How to become a Human Resources Officer

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.

Personal requirements for a Human Resources Officer

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

Education & Training for a Human Resources Officer

To become a human resources officer you usually have to complete a VET qualification. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information.The Australian Human Resources Institute offers short courses and VET qualifications in human resources. The Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA) also offers related short courses and VET qualifications. Contact the institutions for further information.You can also become a human resources officer through a traineeship. 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 Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English and mathematics are normally required. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.A degree in a related area such as industrial relations, psychology, management or economics may also be useful in gaining employment.

Duties & Tasks of a Human Resources Officer

Human resources officers:

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 programs
Assist employees with work matters, career development, personal problems and industrial matters
Organise employee welfare services such as health and wellbeing programs, 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.

Tasks

Providing information on current job vacancies in the organisation to employers and job seekers
Overseeing the formation and conduct of workplace consultative committees and employee participation initiatives
Providing advice and information to management on workplace relations policies and procedures, staff performance and disciplinary matters
Receiving and recording job vacancy information from employers such as details about job description, wages and conditions of employment
Studying and interpreting legislation, awards, collective agreements and employment contracts, wage payment systems and dispute settlement procedures
Developing, planning and formulating enterprise agreements or collective contracts such as productivity-based wage adjustment procedures, workplace relations policies and programs, and procedures for their implementation
Arranging the induction of staff and providing information on conditions of service, salaries and promotional opportunities
Maintaining personnel records and associated human resource information systems
Undertaking negotiations on terms and conditions of employment, and examining and resolving disputes and grievances
Arranging for advertising of job vacancies, interviewing and testing of applicants, and selection of staff

Employment Opportunities for a Human Resources Officer

Human resources officers are employed by both small and large organisations in 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.

Specializations

Human Resources Officer

Average age
37
Future Growth
N/A
Gender Share
81% female
Average full-time
41 hours
Weekly Pay
N/A
Skill level rating
Very high skill
Unemployment
Average unemployment
Full-Time Share
78%
Employment Size
33,500
Employment by state
ACT: 3.3%
NSW: 33.0%
NT: 1.2%
QLD: 18.5%
SA: 6.0%
TAS: 1.6%
VIC: 25.4%
WA: 11.0%
Age brackets
15-19: 0.3%
20-24: 6.7%
25-34: 36%
35-44: 27.5%
45-54: 18.1%
55-59: 5.9%
60-64: 3.6%
65 and Over: 1.8%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 16.1%
Bachelor degree: 35.9%
Below Year 10: 0%
Certificate III/IV: 12.3%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 14.3%
Year 10 and below: 3.9%
Year 11: 2.4%
Year 12: 15.1%
Years 11 & 10: 6.2%