What Can I Do With an MBA in Human Resources?

An MBA in Human Resources will open many doors for you. By earning a master’s in business administration, you are demonstrating advance knowledge in human resources management along with core business competencies that would enhance your value as a key player in the business setting or in the nonprofit sector. The MBA program will give you enough exposure to basic economics, marketing, statistical analysis and forecasting, labor relations, organizational mapping and strategic planning. In many cases, an MBA will put your career on track toward an executive position.

Human Resources Manager

As HR manager, you will initiate and direct employee development programs. You will oversee various aspects of personnel management, including recruitment, hiring, onboarding and retention. Your functions cover training and development, wage and benefit management and resolving labor disputes. Having a clear understanding of business processes will help you make better decisions with regards to all aspects of personnel policies.

Training and Development Manager

Employee retention is crucial to the success of any business. As training and development manager, you will make sure that employees have the necessary skill sets for the their assigned tasks. Training is an employee incentive that motivates participants to expand their knowledge and skills to prepare for other opportunities within the company. You may also be tasked with developing the curriculum for training programs or selecting the right materials and vendors. You can use your business background to choose training topics and materials that are most relevant for your company.

Executive Recruiter

Executive recruiters are highly compensated individuals who focus on recruitment and placement of mid to higher level executives for different companies. Working for yourself or for a personnel placement company, your job consists of developing and maintaining a pool of candidates of various backgrounds. You will work with clients to meet their staffing needs. You can draw on knowledge gained from your MBA in human resources to help your client find the most suitable candidates for their open positions.

Information Technology Specialist for HR

Many of the positions in human resources have not change very much over the years. The IT specialist for HR is a niche position that was created in response to the increasing technology dependence of the HR department. Routine HR processes such as payroll preparation, attendance and time records may be automated to improve accuracy, task efficiency and reliability. With your MBA, you will be in a position to know which functions could be simplified and streamlined through automation.

HR Specialist-Consultant

With an MBA specializing in HR, enough experience in this field and a network of contacts, you could open an HR consultancy office and be your own boss. Your services may be specialized to a few tasks such as payroll management or training consultant, or your services may include the entire range of HR functions from recruitment to community outreach. As a consultant, you can offer your services to the public and private sector, accepting only those assignments that are compatible with your strengths and preferences.

Earning an HR-MBA is a major financial and logistical investment, but the payoff is worth the effort. It expands your career options while indicating your leadership strengths and collaborative skills. This credential underlines your expertise in the field and shows your commitment as an HR professional. With an MBA in human resources, many companies across different industries will find your skill set valuable.

See also: 5 Reasons to Get an MBA Online