Human Resources

What does a career in Human Resources involve?

A career in Human Resources involves using a variety of skills and experiences.  Key areas can involve recruitment of new staff; training and development for staff, either in a liaison role or a teaching role; inducting new staff; managing staff performance; remuneration reviews and salary negotiations; dispute resolution and mediation; monitoring and prevention with Health and Safety; research and recommendations for new strategies and developments; processing of payroll; addressing queries and requests from staff on an everyday basis.

What qualifications or subjects do I need?

To work as a Human Resource Manager, a tertiary qualification is required in Human Resources, or in a related discipline such as employment law or psychology. Both of these disciplines can be studied at the University of Waikato through the Waikato Management School, School of Law and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

What skills are needed?

Human Resource Managers need a sound knowledge of their organisation and the staff roles within it, as well as an understanding of labour and tax laws and employee legislations such as the Employment Relations Act.

Excellent people and communication skills are needed, as well as knowledge of recruitment, including how to interview, train and motivate staff.

Human Resource Managers also need good problem solving, negotiation and dispute resolution skills to overcome any conflicts that may occur within the workplace.

What career opportunities will I have?

A career in Human Resources will grow as you learn more and develop your skills over time. Senior staff are given more responsibility in terms of leading negotiations, managing other Human resource staff members, and also developing and leading projects involving large scale change.

See Also:

Graduate Profiles
Guidelines and Requirements for the BSocSc