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Human Resources Specialist

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What is a Human Resources Specialist?

HR Specialist Example Perform activities in the human resource area. Includes employment specialists who screen, recruit, interview, and place workers.

HR Specialist Responsibilities

  • Develop or implement recruiting strategies to meet current or anticipated staffing needs.
  • Review and evaluate applicant qualifications or eligibility for specified licensing, according to established guidelines and designated licensing codes.
  • Coordinate with outside staffing agencies to secure temporary employees, based on departmental needs.
  • Interpret and explain human resources policies, procedures, laws, standards, or regulations.
  • Prepare or maintain employment records related to events, such as hiring, termination, leaves, transfers, or promotions, using human resources management system software.
  • Interview job applicants to obtain information on work history, training, education, or job skills.

HR Specialist Required Skills

These are the skills Human Resources Specialists say are the most useful in their careers:

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening: Giving 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.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Other HR Specialist Job Titles

  • Headhunter
  • Retirement Officer
  • Employee Health Maintenance Program Specialist
  • Registrar
  • Recruiting Coordinator

Job Outlook for Human Resources Specialists

In the United States, there were 547,800 jobs for Human Resources Specialist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 38,900 new jobs for Human Resources Specialist by 2026. The BLS estimates 57,600 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for HR Specialist are Utah, Washington, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Mississippi, Maine, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Human Resources Specialists Salary

The salary for Human Resources Specialists ranges between about $36,270 and $104,390 a year.

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Human Resources Specialists who work in District of Columbia, Virginia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.

How much do Human Resources Specialists make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $60,660
Alaska $71,160
Arizona $60,820
Arkansas $56,700
California $75,010
Colorado $69,420
Connecticut $70,280
Delaware $67,530
District of Columbia $93,880
Florida $58,600
Georgia $60,230
Hawaii $66,490
Idaho $62,240
Illinois $62,410
Indiana $56,140
Iowa $57,960
Kansas $60,970
Kentucky $57,000
Louisiana $55,610
Maine $58,980
Maryland $76,560
Massachusetts $75,700
Michigan $62,470
Minnesota $64,490
Mississippi $52,030
Missouri $62,790
Montana $53,980
Nebraska $58,720
Nevada $58,610
New Hampshire $63,960
New Jersey $75,360
New Mexico $61,300
New York $75,650
North Carolina $64,690
North Dakota $60,230
Ohio $62,790
Oklahoma $54,940
Oregon $62,640
Pennsylvania $67,370
Rhode Island $72,960
South Carolina $57,590
South Dakota $54,320
Tennessee $58,700
Texas $67,190
Utah $56,960
Vermont $59,200
Virginia $75,120
Washington $72,370
West Virginia $61,240
Wisconsin $61,180
Wyoming $57,360

What Tools & Technology do Human Resources Specialists Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Human Resources Specialists may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Data entry software
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Project
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • SAS
  • Facebook
  • IBM Notes

Becoming a HR Specialist

Learn what Human Resources Specialist education requirements there are.

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What work experience do I need to become a HR Specialist?

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Who Employs Human Resources Specialists?

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Below are examples of industries where Human Resources Specialists work:

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Similar Careers

Those interested in being a Human Resources Specialist may also be interested in:

Are you already one of the many Human Resources Specialist in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: Arunkumar Umapathy via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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