What is HR?

Commonly known as HR, the term “human resources” generally refers to a department in a company that deals with the firm’s people and their issues. Human resources members of staff can handle the recruitment of employees, compensations and benefits, training, performance management and the development and culture of an organisation. Human resources members of staff can also advise senior staff about their financial and performance decisions.

Areas in Human Resources

Most large businesses have human resources departments. Therefore, if you want to work in HR, you have a broad range of industries to choose from. Working as a human resources officer, you would deal with a number of areas within a firm’s human resources department. Typical areas you would work in include:

• Handling complaints and discipline procedures.
• Improving the experience of employees in the workplace.
• Maintaining employee records.
• Ensuring employees have the correct pay and benefits.
• Arranging services for employees, such as counselling and welfare.
• Promoting health and safety.
• Promoting equality in the workplace.
• Recording and analysing confidential data.
• Handling redundancy issues.
• Writing employee handbooks.

Why study a human resources course?

You may not always need to have a related qualification to get a job in human resources, but it will certainly help you to find employment if you do have a qualification. If you want to become a human resources officer, employers will often expect you to have completed a course provided by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. You can study courses such as:

• CIPD Level Five Award in Human Resources.
• CIPD Level Five Certificate or Diploma in Human Resources Management.
• Level Five Diploma in Business Management and Human Resources.

Many employers also prefer you to have completed a Foundation degree, a Higher National Diploma or a degree in subjects like Human Resources Management or a combined degree in subjects like Human Resources and Business Management. If you want to continue your studies at a higher level once you have completed such courses, you can go on to study a postgraduate qualification in a related subject. The higher a qualification you have, the more employment options will be available to you.

Career Outcomes from a Human Resources Course

Not only can you become a human resources officer after completing a course, you also have the opportunity of working in other human resources roles. With a human-resources-related qualification under your belt, you can apply for positions like:

• Recruitment Consultant: This role involves attracting the right candidates and matching them to job opportunities with employers.
• Training and Development Officer: This involves training and developing an organisation’s workforce to give them the motivational and practical skills required to do their jobs well.
• Employee Relations Advisor: This position involves maintaining a fair and consistent approach to an organisation’s procedures and policies, managing any conflicts and discussing issues with individuals or groups.
• Management Consultant: This role involves ensuring a company’s human resources department has the correct guidelines and procedures in place to ensure the firm can meet future challenges.