Human Resources & Recruitment
Human Resources Officer
Human resources (HR) officers look after hiring and developing employees, as well as employee welfare such as employment conditions.
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Entry-level education
Bachelor’s degree
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Job outlook
What does a Human Resources Officer do?
Human resources (HR) officers look after hiring and developing employees, as well as employee welfare such as employment conditions. HR officers with a number of years of experience may become HR Managers, responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the HR function of an organisation.
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Work activities
As a HR officer, your work would typically involve:
- hiring staff
- working with other managers to plan future staff needs
- keeping employee records
- providing staff training and development
- making sure staff have the right pay and benefits
- arranging staff services such as welfare and counselling
- dealing with complaints and discipline procedures
- promoting equality, and health and safety
- advising on matters like pay negotiations, redundancy and employment law
- developing HR policies and procedures.
In large organisations, you may specialise in one or two of these areas. In smaller companies you would usually deal with all aspects of the job.
HR officers with a number of years of experience may become HR managers, responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the HR function of an organisation.
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Key skills and interests
To become a human resources officer, you would need:
- a tactful, friendly but firm manner
- good spoken and written communication skills
- the ability to build good working relationships with colleagues at all levels
- fairness and objectivity
- discretion in dealing with confidential information
- good organisational ability.
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Working hours and conditions
Working Hours
In a full-time job you would normally work standard office hours, Monday to Friday. Part-time and temporary work are often available.
Conditions
You would mainly be based in an office but you may need to travel to meetings, especially if you worked in a company with more than one site.
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How to become an Human Resources Officer?
Entry Level Education
To become a human resources officer you usually have to complete at least a VET qualification in human resources or human resources management. You may be able to study through distance education.
Most human resources officers would have attained a degree in human resource management or psychology; or economics, business or commerce with a major in human resource management. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your senior secondary school certificate or equivalent. English and mathematics would be appropriate subjects to study prior to university.
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Job outlook
Employment of human resources officers is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Human resources officers will be needed to ensure that firms adhere to changing employment laws regarding occupational safety and health, equal employment opportunity, wages, and superannuation. However, the increasing use of technology to manage human resources functions in organisations may temper employment growth.
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