What Can I Do With This Major

Human Resource Management

Human resource management is how an organization manages its human assets or its talent. Human Resource Management encompasses recruiting, developing, and maintaining an effective workforce that can meet job needs.

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Human Resources

Common Career Paths

  • Selection and placement
  • Recruitment
  • On-boarding/Orientation
  • Retention
  • Career planning/Counseling
  • Benefits
  • Compensation and payroll
  • Employee relations
  • Wellness
  • Labor relations
  • Dispute resolution
  • Risk management
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Occupational safety
  • Equal employment opportunity
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Policy development
  • Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS)
  • Human Resource Management System (HRMS)
  • Strategic planning
  • Consulting

Employers

Human resources professionals are employed in nearly all industries:

  • Financial institutions
  • Hotel, restaurant, and retail chains
  • Manufacturing firms
  • Hospitals and healthcare organizations
  • Transportation companies
  • Educational institutions
  • Employment and staffing agencies
  • Professional employment organizations (PEOs)
  • Other medium and large size organizations
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Labor unions
  • Federal government agencies:
    • Department of Labor
    • Employment Security Commission
    • Bureau of Labor
  • Local and state government agencies
  • Consulting firms

Strategies

  • In smaller organizations, human resources professionals are generalists and wear many hats. In larger organizations, human resources staff members are more specialized.
  • Be willing to start in an entry-level human resources or benefits assistant position and advance with experience.
  • After gaining professional experience in human resources (number of year varies by certification), prepare to take the Professional Human Resource Exam (PHR), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), or SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) to increase job opportunities and earning potential.
  • Research specialized certifications such as the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS).
  • Earn a graduate degree in human resources, business, or law to reach the highest levels of human resource management.
  • Develop strong computer skills including, spreadsheets, databases, and HR-related software.
  • Gain related experience through internships in human resources.
  • Join the student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management and participate in programs.  Seek leadership roles in campus organizations.
  • Become comfortable communicating and working with people from diverse backgrounds. Strong interpersonal skills are valuable in this field.
  • Cultivate strong analytical and decision-making skills and develop an eye for detail.
  • Learn about Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and compliance.
  • Research government application procedures and utilize your campus career center for assistance. Complete a federal government internship program if interested in government positions.

Training and Development

Common Career Paths

  • Instructional design
  • Program development
  • On-boarding/orientation
  • Industrial training
  • Technology training
  • Management development
  • Employee and organizational development
  • Performance improvement
  • Organizational change

Employers

  • Corporate universities
  • Consulting firms
  • Business and industry training facilities
  • Manufacturing companies
  • Retail and customer service industries
  • Restaurant and hotel chains
  • Hospitals and healthcare organizations
  • Educational institutions
  • Other large corporations

Strategies

  • Develop teaching skills through tutoring or training positions on campus.
  • Obtain related experience through internships.
  • Be prepared to start working in another area of human resources before moving into a training position.
  • Earn a master’s degree in human resources, training and development, or related field.
  • Develop the ability to comprehend operational systems and to process new information quickly.
  • Stay abreast of current issues in technology, industry, and business education through professional association journals.
  • Develop solid knowledge of the content area being addressed in training.
  • Hone communication and presentation skills.  Gain comfort in working with people of varying backgrounds.
  • Learn about important issues such as, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and compliance and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) criteria.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Common Career Paths

  • Organizational development/effectiveness
  • Assessment and evaluation
  • Personnel selection/hiring systems
  • Performance appraisal
  • Job analysis
  • Behavioral analysis
  • Individual development
  • Labor relations
  • Employee safety
  • Ergonomics
  • Training
  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Consulting

Employers

  • Consulting firms
  • Educational services
  • Colleges and universities
  • Large private and public companies in a variety of industries
  • Government agencies
  • Military research organizations
  • Test preparation companies

Strategies

  • Double major or minor in psychology as an undergraduate.
  • Conduct an independent research study or volunteer to assist a professor with research to gain experience.
  • Maintain a high GPA and secure strong faculty recommendations to pursue a graduate degree.
  • Demonstrate strong interest in studying the behavior of people at work.
  • Obtain internships in areas of organizational development.
  • Develop aptitude in statistical analysis and relevant software packages.
  • Earn a doctoral degree in industrial/organizational psychology.

Law

See also What Can I Do With This Major in Law?

Common Career Paths

  • Arbitration and mediation
  • Labor relations
  • Employment law
  • Contractual
  • Corporate
  • Nonprofit or Public Interest
  • Government
  • Other specialties

Employers

  • Law firms
  • Federal, state, and local government
  • Private practice
  • Corporations
  • Special interest groups
  • Universities and colleges
  • Legal aid societies
  • Nonprofit and public interest organizations, (e.g., ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Legal Services Corporation)
  • Legal clinics
  • Other private legal services

Strategies

  • Plan to attend law school.  Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations. Prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test).
  • Develop strong research skills and attention to detail.
  • Participate in debate or forensic team to hone communication skills.
  • Get involved in pre-law and mock trial organizations.
  • Take courses in employment law, conflict management, and labor relations.
  • Shadow an attorney to learn more about the field and various specialties.
  • Gain experience and build skills through part-time or summer work in a law firm or an organization related to your particular interests.
  • Volunteer with a public advocacy group.
  • Seek experience with mediation and conflict resolution.

Business

Common Career Paths

  • Sales
  • Customer service
  • Marketing
  • Management
  • Insurance:
    •     Claims management
    •     Underwriting
  • Real Estate:
    • Sales
    • Property management

Employers

  • Public and private corporations:
    • Service providers
    • Wholesalers
    • Manufacturers
    • Call centers
    • Transportation companies
    • Financial institutions
  • Insurance companies
  • Real estate companies
  • Property management firms
  • Apartment complexes
  • Retail stores:
    • Department stores
    • Specialty stores
    • Discount stores
    • Super retailers
    • Online retailers

Strategies

  • Develop career goals and seek relevant experiences to prepare for those goals.
  • Obtain relevant experience through part-time jobs or internships.
  • Work a part-time or summer job in a retail store.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to take on additional responsibilities such as “assistant manager.”
  • Participate in student organizations and seek leadership roles.
  • Learn to work well with different types of people. Develop a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
  • For sales positions, develop the ability to work well under pressure and be comfortable in a competitive environment.
  • Be willing to start in a management-trainee program or other entry-level positions.
  • Understand the top skills employers desire and be prepared to demonstrate them, such as communication (oral and written), computer, interpersonal, leadership, and teamwork.

Nonprofit

Common Career Paths

  • Fundraising/Development
  • Volunteer coordination
  • Programming
  • Administration
  • Management
  • Public relations
  • Research
  • Grant writing
  • Direct service

Employers

  • Local and national nonprofit agencies
  • Foundations
  • Charitable organizations
  • Trade or professional associations
  • Special interest groups
  • Labor unions
  • Libraries
  • Museums
  • Historic sites/Historical societies
  • Research organizations and think tanks
  • Educational institutions

Strategies

  • Volunteer in community development projects or with a nonprofit organization of interest.
  • Obtain leadership roles in relevant campus and community organizations.
  • Learn grant writing techniques and how to administer a budget through coursework or volunteering.
  • Develop program planning and event management skills, as well as strong communication and research skills.
  • Complete a fundraising or related internship.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and experience in a specialty area (e.g., public health, environment, urban issues).
  • Research organizations’ values to find a good fit with yours.
  • Investigate term of service or service corps positions as a way to gain entry into the field.
  • Consider earning a graduate degree for more job opportunities and advancement.

Getting Started and Advancing in Major

  • Take a well-rounded selection of courses that blends social sciences and communications classes with business curriculum.
  • Be prepared to start in entry level positions within organizations and advance to positions of greater responsibility.  Develop an area of expertise along the way.
  • Graduate education including MBA, MS, or JD qualifies one for higher level positions in human resource management.
  • Obtain internships in an area of interest such as human resources, training, or organizational development.
  • Participate in related co-curricular activities and obtain leadership positions to broaden skills.
  • Successful human resource professionals are business-minded and well-rounded. Cultivate “hard skills” such as technology and statistics along with “soft skills” such as mediating and advising.
  • Develop excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and the desire to work with people of various backgrounds and educational levels.
  • Become familiar with current business literature and news.
  • Join professional associations such as American Society for Training and Development, Society for Human Resource Management, American Management Association, Employment Management Association, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and network with professionals.
  • Ensure familiarity with different types of related technologies. Areas including Big Data Analytics and cloud-based applications are used for managing risk, identifying trends, and centralizing data. Utilization of social media platforms and mobile applications to recruit candidates is common, and technology continues to advance. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another area beginning to impact the industry.

Professional Associations

Related Resources

Occupational Outlook

Employment Opportunities