have…

• business awareness 
• strong management skills
• excellent interpersonal and teamworking skills 
• IT literacy 
• numeracy skills
• organisational skills
• the ability to apply employment law
• time management skills and the ability to prioritise to meet deadlines

You want to…

• write job descriptions, person specifications and job adverts
• check application forms, help to shortlist, interview, select successful candidates and update unsuccessful candidates
• ensure that prospective staff have the right to work at the organisation
• plan and perhaps deliver training
• induct new staff 
• manage staff welfare and administration
• advise on pay and other benefits
• undertake salary reviews and manage redundancy programmes
• prepare and implement policies on working conditions, performance management, equal opportunities, disciplinary procedures and absence management
• negotiate with staff and their representatives (e.g. trade union officials) on issues relating to pay and conditions, contracts and redundancy
• develop staff handbooks
• administer payroll 
• maintain employee records
• address grievances and implement disciplinary procedures

You don’t mind…

• A pressurised environment to complete many tasks simultaneously
• Office-based work.

Getting started

While this career path is open to all graduates, a degree or Higher National Diploma in one of the following subjects may be advantageous:

• business or management
• human resource management
• psychology.

Some large organisations offer graduate schemes. An alternative route is through entry-level positions such as a HR Administrator and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development accredited qualifications. Apprenticeships are also available.

Search all HR jobs on our vacancies page.

Article source: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/human-resources-officer