Job Description

The Human Resources department deals with the employees of a business, including recruitment, dealing with employee disputes/demands and queries, they may be involved in the payroll as well as calculating holiday pay.

Entry Requirements

You can get into this job through:

College

There is no set entry route to become a human resources assistant but it may be useful to do a relevant subject like Business Studies.

The following local colleges offer courses in Business:

Or your local 6th form may offer a relevant course.

You will usually need 4 or 5 GCSEs (including Maths and English) at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course.

Apprenticeship

You can get into this role through an advanced apprenticeship in HR support.

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

Click here to search for an apprenticeship.

Direct application

You could apply directly to work as a human resources assistant. You should have a good standard of general education, good computer skills and previous experience of office work.

Employers may prefer you to have, or be willing to work towards, qualifications in human resource management.

Work

You could start as an office assistant or business administrator in a company's HR department, and work your way up through training and promotion.

Other routes

You can study for qualifications in human resources, either online or at a training centre, approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

More Information

You can join the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development for professional recognition, training opportunities, to make industry contacts and to find out more about careers in human resources.

Career Path and Progression

With experience, you could become an HR officer or team leader.

Related careers you may be interested in:

Recruitment consultant
Trade union official
Training manager
Training officer

Required Skills

Enjoy working with people
Empathetic, tactful and approachable
Excellent communication skills
The ability to gather facts and be confident in delivering them
Good problem solver
Well organised and respect the importance of confidentiality
Excellent IT skills
Attention to detail
Ability to stay calm in difficult circumstances

Salary Range

£15,000 to £22,000

Human Resources Assistant