Personnel and Labor Relations Specialists

High School

To prepare for a career as a personnel or labor relations specialist, you should take college-prep classes combined with extracurricular activities that demonstrate negotiation or interpersonal skills. Business classes can help you understand the fundamental workings of the business world, which is also important. Finally, foreign language skills could prove very helpful, especially in areas where there are large numbers of people who speak a language other than English.

Postsecondary Training

Most employers require personnel specialists and labor relations specialists to have a college degree. College graduates who have majored in personnel administration or industrial and labor relations will fare well, while other employers prefer individuals with a general business or finance background. Another opinion is that personnel specialists should have a well-rounded liberal arts education, with a degree in psychology, sociology, counseling, or education. A master's degree in business administration is also considered suitable preparation. Students interested in personnel work with a government agency may find it an asset to have a degree in personnel administration, political science, or public administration.

Individuals preparing for a career as a personnel specialist will benefit from a wide range of courses. Classes might include business administration, public administration, psychology, sociology, political science, and statistics. For prospective labor relations specialists, valuable courses include labor law, collective bargaining, labor economics, labor history, and industrial psychology.

Work in labor relations may require graduate study in industrial or labor relations. While not required for entry-level jobs, a law degree is a must for those who conduct contract negotiations, and a combination of industrial relations courses and a law degree is especially desirable. For a career as a professional arbitrator, a degree in industrial and labor relations, law, or personnel management is required.

Certification

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans offers a variety of in-person and online certificate programs. Examples include certificates in benefit plan administration, benefits and compensation, fundamentals in retirement plans, and fundamentals in health benefits. The Public Sector HR Association offers certificates in public sector HR essentials, public sector HR executive leadership, and strategies for public sector HR leaders. Contact these organizations for more information.

Other Education or Training

Personnel and labor relations specialists can continue to update their skills by participating in continuing education classes, webinars, and other learning opportunities that are provided by professional associations such as the Society for Human Resource Management, American Arbitration Association, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, Public Sector HR Association, and the Labor and Employment Relations Association, and WorldatWork.