Life As a Human Resources Specialist
Job Description & Duties Perform activities in the human resource area. Includes employment specialists who screen, recruit, interview, and place workers.
A Day in the Life of a HR Specialist
- Evaluate recruitment or selection criteria to ensure conformance to professional, statistical, or testing standards, recommending revisions, as needed.
- Conduct reference or background checks on job applicants.
- 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.
- Conduct exit interviews and ensure that necessary employment termination paperwork is completed.
- Address employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, or other employee concerns.
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What a HR Specialist Should Know
These are the skills Human Resources Specialists say are the most useful in their careers:
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Other HR Specialist Job Titles
- Technical Recruiter
- Employment Specialist
- Special Agent
- Employee Adviser
- Contract Recruiter
Are There Job Opportunities for Human Resources Specialists?
In the United States, there were 547,800 jobs for Human Resources Specialist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 38,900 new jobs for Human Resources Specialist by 2026. There will be an estimated 57,600 positions for HR Specialist per year.
The states with the most job growth for HR Specialist are Utah, Washington, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Mississippi, Maine, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a HR Specialist
Human Resources Specialists make between $36,270 and $104,390 a year.
Human Resources Specialists who work in District of Columbia, Virginia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Human Resources Specialists make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,660 |
| Alaska | $71,160 |
| Arizona | $60,820 |
| Arkansas | $56,700 |
| California | $75,010 |
| Colorado | $69,420 |
| Connecticut | $70,280 |
| Delaware | $67,530 |
| District of Columbia | $93,880 |
| Florida | $58,600 |
| Georgia | $60,230 |
| Hawaii | $66,490 |
| Idaho | $62,240 |
| Illinois | $62,410 |
| Indiana | $56,140 |
| Iowa | $57,960 |
| Kansas | $60,970 |
| Kentucky | $57,000 |
| Louisiana | $55,610 |
| Maine | $58,980 |
| Maryland | $76,560 |
| Massachusetts | $75,700 |
| Michigan | $62,470 |
| Minnesota | $64,490 |
| Mississippi | $52,030 |
| Missouri | $62,790 |
| Montana | $53,980 |
| Nebraska | $58,720 |
| Nevada | $58,610 |
| New Hampshire | $63,960 |
| New Jersey | $75,360 |
| New Mexico | $61,300 |
| New York | $75,650 |
| North Carolina | $64,690 |
| North Dakota | $60,230 |
| Ohio | $62,790 |
| Oklahoma | $54,940 |
| Oregon | $62,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,370 |
| Rhode Island | $72,960 |
| South Carolina | $57,590 |
| South Dakota | $54,320 |
| Tennessee | $58,700 |
| Texas | $67,190 |
| Utah | $56,960 |
| Vermont | $59,200 |
| Virginia | $75,120 |
| Washington | $72,370 |
| West Virginia | $61,240 |
| Wisconsin | $61,180 |
| Wyoming | $57,360 |
What Tools & Technology do Human Resources Specialists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Human Resources Specialists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- SAS
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
How to Become a HR Specialist
What education is needed to be a Human Resources Specialist?
How Long Does it Take to Become a HR Specialist?
Who Employs Human Resources Specialists?
The table below shows the approximate number of Human Resources Specialists employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Human Resources Specialist might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Human Resources Specialist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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