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Section II | Personnel Work (Human Resources)

Nature of the Job

Personnel or human resources professionals are typically responsible for hiring employees and for maintaining a productive work force. This includes responsibilities for training, payroll, labor relations, employee benefits. Sub-categories of careers within this broad domain include specialists in recruitment, training, job development, mediation, and a number of others, as listed below. According to Occupation Outlook Quarterly, Employment Interviewers are among the fastest growing occupations (projected from 1994—2005).

Where You Might Work

Any moderate to large corporation, institution, organization, etc., has a personnel division with a varying number of employees. Jobs are available in nearly every location.

Preparation

Suggested Areas for Minor/Collateral:

  • Management
  • Psychology
  • Substance Abuse Studies

Suggested Internship Sites for HDFS 4314:

Educational settings, hospitals, local businesses—see practicum list and consult practicum instructor.

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Human Resources
Human Resources

Sample Job Descriptions/Ads

Click on any of the headings below to view description/ad


  • Compensation/Benefits Administrator
    • Develops and administers direct compensation systems—wages, salaries, and incentives. Develops and administers indirect compensation systems (benefits) such as health/life insurance, pensions, paid vacations/sick leave, child care, etc.
  • Employee Benefits & Human Resources Consulting
    • Duties include analysis of employee benefit plans, system testing, calculating benefits of plan participants, fielding questions and research client’s issues, filing government reports, and preparation of financial and census data reports. Must possess strong organizational and analytical skills, personal computing skills, and be a team player.
  • Employee Welfare Manager
    • Employee welfare managers oversee programs designed to promote occupational safety and physical fitness. They coordinate first aide stations, food service and recreation activities, counseling services, and a variety of other programs. As health issues become more and more important, employee welfare managers have developed programs to deal with alcoholism, financial problems, and a vast array of other subjects.
  • General Personal Service Directors
    • The organizers of the companies that provide a variety of serviced are in charge of hiring a staff that is capable of carrying out the demands of the customers. They are responsible for background checks into their employees records to assure that the staff that is entering the home of a client is trustworthy and reliable. They need to provide training to staff members for all of the tasks that the company is assigned.
  • Human Resources Administrator
    • Responsible for hiring, managing, and providing programs for personnel in organizations with more than about 80 employees. Implements government rules and regulations affecting equal employment opportunities.
  • Job Analyst
    • Job analysts collect and examine information about job responsibilities to prepare job descriptions. These descriptions are used to recruit new workers. The descriptions explain the responsibilities, training, and skills each job requires.
  • Labor Relations Manager
    • Labor relations managers develop labor policy, coordinate labor relations, and negotiate agreements resulting from labor disputes. These managers must work closely with employee benefits managers and other personnel administrators because wages, employee welfare, and other issues all may be part of labor disputes.
  • Personnel Interviewer
    • Recruits, screens and interviews job applicants. Refers qualified applicants to prospective employers or supervisors. External interviewers work for employment agencies and temporary help contractors. Internal interviewers work in human resource departments of business, government, and nonprofit organizations.
  • Personnel & Labor Relations Specialist
    • They are the link between management and employees. They formulate policy and organize and conduct programs relating to all phases of personnel activity such as recruitment, selection, training, development, retention, promotion, compensation, benefits, labor relations, and occupational safety.
  • Training Specialists
    • Training specialists conduct orientation sessions, arrange on-the-job training for new employees, and help employees prepare for future job responsibilities. Specialists may utilize classroom training, programmed instruction, or other techniques to prepare workers to do their job successfully. In addition, specialists also help supervisors deal effectively with employees.