When you’re trying to decide on what to major in for college, or you’re considering going back to school to finish an undergraduate degree, thinking about your own happiness in a course of study is very important. You want to make sure you’re preparing for a career that you will actually enjoy. But considerations such as salary expectations, the job market, future trends, and the like are also important.
For anyone who likes working with people and wants flexibility, a Human Resources degree is ideal. In addition to exciting coursework, it makes for an excellent choice as a career. Here are five reasons to get a Human Resources degree and become an HR professional for anyone who wants to enjoy a job-secure future.
1. Job Security
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), human resources specialists have a very positive career outlook. Job growth for HR for workers with an HR degree is expected to rise 7% on average over the next eight years, which is higher than projected employment as a whole. And it makes sense — businesses and organizations of all types need human capital to succeed. HR specialists ensure that the right talent is found, hired, cultivated, and rewarded, so the business and its employees can all thrive.
A Human Resource Management degree (HRM) also prepares graduates for a wide variety of career opportunities. Because of the emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and more, HR graduates can also look outside the HR field for meaningful work. Graduates of Human Resources degree programs can also find work and success as business consultants, life coaches, talent agents, and more.
2. Flexibility and Variety
It’s rare to find a business, institution, or nonprofit that isn’t keenly interested in both finding the right people to employ and keeping them employed. Human resources professionals are key to both. From filling entry-level positions, part-time roles, full-time roles, temp jobs, and freelance positions, HR managers and other HR professionals ensure companies have the minds, talent, and workers they need to succeed. They also make sure management-employee relations are what they need to be so the workplace culture is healthy.
The skills and knowledge HR professionals have and employ in regards to hiring, cultivating job satisfaction, assisting in organizational development, explaining and advocating for employee benefits, and more mean that they can work almost anywhere. From manufacturing and healthcare, to tech and higher education, the entire job market is an HR professional‘s oyster, and they can find their pearl in any state, any city, and any industry.
3. Good Salaries
According to data from the BLS, human resources specialists‘ median pay was $63,490 in 2020. For human resources managers, the median pay in 2020 was $121,220. The salary prospects, then, for someone with a bachelor’s degree in HR, are stellar — especially when you consider that the field will continue to grow, so the pay is likely to continue to climb in the future, too.
If you’re wanting to enroll in a degree program that will provide you career opportunities that will yield a good salary, you can’t do much better than a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts in Human Resources.
4. Make a Difference
It probably doesn’t get spoken of enough, but HR professionals and HR consultants can really make a difference in a company’s culture. Issues of employment law, non-discrimination, labor relations, and other real-world staffing concerns can either wreak havoc or make for fantastic work environments. For students who want to be positive changemakers in their profession, a career in human resources will provide plenty of opportunities.
5. Because You’re a Veteran
According to SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, human resources is an ideal profession for veterans to choose to go back to school for. Many of the skills that veterans learn during their service translate well into HR jobs, such as listening, decision making, disciplining, and record-keeping. According to the Director of Veterans and Certification Affairs at SHRM, HR competencies overlap directly with many of the principles of military leadership.
For veterans looking for a career path after their military service has ended, HR will likely be a good fit.
If you’re curious about getting into the field of Human Resources, whether through an online program or in a more traditional classroom setting with a strict focus on HRM, reach out to William Peace University (WPU) today. WPU offers timely HR coursework and electives and attractive financial aid packages. Whether you’d like to get into HR management or prepare for a master’s degree, WPU is an excellent choice.
