Behind every job is a human resources (HR) professional. And behind many successful HR professionals is a master’s in human resources.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were over 6.5 million job openings in the U.S.1 While that good news may seem limited to job seekers, it’s also a boon to those seeking to enter or move up in the human resources industry.
From recruiting to compensation, large and small organizations depend on HR professionals to meet the needs associated with filling new positions—and a human resource management degree, specifically a master’s in human resource management, can equip you with the advanced skills and training to take a leading role in guiding organizations toward their goals.
What could you be doing as an HR professional connected to those 7 million positions? We’ve broken down six duties of HR professionals—and how a master’s in human resources can help you meet those responsibilities and become a strategic HR leader.
- Attract, develop, and retain talent.
There’s a wealth of recruitment activity behind every new employee who joins an organization. Once that employee is hired, he or she must be acclimated to the company, trained, and retained. The education you’ll receive in a human resource management degree program can provide you with the ability to keep organizations of all sizes well staffed, now and into the future. - Manage pay and benefits.
With every position filled comes a salary and benefits package. An MS in Human Resource Management will prepare you to work with managers within organizational budgets to establish compensation, then work with employees, health insurance companies, and vendors to ensure pay and benefits are distributed smoothly and without error. - Establish and implement workplace policies.
From telecommuting and sick leave to federal policies on discrimination and safety, HR professionals create and/or implement everyday workplace policies. A master’s in human resources can provide the knowledge and skills you need to establish and/or administer these guidelines, ensuring employees are comfortable, safe, and treated fairly. - Analyze individual and group performance.
Whether it’s developing performance rubrics or organizing meetings between supervisors and their employees, analyzing workplace performance is an essential part of HR. A master’s in human resource management can not only prepare you to develop and conduct these reviews, it can give you the tools to encourage employees to meet their goals and accept new challenges. - Create training programs.
Education is a valuable asset in the workplace. From new computer systems to mentorship opportunities, a human resource management degree can provide you with the expertise to create beneficial training and professional development programs that have a lasting, positive impact on employee performance and morale. - Become a strategic partner in organizational success.
Today’s human resource management degree programs prepare HR professionals to guide companies to meet their strategic goals. Equipped with a master’s in human resources, you’ll make important contributions to organization-wide decisions by providing a holistic view on budget cuts, acquisitions and mergers, regulatory issues, and much more.
Ready to help meet the demand for advanced HR professionals with a master’s in human resources? Explore how Walden University’s MS in Human Resource Management degree can help you meet your career goals—in an engaging online format designed to fit your busy schedule.