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Human Resources Officer

Also known as Human Resources Consultant.

Human resources officers provide administration services for the recruitment and employment of staff.

In small organisations, human resources officers are usually responsible for all staffing matters.

In large organisations they may specialise in a particular area such as recruitment, wages and entitlements or staff training.

TASKS

Human resources officers may perform the following tasks:

determine staffing numbers, skills and needs to meet the organisation's objectives
analyse the skills and qualities required for each particular job and develop job descriptions and duty statements
advertise staff vacancies, assess applications, interview applicants, administer selection tests, prepare reports and make recommendations to management about staff appointments
maintain the personal records of employees on matters such as wages, superannuation, leave and training, and prepare associated management reports
arrange and conduct staff training
use a number of management information systems to record, maintain, plan and manage the organisation's human resources
provide advice and information to management and employees on human resource policies and procedures, including equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and occupational health and safety programmes
assist employees with work matters, career development, personal problems and industrial matters
organise employee welfare services such as health and wellbeing programmes, first aid and fire warden training, superannuation and social activities
take part in enterprise bargaining talks where employees, management and unions discuss the development of specific work arrangements and conditions (pay and hours of work, for example)
help implement organisational changes (such as those following from industrial relations legislation, revised job classification structures or technological changes)
take part in strategic management

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

good planning, organisational, analytical and decision-making skills
good oral and written communication skills
tactful and discrete when dealing with people and confidential information

Interest Area

EDUCATION & TRAINING

To become a human resources officer you usually have to complete a VOC qualification in human resources or human resources management. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information. You may be able to study through distance education.

The Australian Human Resources Institute offers short courses and VOC qualifications in human resources. The Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA) also offers related short courses and VOC qualifications. Contact the institutions for further information.

You can also become a human resources officer through a traineeship in Human Resources or Human Resources Management.

Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.

Alternatively, you can become a human resources officer by completing a degree in human resource management, or business or commerce with a major in human resource management. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English and mathematics are normally required. Most universities in Australia offer degrees in these areas.

Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact Open Universities Australia or the universities you are interested in for more information as requirements may change.

A degree in a related area such as industrial relations, psychology, management or economics may also be useful in gaining employment.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Human resources officers are employed by both small and large organisations in many industries such as banks, insurance companies, hospitals, manufacturing firms, airline and shipping companies and large retail stores. They are also employed by federal and state or territory government departments.

Some people establish their own businesses as human resources consultants or find employment with human resources firms that offer outsourced human resources functions to clients.