Human resource officer

Responsible for:
Human resources (‘HR’) officers or managers, also known as personnel officers/managers, are responsible for the recruitment, development and welfare of their company's employees. 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.

Average salary:
Starting salaries for human resources officers can be between £18,000 and £25,000 a year, with managers earning £25,000 to £50,000 a year or more.

Typical working hours:
In a full-time job you would typically work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Part-time work, job sharing and temporary work are often available.

Qualifications:
You should have a good standard of general education, and previous experience of office work. Employers will usually prefer you to have or be willing work towards qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Many human resources officers are graduates and some have a BTEC HNC/HND, degree or postgraduate qualification in human resource management.

General requirements:

• Tactful and approachable but assertive manner
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Ability to build good working relationships with colleagues at all levels
• Fairness and objectivity
• Show discretion with confidential information
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• Calmness under pressure
• Good administrative and computer skills

Career prospects:
You could work in any organisation within a human resources department or recruitment agency, as your skills will be easily transferable between various industries and different sectors within the finance industry.
With experience, you could progress into senior management or set up your own consultancy offering recruitment services or advice on policy planning.