Another factor to consider is the impact of automation. Given that it has taken away some jobs but also created others, there will always remain a need for people in business, and thus for HR to manage them. This is why HR careers remain an attractive proposition for those looking to start their professional journeys.
The variety of roles that HR professionals could choose from is detailed below:
HR manager
Pretty much the traditional role in an HR career, this looks to facilitate the smooth functioning of the organization by:
- Keeping the employees fully engaged in their jobs
- Supervising mundane responsibilities such as office equipment and facilities
- Managing small disputes
- Overseeing leaves, attendance, compliance, and more
This role places a premium on patience and resourcefulness, given how detail-oriented it is. It suits someone who enjoys managing tasks and things well done, along with helping others and having a direct, positive impact. It also offers great opportunities to move up the ladder even to the C-suite, where the experience helps in becoming a good strategy planner at the Board level.
HR consultant
Similar to the role of a management consultant, an HR professional here also deals with branding, marketing, and sales of a company, but targeting the people in the organization. The consultant makes an assessment of employee-related situations in a company, accordingly suggesting changes in manpower planning, skill specializations, and outsourcing levels, among others. He or she makes systemic recommendations whose deployment could get the company to its desired goals. The person can specialize in benefits, employee incentives, labor dispute settlements, teambuilding, and more.
Training and development manager
For companies placing a premium on employee engagement, loyalty, and retention, this role is in high demand. This is a good choice for professionals who look to make their HR careers in interacting with people in an enjoyable and rewarding environment, with the goal of improving their skill sets and thereby their careers. The manager here would be responsible for designing coursework as well as holding conferences, workshops, and other team-building exercises. The idea is to expose employees to new processes and technologies, and upskill them accordingly.
HR entrepreneur
If someone with an entrepreneurial bent of mind looks to become an HR professional, this would be a good role to take. The person essentially becomes the outsourced HR department for the company, with the main tasks relating to headhunting and placement consultancy. Options for specialization include:
- Fulfill outsourced HR roles for small and medium companies
- Source temporary staff for organizations with large, time-bound projects
- Employee engagement and team-building with customized outings, workshops, and other engagement activities
- Image consultancy for companies and specific individuals within the company
The person could choose to build the firm into a large, successful company, after which he or she could either step back from day-to-day operations and earn a passive income, or sell the entire enterprise at a great price to a larger company. These are the sort of options that attract those with entrepreneurial mindsets.
To add to the credentials for a great HR career and stand out from other candidates, it is a good idea to pick one of the top HR and talent management certifications. A certification is a proof of having the most current skills and know-how in the field, and also shows seriousness about a career and suitability for the chosen specialization.
