The great thing about holding a degree in human resource management is that it opens you up to an entire world of employment opportunities across varying sectors and industries. You can start by working as an HR generalist and expand into management territory. Or you can quickly become a specialist in a particular area of HR, e.g., working on contract negotiations, employee training, or dealing with legal issues.
If you’re unsure which route you want to take, the following careers in human resource management and HR analytics should help you reach an acceptable resolution.
Best Careers in Human Resource Management and HR Analytics
1. Human Resource Manager
If you’re a business that’s handling several dozens of employees, there’s a great chance that you’ll need someone to take charge of human resources. Human resource managers oversee multiple aspects of employee relations, including payroll, training, safety, compliance, recruitment, compensation, and even budget issues. HR also drives the company culture, making sure that employees understand the company’s values, ethics, and mission. HR expert Jaquina Gilbert says in her book “Human Resource Essentials You Always Wanted To Know, “Decisions made by human resource managers can either leave a blemish or create a sound, consistent practice for a company.”Experts in HR management typically collaborate with company executives and department heads to improve an organization’s talent development. They analyze productivity and performance and come up with ways to boost growth. The average yearly salary for an HR manager is $116,720, with top earners earning up to $205,720.
2. Training and Development Managers
Training and development managers are in charge of keeping employee skills sharp and relevant. They do this by offering workers conferences, workshops, continuing education classes, and other types of training programs. Training and development managers may also design company-specific coursework that helps employees do better at work.
Other duties that a training and development manager may cover are:
- Evaluate employee training demands
- Help employees understand leave management processes
- Ensure company training programs meet current corporate standards
- Review training resources brought in from outside vendors
The average income of a training and development manager is $113,350 per year, and this number can go all the way up to $200,000 for high earners.
3. Chief Human Relations Officer
The chief human relations officer is essentially responsible for every aspect of a company’s HR department. They handle everything from developing HR strategies and policies to curating employee compensation and benefit plans. It’sIt’s a great career choice for individuals who enjoy being the “decision-maker” in an organization.
Other responsibilities covered by the chief human relations officer include:
- Assist the CEO and other C-level executives and managers as a business counselor
- Come up with recruitment and retention initiatives for employees, managers, and executives
- Inform employees on HR activities that support and implement the company’s strategic objectives
The average compensation for a Chief Human Resources Officer is $214,432. High-income earners in this role may earn up to $340,090 per year.
4. Human Resource Analytics Specialist
There are costs and benefits to every action that a company performs. Figuring out these costs and benefits can help organizations determine profitable investments from money pits.
Industrial and Organizational Psychologist Michael J. Walsh emphasizes the importance of Human Resource Analytics in his book “HR Analytics Essentials You Always Wanted To Know.” In it, he teaches readers what HR analytics exactly is as well as how employees in an organization can determine the best HR analytics role for them.
If you’re interested in knowing how much hiring, training, and promoting an employee would be for a company, working as an HR analytics specialist could be for you. Other responsibilities may include:
- Investigating the amount of revenue made per employee
- Keeping track of training expenses and efficiency
- Finding new ways to enhance a company’s talent acquisition techniques
- Providing research-based recommendations to HR managers
The yearly salary for this occupation is $99,680 on average, with top earners receiving up to $204,000.
5. Management Consultant
There are times when a company may need outside help to resolve issues before they become too complex to fix. In this situation, HR managers often call on the services of management consultants.
Consultants are highly-experienced individuals that provide businesses with valuable insights and guidance. Management consultants can specialize in more than one area of expertise, including labor laws, workplace harassment, compensation and benefits, employee acquisition, and even employee motivation. Additionally, they evaluate a company’s existing conditions and make comprehensive suggestions to assist the human resources department and the organization in achieving their goals.
The great thing about working as a management consultant is that you get to pick when to work and who to work with. You also get to enjoy an annual salary of $50,000 to $110,000.
The careers we mentioned above are some of the most popular and most lucrative positions in human resources. They’ve all received incredible ratings in terms of career potential, freedom, job satisfaction, and monetary compensation. If you want to choose a career in HR management and HR analytics, we highly recommend you give the options mentioned above a try.
About the Author
Regi Publico is a full-time writer based in Manila who is passionate about sharing her expertise through every article that she writes on management topics. She takes pride in her towering collection of books and loves reading about anything under the sun.
