By: The Capella University Editorial Team
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Human resources (HR) professionals support the people side of an organization, from hiring and onboarding to employee development, compensation and workplace policies.
In many organizations, HR also plays a strategic role by helping align workforce planning, employee development and compliance efforts with broader business goals. Because of that, a human resources degree can lead to a variety of career paths.
Lori White, MBA, a faculty member in Capella University's School of Business, Technology and Health Care Administration, shares areas graduates could explore with a human resources degree.
In smaller organizations, a human resources manager may oversee many HR functions directly. In larger organizations, the role may focus on leading teams responsible for specific areas of HR.
In either setting, human resources managers often work across departments to help align workforce strategies with organizational goals.
Talent development includes research and implementation of employee training programs that support departmental or organizational goals.
Depending on the organization, this position may also contribute to some aspects of the hiring process.
Talent acquisition managers focus on attracting qualified candidates to an organization. This often includes identifying the most effective and cost-efficient recruiting methods for open roles.
Someone in this position may pre-screen applications, help narrow the candidate pool and oversee parts of the hiring process such as interview structure, candidate evaluation and background checks.
Someone working in the compensation and benefits area of HR helps design and manage pay structures and benefits plans, which may include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off and other employer-sponsored offerings.
A strong understanding of current laws and regulations affecting pay and benefits is important in this role. Compensation and benefits managers may also work with talent acquisition managers to assess labor needs and support hiring strategies.
Labor relations managers are often found in unionized organizations, though similar responsibilities may exist in non-union workplaces as well.
This role typically focuses on communication and negotiation between employees or labor representatives and the organization. Labor relations managers may also support grievance handling and dispute resolution.
A human resources degree may help prepare graduates to explore roles across recruiting, employee development, compensation and workplace relations. Career paths can vary by employer, industry and experience level.
Learn more about Capella’s BS in Business, Human Resource Management, MBA in Human Resource Management and MS in Human Resource Management.
The job titles and employment settings mentioned in this blog are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications, and/or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase, or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.
A human resources degree can prepare you for roles that support hiring, employee development, compensation, labor relations and overall workforce strategy.
A human resources manager may oversee recruiting, staffing, training, performance management, compensation and benefits, labor relations and compliance with employment laws. In smaller organizations, the role may cover many HR functions, while in larger ones it may focus on leading a specialized department.
Useful skills to develop include communication, organization, recruiting, training, negotiation, policy awareness, employee relations and understanding employment laws and compensation practices.
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