Careers: human resources specialist, HR assistant, human resources manager, training and development manager, and compensation and benefits specialist. Majors: Human Resources Management, Management and Organizational Leadership, Psychology, and Instructional Design and Adult Learning.
College majors for human resources
Human Resources Management
Teaches you to recruit, train, pay and support an organization's workforce.
Management and Organizational Leadership
Focuses on leading people, teams and organizations.
Psychology
Studies how people think, feel, learn and behave.
Instructional Design and Adult Learning
Teaches you to design training and courses for adults in workplaces and online.
Careers in human resources
Human Resources Specialist
Recruit, hire, onboard and support employees while keeping the company compliant.
- Typical training: 1–4 years
HR Assistant
Support HR with hiring paperwork, records and employee questions.
- Typical training: Short on-the-job training
Human Resources Manager
Lead hiring, employee relations and people programs for an organization.
- Typical training: 5+ years of HR experience
Training and Development Manager
Plan and lead training that helps employees grow.
- Typical training: 5+ years of experience
Compensation and Benefits Specialist
Analyze pay and run benefits programs so employees are paid fairly.
- Typical training: Some HR experience
Labor Relations Specialist
Negotiate union contracts and resolve workplace disputes.
- Typical training: Less than 5 years of experience
Corporate Trainer
Design and deliver training that helps employees learn their jobs.
- Typical training: 4 years or subject expertise plus training courses
Skills these careers use
- Benefits administration
- Instructional design
- Facilitation
- Recruiting and interviewing
- Employment law basics
- HRIS and ATS software
Minors that fit this interest
- Human Resources: Adds knowledge of hiring, training, pay and employee relations.
Start building skills now
A self-paced online course on what human resources specialists do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: recruiting and interviewing, employment law basics, and HRIS and ATS software
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Human Resources
A self-paced online course on what HR assistants do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: HRIS data entry, recruiting support, and i-9 compliance
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Human Resources
A self-paced online course on what human resources managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: employment law, employee relations, and recruiting
Why it fits: Fits your interest in Human Resources
Human Resources: frequently asked questions
What careers are there in human resources?
Careers connected to human resources include human resources specialist, HR assistant, human resources manager, training and development manager, compensation and benefits specialist, labor relations specialist, and corporate trainer.
What should I major in if I am interested in human resources?
Majors connected to human resources include Human Resources Management, Management and Organizational Leadership, Psychology, and Instructional Design and Adult Learning. Compare what each includes, the skills it builds and where it leads.
What human resources careers do not require a four-year degree?
Examples include HR assistant. They typically start with a high school diploma, a certificate, an associate degree, an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.
Which human resources careers usually require a bachelor’s degree or more?
Examples include human resources specialist, human resources manager, training and development manager, compensation and benefits specialist, labor relations specialist, and corporate trainer. Some also need a license or certification.
What skills do you need for a career in human resources?
Skills that come up often in these careers include benefits administration, instructional design, facilitation, recruiting and interviewing, employment law basics, and HRIS and ATS software, along with communication and problem solving.
What minors fit an interest in human resources?
Minors connected to human resources include Human Resources.
How do I start a career in human resources?
Learn about the careers in the field, choose one or two that fit you, check the education or training each requires, and build practical knowledge early through classes, part-time work, volunteering or short career training.
Can I explore human resources careers before choosing a college major?
Yes. Career profiles, job shadowing and short online career training let you learn what jobs in human resources involve before you commit to a major or program.
Does Career Education Institute offer training related to human resources?
Yes. Related online trainings include Human Resources Specialist Training, HR Assistant Training, and Human Resources Manager Training. They are general, non-credit courses that teach what a job involves; they do not grant a degree or license.
Which colleges offer programs related to human resources?
Use the college search to find U.S. colleges that report awarding degrees in related majors, filtered by state, city, ZIP code, online programs and type of school.