For many graduates, the move into HR is often an uninformed and accidental choice. Human Resources is a very rewarding career path, which allows you to interact with people and organisations in a very special way. It draws together a range of skills and gives an insight into business and an understanding of the inner workings of a company that only a select few people can enjoy.

Many graduates have fallen in love with their choice without previously knowing much about it, so imagine how much you can do with a well-informed introduction to the subject!

Our student editor, Alejandra, is here to give a few more details and explain why a course in HR could be the right choice for you.

“You’ll have an insight into the organisation and its people in a very privileged way. Both the organisation and the people will trust you with their secrets; how you manage this gift will define you and your success.”- The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Roles in HR range from general positions that incorporate a lot of different activities such as office administration and payroll, through to specialist areas such as Talent management and reward, meaning that you will have a hands-on experience of a variety of aspects within a specific company.

What the course is about

Although courses in Human Resources are compulsory components of any business degree, you can look for a higher degree of specialisation by studying a degree on Human Resources Management, either at undergraduate or postgraduate level. 

The degree course considers how people, processes and structures inter-relate. It focuses on the crucial part played by individuals and groups in organisation processes, such as decision making, planning and managing groups of people and state-of-the-art business strategies for all organisations.

Who should study HR?

Human Resources have a pivotal role in times of recession. Currently, business is roaring for HR specialists as companies are concentrating their efforts in getting the best performance possible out of their employees. This is where HR specialists come in - and you could you be one of them. Take a look below and see if any of the following qualities describe you:

• Excellent organisational skills
• Versatility and enthusiasm for new challenges
• Looking for a job that is people-orientated and ever-changing
• Passion for psychology and love for people development
• leadership skills (you will be helping others do their job as well as possible)
• good communicator

Human Resources specialists also have a very important responsibility supporting employees when they are going through tough personal times such as debt, illness, or grief, and when they’re facing intense professional challenges, like an international move. If you are genuinely interested in people and want to incorporate personal interaction into your career, HR is the best way to pursue these interests.

Career Paths

As a Human Resources specialist, you will have the opportunity to interact in different areas such as:

• Recruitment and Talent Management
• Learning, Development and Training
• Organisation
• Employee relations and Engagement
• Performance and Reward
• Finance
• Corporate Law

Some of the best paid jobs are currently offered in public sector organisations, as they are aiming to develop their employees into a thriving and cost-effective workforce. Follow the link to find out more information about HR career paths.

If you feel this is your ‘call of duty’ then do not wait too long to check university entry requirements. Remember that if English is not your first language, you will have to take an English proficiency exam (i.e. IELTS or TOEFL) to prove your language skills. To find out more about how to get ready for the exam, read the article about IELTS that we have prepared for you! 

Find out more information about funding by following the link to get a list of the scholarships offered to HR students. However, as rocketing tuition fees may discourage some to get into university; many employers are recruiting talented young people by offering to sponsor their degrees, read the following article to find out more.