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Human Resources Specialist

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All About Human Resources Specialists

Career Description Perform activities in the human resource area. Includes employment specialists who screen, recruit, interview, and place workers.

A Day in the Life of a HR Specialist

  • Contact job applicants to inform them of the status of their applications.
  • Analyze employment-related data and prepare required reports.
  • Advise management on organizing, preparing, or implementing recruiting or retention programs.
  • Coordinate with outside staffing agencies to secure temporary employees, based on departmental needs.
  • Provide management with information or training related to interviewing, performance appraisals, counseling techniques, or documentation of performance issues.
  • Perform searches for qualified job candidates, using sources such as computer databases, networking, Internet recruiting resources, media advertisements, job fairs, recruiting firms, or employee referrals.

HR Specialist Skills

Below is a list of the skills most Human Resources Specialists say are important on the job.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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.

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

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.

Types of HR Specialist Jobs

  • Physician Recruiter
  • Special Agent
  • Resume Writer
  • Talent Recruiter
  • Workforce Staffing Advisor

Is There Job Demand for Human Resources Specialists?

There were about 547,800 jobs for Human Resources Specialist in 2016 (in the United States). 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. There will be an estimated 57,600 positions for HR Specialist per year.

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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

Human Resources Specialists make between $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 each U.S. state?

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

Tools & Technologies Used by Human Resources Specialists

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Human Resources Specialists:

  • 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 Visio
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
  • SAS
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Facebook
  • IBM Notes

How do I Become a HR Specialist?

Are there Human Resources Specialists education requirements?

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

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Where do Human Resources Specialists Work?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

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

Career changers with experience as a Human Resources Specialist sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

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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