Human resources officer
Human resources (HR) officers hire, develop and look after employees in a company.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a human resources (HR) officer, you could:
- help to recruit new employees
- plan staff training and development activities
- make sure employees have the right pay and benefits
- arrange employee support services like welfare and counselling
- handle complaints and disciplinary procedures
- deal with work absence and staff performance issues
- advise on pay negotiations, redundancy and employment law
- develop company HR policies and procedures
- maintain confidential employee records
Working environment
You could work in an office, from home or remotely.
Career path and progression
You could move from a smaller organisation to a larger public, private or voluntary sector HR department to further your career.
At work, you could train part-time or do an apprenticeship to become a HR manager.
You might also be able to:
- work as a HR specialist in an area like policy development, training or dispute mediation
- set up your own consultancy to offer recruitment services and advice
- work as a HR specialist in the Army or the Royal Air Force
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- administration skills
- knowledge of human resources and employment law
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- excellent written communication skills
- business management skills
- sensitivity and understanding
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- specialist courses run by professional bodies
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in any subject. You could then apply for a graduate human resources (HR) training scheme.
You may have an advantage if you study for an HR related subject like:
- human resources management
- business management and human resources
- psychology
If you already have a degree, you could do a postgraduate qualification in human resource management, though this is not essential.
Graduate jobs
You can find graduate HR opportunities with:
- small and medium sized private sector companies in most industries
- large multi-national companies
- charities and education organisations
- public sector employers like the NHS and Civil Service
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
More Information
You can study for human resources qualifications at college, such as the Foundation Certificate in People Practice, offered by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Courses like these are aimed at helping people to get some of the knowledge and skills needed to find their first job and get started in the profession.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
You may be able to apply for an apprenticeship, for example:
- HR Support Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- People Professional Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship
Entry requirements
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
More Information
You could start as a human resources assistant or a business administrator in a company's HR department and work your way up through training and promotion.
You can study a range of professional qualifications in human resources, either online or at a training centre approved by the CIPD.
Career tips
Take a look at the CIPD Profession Map to find out more about the values, knowledge and behaviours needed by HR officers.
Further information
You can learn about a career in human resources from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Personnel Today.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.