High School
In high school, take a general college preparatory curriculum that includes classes in business, mathematics, computer science (including artificial intelligence and data analytics), English, speech, foreign language, and current events.
Postsecondary Education
A bachelor’s degree in human resources or business administration is the minimum educational requirement to become a human resources manager. Alternatively, you can pursue a bachelor’s degree in another field and augment your education by taking courses in subjects such as labor or industrial relations, organizational development, and industrial psychology. Human resources managers may also have degrees in finance, education, or information technology. Some organizations require job applicants to have a master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or business administration. Visit https://portal.shrm.org/Education/Institution/Directory.aspx for a directory of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in human resources.
Certification
The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans certificate series offers learning opportunities in all areas of total compensation. In-person and online options are available. Some of the programs offered include:
- Benefit Plan Administration
- Benefits and Compensation
- Fundamentals in Health Benefits
- Health and Welfare Plans
- Public Sector Benefits Administration
- Retirement Plans
- Strategic Benefits Management
Colleges and universities also offer undergraduate and graduate certificates in a variety of human resources–related areas.
Other Education or Training
In this highly-competitive industry, it’s important to keep your skills up to date by participating in continuing education (CE) classes, workshops, and seminars. Most HR associations provide some type of professional development opportunities. For example, the Society for Human Resource Management offers the Essentials of HR Management program, which can be completed online or via in-person seminars. The society also provides hundreds of courses and webcasts on topics such as leadership, communication skills, employee engagement, benefit plans, and employment laws. The Association for Talent Development, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, International Society for Performance Improvement, and WorldatWork also provide CE opportunities. Contact these organizations to learn more.
- Accountants
- Arbitrators
- Auditors
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Billing Clerks
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Budget Analysts
- Business Continuity Planners
- Business Development Managers and Directors
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Business Managers
- Buyers
- Career and Employment Counselors
- Career and Employment Technicians
- Chief Customer Officers
- Chief Executive Officers
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Information Security Officers
- Chief Restructuring Officers
- Chief Revenue Officers
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Chief Trust Officers
- Client Services Managers
- Collection Workers
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Compliance Managers
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Corporate Community Relations Directors
- Corporate Lawyers
- Corporate Librarians
- Cost Estimators
- Cultural Advisers
- Customer Service Directors
- Customer Service Representatives
- Customs Brokers
- Data Entry Clerks
- Decision Scientists
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Directors of Security
- Directors of Volunteers
- Document Management Specialists
- Economists
- Employment Firm Workers
- Entrepreneurs
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Event Planners
- Executive Recruiters
- Fashion Models' Agents
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Franchise Owners
- Health Care Managers
- Health Club Owners and Managers
- Health Data Analysts
- Human Resources Consultants
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Executives
- Internet Store Managers and Entrepreneurs
- Internet Transaction Specialists
- Labor Union Business Agents
- Legal Operations Specialists
- Loss Prevention Managers
- Management Analysts and Consultants
- Military Recruiters
- Music Agents and Scouts
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Office Administrators
- Payroll Directors
- Personnel and Labor Relations Specialists
- Product Designers
- Professional Organizers
- Project Managers
- Proposal Managers
- Purchasing Agents
- Receptionists
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Retail Business Owners
- Retail Managers
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Secretaries
- Space Tourism Managers
- Statisticians
- Stenographers
- Strategy Managers
- Tax Managers
- Temporary Workers
- Traffic Managers
- Typists and Word Processors
- Workplace Diversity Experts