The Off Topic Topic

[alfred russel]

Your typical corporate lawyer isn't typical.

Anyway, HR annoys the shit out of me in how they've become this entirely separate career path; I look into HR jobs a lot.  After all, HR is is in routine matters a clerical department, but they also have rulemaking and rule enforcement responsibilities within the organization, and have regulatory compliance responsibilities to boot.

But JDs aren't considered for human resources.  Usually, they want actual HR degrees.

I doubt that most people in HR have HR degrees.

[Sheilbh]

A degree in HR?

Anyone with that should be unemployable. I wouldn't even be able to guess if they were literate. I mean how do you study that?

[Ideologue]

Maybe it was just one or two that asked for it, but I've definitely seen it lately.

The more common case is "2-5 years (or 5-10 years ) experience."  I just never see entry level middle class gigs anymore.  It's all either shit jobs or "Managing Director."  I assume everyone is just holding on to these jobs for dear life, and the only people abandoning positions are elites?

[alfred russel]

Question: Is a College Degree Necessary to Work in Human Resources?
Answer:

No, you don't have to have a degree to work in the field of Human Resources, but the lack of a degree will limit you to the lowest level, less knowledge-based functions in the HR office. When HR Assistants come to work with a Bachelor's degree for $30,000, why would a forward thinking office hire an employee without a degree?

That said, there are some jobs as HR Administrators or as Payroll Specialists that may not require a degree. You will also not expect to advance very far in your HR career in these roles without a degree.

Increasingly, however, HR professionals have both Bachelor's degrees and Master's degrees. Since HR is a highly competitive field, the more education you have, in appropriate subjects, the better your chance for excellent job prospects and a successful career. Another trend I am seeing is HR Directors with a Ph.D. and/or a Juris Doctor (J.D.), legal degree.

Many longer term HR professionals argue that a degree is unnecessary, that they built a successful career up to and including positions as Vice President, without a degree. But, this is not the trend for jobs in HR. An HR professional, who wants to participate in the strategic leadership of a business, needs a degree.

http://humanresources.about.com/od/schoolcredentials1/f/hr_education.htm

Should I Earn a Human Resources Degree?
Human Resources Degree Overview

What Is a Human Resources Degree?

A human resources degree is an academic degree that is awarded to students who have completed a college, university, or business school program with a focus on human resources or human resources management.

Types of Human Resources Degrees

There are four basic types of human resources degrees that can be earned from an academic program. They include:

    Associate's Degree
    Bachelor's Degree
    Master's Degree
    Doctorate Degree

There is no set degree requirement for professionals in the human resources field. An associate's degree may be all that is needed for some entry-level positions. There are not many associate's degree programs with an emphasis in human resources. However, this degree can serve as a springboard for students who are interested in entering the field or pursuing a bachelor's degree. Most associate's degree programs take two years to complete.

A bachelor's degree is another common entry-level requirement. A business degree and experience in areas of human resources can often substitute for a straight-out human resources degree. However, a master's degree in human resources or labor relations is becoming more commonplace, particularly for management positions. A bachelor's degree typically takes three to four years to complete. A master's degree program usually lasts two years. In most cases, you will need a bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field before you can earn a master's degree.

Choosing a Human Resources Degree Program

Choosing a human resources degree program can be difficult--there are many different programs to choose from. The most important thing you can do is make sure the program is accredited. Accreditation ensures the quality of the program. If you earn a human resources degree from a school that is not accredited by an appropriate source, you may have a hard time finding employment after graduation. It can also be difficult to transfer credits and earned advanced degrees if you do not have a degree from an accredited institution.

In addition to accreditation, you should also look at the program's reputation. Does it provide a comprehensive education? Are courses taught by qualified professors? Is the program in line with your learning ability and education needs? Other things to consider include retention rates, class sizes, program facilities, internship opportunities, career placement statistics, and cost. Looking closely at all of these things can help you find a program that is a good match for you academically, financially, and career wise. See a list of the Best Human Resources Programs

Other HR Education Options

Students who are interested in studying human resources have education options available outside of degree programs. There are many schools that offer diploma and certificate programs in human resources in addition to seminars and workshops related to HR topics. Diploma and certificate programs are available at nearly every academic level. For example, there are some programs designed for students who have a high school diploma or less. Other programs are geared toward students who have already earned a bachelor's or master's degree in human resources or a related field. Seminars and workshops are usually less broad in scope and tend to focus on a particular area of human resources, such as communication, hiring, firing, or workplace safety.

Human Resources Certification

Although certification is not required to work in the human resources field, some professionals choose to seek the designation of Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Both certifications are available through the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Additional certifications are also available in specific areas of human resources.

What Can I Do with a Human Resources Degree?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for all human resources positions are expected to grow much faster than average in the coming years. Graduates with at least a bachelor's degree have the best prospects. Professionals with certifications and experience will also have an edge.

No matter what type of job you get in the human resources field, you can expect to work closely with others--dealing with people is an essential part of any HR job. In a small company, you may perform a variety of different HR tasks; in a large company, you may work exclusively in a specific area of human resources, such as employee training or benefits compensation. Some of the most common job titles in the field include:

    Human Resources Assistant - In this entry-level position, you would be responsible for assisting someone else with human resources duties. Tasks may include recruiting, staffing, benefits administration, employee orientation, employee communication, and other administrative duties.
    Human Resources Generalist - A human resources generalist is typically responsible for a wide range of HR duties. On a day-to-day basis, you may work on recruiting, hiring, employee communication, training, benefits management, the planning of company functions, safety regulations, and much more.
    Human Resources Manager - In a management position, you will be responsible for supervising one or more human resources professionals. You will assign tasks and take care of many duties yourself. Your office may be responsible for every aspect of staffing, benefits, retention, and motivation.
    Labor Relations Manager - Labor relations managers almost always work for large organizations. In this position, your duties may include implementing and overseeing labor relations programs, collecting data and statistics, assisting with contracts, and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.

http://businessmajors.about.com/od/degreeoptions/a/Should-I-Earn-A-Human-Resources-Degree.htm

[Ideologue]

See, I didn't make it up.

I want to see some stats on that J.D. thing.

[Sheilbh]

A human resources degree is an academic degree

Genuinely insane though.

Although certification is not required to work in the human resources field, some professionals choose to seek the designation of Professional in Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Both certifications are available through the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Additional certifications are also available in specific areas of human resources.

God vested interests trying to protect themselves

This sort of nonsense is like ancien regime guilds. Another thing I'd do away with.

[CountDeMoney]

A degree in HR?

Anyone with that should be unemployable. I wouldn't even be able to guess if they were literate. I mean how do you study that?

Not too many schools offer them on the undergrad level, but there are a lot of schools that offer it as a masters degree.  Yes, you read that right.

[HVC]

The people in HR where I work are designated. The head HR lady (don't actually know her title) keeps adding new shit like KPI's and other metrics, which somehow means I get more work. Not sure why the cost accountant has to track this shit, but whatever.

One of the HR ladies is attractive though, so it's not all bad. I tell her she evil becasue of her profession and she laughs. She knows.

[Admiral Yi]

A properly run HR department is stocked with young, attractive females.

[Ideologue]

I take back what I said in the misogynist shooter thread.  That's gross.

[Josquius]

A degree in HR?

Anyone with that should be unemployable. I wouldn't even be able to guess if they were literate. I mean how do you study that?

How to sound concerned and make smiles look real?

[alfred russel]

I want to see some stats on that J.D. thing.

I'd guess that most JDs in HR are lawyers that first got experience in employment law. Notice the article said HR directors, not HR junior staffers.

[Jaron]

My company's HR department has two older guys: One is a recruiter and mores of a salesman than anyone else. His second in command is very knowledgeable about labor law and what you can and can't do in the workplace. And then underneath them is a legion of fresh out of college Mormon girls.

There was a bit of a scandal lately because one of those girls, who was ridiculously off the charts good looking, was made executive assistant to the CEO. When her husband wanted to move her far away, the CEO offered her a pay raise that made her salary better than most of our software developers and sales VPs.

To sweeten the deal, he also promoted her husband to a product management position. They ended up leaving anyway.

[Eddie Teach]

Reminds me of a movie.

[Jaron]

One wonders.