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Congratulations! You've picked a career that has so many options we've had to divide our overview into two parts. Part I covered the roles of HR generalists, compensation professionals and information systems (HRIS) specialists. If none of those seem like the right fit for you, don't despair. Consider one of these paths for your human resources career.
Benefits Professional
Most of us in the workforce have benefits, but who is actually responsible for making benefits plans happen?
If you think benefits professionals just administer employee benefits, think again. These individuals are also responsible for designing and implementing benefits plans. It takes strong technical skills and well-tuned communication skills to succeed in this arena.
This line of work can get pretty technical. Companies often search for candidates who have obtained CEBS (Certified Employee Benefits Specialist) certification. The certificate requires both financial and time commitments so before you sign up, be sure this is the right area of HR for you. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Are you comfortable constantly reworking projects you thought were already done?
- Do you have a good aptitude for working with numbers?
- How good are you at taking complex concepts and making them understandable to the average person?
- Do you have what it takes to sell your ideas to both top management and lower-level employees?
If your answers indicate this might be the field for you, get ready to jump in feet first. This is one area of HR that seems to grow even during downtimes, because companies are always looking at new ways to motivate their employees while containing costs.
Find benefits positions.
Training and Development Professionals
The field of training and development (T&D) has changed substantially over the last decade. In the old days, trainers were expected to teach employees how to do their jobs. Now, training professionals are responsible for building environments that embrace learning. Management and leadership development is also an important part of the job.
In some of the more forward-thinking companies, T&D professionals may be involved in designing distance learning programs as well as on-site, computer-based training programs. Before you raise your hand to take on this job, consider the following questions:
- Do you consider yourself a creative person with strong computer skills?
- Are you comfortable in front of an audience?
- How comfortable are you working on one very long project as opposed to lots of small projects?
- Are you passionate about learning and teaching others?
Answering "yes" to most of these questions may mean this is the right area of HR for you. But be aware that when the economy slows down, training budgets are among the first things to go. Make yourself recession-proof by combining a T&D background with another area of HR.
Find training and development positions.
Organizational Development Professional
Are you one of those people who embraces change? Then the field of organizational development may be just what you're looking for. Organizational development professionals work closely with top management to ensure the organization's design is closely aligned with the company's goals, mission and vision. In this role, you may also do some training and development.
Things can get really hot in this field when a company goes through a major reorganization or merger. You may be required to work long hours when change is in the air. When considering this role, ask yourself:
- How well do you handle change?
- Do you enjoy putting together the pieces of a puzzle?
- How well do you perform during tumultuous times?
- Are you a big-picture person?
If this might be the path for you, consider approaching some professionals in the field for suggestions on how to break into this area of HR.
Find organizational development positions.
HR is changing every day, and we have just touched the surface of the industry's career options. Yes, recruiting is an important aspect of HR, but certainly not the only one. So if you find that your recruiter job has been eliminated due to the economy's slowdown, take comfort in knowing there are many other areas of HR to explore.