Human resources officer

As a human resources (HR) officer, you could:

• help to recruit new employees
•  plan staff training and development activities
•  make sure employees have the right pay and benefits
•  arrange employee support services like welfare and counselling
•  handle complaints and disciplinary procedures
•  deal with work absence and staff performance issues
•  advise on pay negotiations, redundancy and employment law
•  develop company HR policies and procedures
•  maintain confidential employee records

• administration skills
• knowledge of human resources and employment law
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• excellent written communication skills
• business management skills 
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist courses run by professional bodies

You could move from a smaller organisation to a larger public, private or voluntary sector HR department to further your career.

At work, you could train part-time or do an apprenticeship to become a HR manager.

You might also be able to:

• work as a HR specialist in an area like policy development, training or dispute mediation
•  set up your own consultancy to offer recruitment services and advice
•  work as a HR specialist in the Army or the Royal Air Force