5 Human Resources Entry Level Jobs To Put On A Resume
- Human Resources Assistant
- Human Resources Specialist
- Benefits Coordinator
- Recruiter
- Applications Specialist
Anyone looking to break into the field of human resources is likely looking for an entry-level human resources job. Everyone has to start somewhere and a first job helps build up a resume that can net a promotion or a better position. These five entry-level jobs in the human resources field will look great on any resume.
See our ranking of the Top 30 Most Affordable Master’s in Human Resources Degrees Online.
1. Human Resources Assistant
Many human resources professionals, and professionals in any field, for that matter, start out by being assistants. Being an assistant allows new hires to learn the knowledge and skills that are needed for success in the industry. It also allows them to prove their character and abilities so they can hopefully move on to higher positions. Assistants aid HR managers and specialists by scheduling interviews, filing, responding to phone calls, answering e-mails and performing other clerical work.
2. Human Resources Specialist
This position is a more general one and a quintessential entry-level human resources job. Human resources specialists perform most general HR tasks such as interviewing candidates, recruiting talent and placing workers to meet demand. Other duties may include designing and implementing training programs for new employees as well as counseling employees on issues between coworkers. The average salary for this position is good too – it’s $60,350 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3. Benefits Coordinator
Benefits coordinators keep track of employee benefits and ensure they are fairly distributed. This includes vacation time, sick days, insurance benefits, retirement plans and more. They may also manage payroll to ensure employees are paid on time and for the amount owed. This also entails the subtraction of the correct amount of taxes from each paycheck so they are paid to the correct places. Benefits coordinators may occasionally contact and work with outside agencies, such as state agencies for unemployment benefits and insurance companies to manage policies and claims. They may also be called upon to research different insurance options to ensure both the company and its employees are receiving the best deal.
4. Recruiter
Recruiters seek out new talent and respond to candidates who have already contacted the organization. Recruiters can be employed by a single company, a staffing firm or even self-employed. Some may specialize in working on social media, where most modern candidates can be found. Even recruiters who do not specialize in finding candidates via social media still must know how to navigate the most important sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to discover and screen potential candidates. They must be comfortable talking to candidates over the phone and have a strong ability to sell potential candidates on working for a company.
5. Applications Specialist
These HR professionals receive and review job applications. Their entry-level HR job is to screen applications based on what their employer is looking for in a new hire. Promising applications are then passed on to hiring managers and upper HR professionals where the hiring process will move on to the next step. These specialists usually work in large companies that may have hundreds of applications coming in for tens of positions every day. Applicant tracking software can help, but sometimes the human eye is needed to comprehensively evaluate job applications to ensure the correct ones are chosen for further consideration.
Finding an entry level HR job is not always easy, but it helps when knowing what position titles to look for. Looking for job titles like these will help first-time job seekers find and land an entry level human resources job.