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Human Resources Specialists Occupation Detailed Description

Human Resources Specialists career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Human Resources Specialists

The main tasks and work activities of Human Resources Specialists are to evaluate personnel practices to ensure adherence to regulations, prepare operational reports, evaluate effectiveness of personnel policies or practices, verify application data to determine program eligibility. In general, for the Human Resources Specialists, speaking, active Listening, reading Comprehension, critical Thinking and other 13 skills are required.
Human Resources Specialists Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related ExperienceA considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
ExampleMany of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Human Resources Specialists jobs. 13.52% of Human Resources Specialists have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 1.31% of Human Resources Specialists have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
13.52%
Post-Secondary Certificate
1.31%
Some College Courses
4.82%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
7.16%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
73.19%

Tasks and Work Activities of Human Resources Specialists

  • Address employee relations issues, such as harassment allegations, work complaints, or other employee concerns.
  • Analyze employment-related data and prepare required reports.
  • Conduct exit interviews and ensure that necessary employment termination paperwork is completed.
  • Conduct reference or background checks on job applicants.
  • Confer with management to develop or implement personnel policies or procedures.
  • Contact job applicants to inform them of the status of their applications.
  • Develop or implement recruiting strategies to meet current or anticipated staffing needs.
  • Hire employees and process hiring-related paperwork.
  • Inform job applicants of details such as duties and responsibilities, compensation, benefits, schedules, working conditions, or promotion opportunities.
  • Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
  • Interview job applicants to obtain information on work history, training, education, or job skills.
  • Maintain and update human resources documents, such as organizational charts, employee handbooks or directories, or performance evaluation forms.
  • Maintain current knowledge of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and affirmative action guidelines and laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Perform searches for qualified job candidates, using sources such as computer databases, networking, Internet recruiting resources, media advertisements, job fairs, recruiting firms, or employee referrals.
  • Prepare or maintain employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.
  • Provide management with information or training related to interviewing, performance appraisals, counseling techniques, or documentation of performance issues.
  • Review employment applications and job orders to match applicants with job requirements.
  • Schedule or administer skill, intelligence, psychological, or drug tests for current or prospective employees.
  • Schedule or conduct new employee orientations.
  • Select qualified job applicants or refer them to managers, making hiring recommendations when appropriate.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Performing Administrative ActivitiesPerforming day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersHandling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  • Evaluate personnel practices to ensure adherence to regulations.
  • Prepare operational reports.
  • Evaluate effectiveness of personnel policies or practices.
  • Verify application data to determine program eligibility.
  • Discuss business strategies, practices, or policies with managers.
  • Inform individuals or organizations of status or findings.
  • Coordinate personnel recruitment activities.
  • Administer personnel recruitment or hiring activities.
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Conduct eligibility or selection interviews.
  • Update knowledge of legal or regulatory environments.
  • Maintain data in information systems or databases.
  • Train personnel on managerial topics.
  • Train personnel to enhance job skills.
  • Develop training materials.
  • Advise others on human resources topics.
  • Advise others on business or operational matters.
  • Review license or permit applications.
  • Administer compensation or benefits programs.
  • Perform human resources activities.

Skills and Abilities for Human Resources Specialists

  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving 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 ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Desktop calculatore.g. 10-key calculators
  • Scannerse.g. Computer scanners
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Digital voice recorderse.g. Digital audio recorders
  • Digital video disk players or recorderse.g. Digital video disk DVD players
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Laser fax machinee.g. Laser facsimile machines
  • Liquid crystal display projectore.g. Liquid crystal display LCD projectors
  • Special purpose telephonese.g. Multi-line telephone systems
  • Inkjet printerse.g. Office inkjet printers
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Photocopierse.g. Photocopying equipment
  • Multimedia projectorse.g. Video projectors
  • Video conference camerase.g. Web conferencing cameras
  • Personnel and Human ResourcesKnowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.