Published: 5th October 2022.
Written by Melinda Irvine
Ever wondered what a career in human resources looks like? In today’s blog we’ll be looking at five key reasons to pursue a career in HR, plus unpacking the salaries, benefits, and prospects of this rewarding career path.
1. Jobs
Human resources is an employment sector that offers so much variety and so many different job roles. Here are a few possibilities:
HR Coordination and Administration — a great way to launch your career in human resources, HR assistants manage personnel records, organise interviews and inductions, process leave applications, and assist with the organisational payroll.
HR Management — if you love leading and managing people, developing organisational procedures, and being involved in the strategic direction of the organisation, you might be suited to the role of Human Resources Manager or HR Advisor.
Training and Development — training and development managers design and deliver the induction and training programs that keep employees safe, empowered, and engaged. You’ll be consulting with departmental managers and working hands-on with the staff out on the floor.
Recruitment — recruitment is one of the most rewarding aspects of the HR sector. You’ll be interviewing and screening candidates, recommending hires, and (best of all) helping people land their dream job.
Workplace Safety — many HR professionals lend their expertise to work health and safety, building the systems and procedures that keep the organisation safe and compliant.
Industrial Relations — if you’re made of sterner stuff and like the precision of legal documents and developing procedures, you could be well suited to the industrial relations field. You could be representing the organisation in court, investigating workplace incidents, or reviewing policy documents.
2. Pathways
One of the best things about the HR work sector, is there are so many study pathways into a job. You can start a career in human resources with either a VET qualification (vocational education and training) or a university degree. Here are a few options to consider:
VET Qualifications
University Qualifications
- Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) — become a HR Manager, Employee Relations Officer, or Workforce Planner.
- Bachelor of Human Resource Management (Psychology)— become an Industrial Relations Consultant, Training and Development Manager, or Organisational Development Consultant.
- Master of Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations — become a Government Advisor or Corporate Consultant specialising in industrial relations policy and strategic planning.
3. Salary
Salaries for in the human resources sector generally start at $75,000 per annum ranging through $130,000 (and higher) for degree qualified HR professionals. Like any profession, you can expect your salary to increase as you gain more experience, complete more qualifications, and add more value to the business.
4. Growth
Human resources is a growing occupation in Australia, with excellent job prospects expected over the next five years. These are the promising statistics:
- HR Coordinators and Payroll Officers — 14,900 employed right now, 76% of employees working full time, 6% expected growth.
- Recruitment Consultants and HR Advisors — 84,900 employed right now, 81% of employees working full time, 13.1% expected growth.
- Human Resource Managers — 137,100 employed right now, 87% of employees working full time, 16.3% expected growth.
5. Impact
HR professionals have so much impact. Not only are you shaping the culture of an organisation and directing its vision and values — you also have the opportunity to enrich and empower the lives of employees through consultative innovations, training opportunities, reward programs, and regular appraisals. It’s a great reason to start a career in human resources.