HR Job Titles and Responsibilities: Entry Level to Senior

Human Resource professionals are often the unsung heroes of the workplace. Their contributions ensure that the organization achieves its goals and fosters a motivated and engaged workforce, ultimately driving success and growth.

If that job description seems broad, you’re not mistaken. HR roles encompass a wide range of responsibilities that address the diverse needs of employees and organizations, from recruitment to training.

In this article, you’ll discover three entry-level Human Resource positions to kickstart your career and three high-ranking HR roles to aspire to. Keep reading!

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What Are Entry-Level Human Resources Positions?

Embarking on a new career path can feel challenging, but every journey begins with a first step. For career changers transitioning into Human Resources, pursuing an entry-level position can be an ideal starting point. These roles often provide valuable exposure to the fundamental functions of HR, such as recruitment, employee relations, and benefits administration.

Aspiring HR professionals can gain experience, develop skills, and build a network, all essential for advancing in the field. This approach helps understand human resources’s intricacies and lays a solid foundation for future growth and opportunities.

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HR Assistant

Human Resource Assistants have the best of both worlds. You can use your HR expertise while observing senior-level HR professionals, learning best practices, and making connections.

People management is a crucial function for all businesses, which means that as an HR Assistant, you won’t be restricted to just one industry. HR Assistants can find job opportunities in various sectors, including federal, state, and local government, healthcare services, education, and more.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, HR Assistants earn a median annual salary of $47,710.

HR Assistant duties are foundational—they include:

• Administrative Support: Handling tasks like filing, managing employee records, and preparing HR documents
• Recruitment Assistance: Posting job openings, screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and communicating with candidates
• Onboarding Coordination: Assisting with new hire orientation and paperwork and ensuring a smooth transition for employees
• Policy Communication: Answering employee questions about company policies, benefits, and procedures
• Data Entry and Reporting: Maintaining HR databases, tracking employee information, and generating reports
• Compliance Monitoring: Ensuring employee records are current and compliant with labor laws and company standards
• Event Support: Helping plan and organize HR-related events, like training sessions or company activities 

Human Resource Specialist

HR Specialists are entry-level professionals requiring no prior experience. They support an organization’s daily operations by managing various essential functions. These specialists are responsible for tasks such as:

• Talent Acquisition: Recruiting, screening, and interviewing candidates for open positions  
• Employee Onboarding: Facilitating orientation and ensuring new hires understand company policies and procedures  
• Benefits Administration: Assisting employees with benefits program enrollment and answering questions about health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks  
• Employee Relations: Addressing workplace concerns, mediating conflicts, and ensuring a positive and compliant work environment
• Policy Implementation: Enforcing HR policies, updating handbooks, and ensuring adherence to labor laws 
• Data and Compliance Management: Maintaining employee records, tracking HR metrics, and ensuring compliance with federal and state employment regulations  

For their work, specialists earn a median annual salary of $67,650.

Through their contributions, HR Specialists help create a productive work environment that supports employees and management, making them integral to the business’s overall success.

Recruitment Coordinator

Recruitment Coordinators serve as a vital link between candidates and the organization, facilitating communication and ensuring that all parties are well-informed throughout the recruitment journey.

Their role is foundational in upholding the company’s professional and welcoming image to prospective employees.

Coordinator job responsibilities include:

• Interview Scheduling: Arranging interviews between candidates and hiring managers, ensuring availability and smooth coordination  
• Job Posting Management: Creating and updating job postings on various platforms and tracking applicant responses  
• Candidate Communication: Serving as candidates’ primary point of contact, providing updates, and answering questions  
• Recruitment Data Management: Maintaining and organizing candidate records in applicant tracking systems (ATS)  
• Event Coordination: Assisting in organizing career fairs, recruitment events, or on-campus hiring initiatives  
• Onboarding Support: Helping with background checks, offer letters, and pre-hire paperwork to prepare candidates for their new roles  
• Process Optimization: Identify opportunities to improve recruitment processes and ensure a positive candidate experience

Recruitment Coordinators across all industries earn $54,000-$73,000, according to Glassdoor.

What are the Highest Positions in Human Resources? 

As you advance in your Human Resources career, you’ll come across senior positions with greater responsibilities and strategic influence.

These advanced roles need a solid HR foundation and a clear understanding of how HR initiatives align with the organization’s goals. Networking, continuous knowledge enhancement, and gaining relevant, varied experiences are crucial in positioning yourself for these roles.

Human Resource Managers

Human Resource Managers require five or more years of experience. Managers typically require a bachelor’s degree, but progressive experience in the field may suffice for the right company.

The seniority of the position reflects the salary. Managers have a median annual salary of $136,350. You won’t slide by on an assistant’s workload, though. HR Manager responsibilities include:

• Strategic Planning and Workforce Coordination: Facilitating the strategic planning process to ensure the workforce aligns with organizational objectives
• Employee Benefits: Developing, formulating, and administering employee benefit programs that meet the needs of the workforce while managing costs effectively
• Supervision of HR Specialists: Leading a team of HR professionals and support staff, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance evaluations
• Recruitment Process Oversight: Managing the recruitment process, which includes crafting job descriptions, sourcing candidates, conducting interviews, and facilitating selection and hiring processes
• Conflict Mediation: Addressing HR conflicts by mediating disputes and overseeing disciplinary procedures, ensuring fair and consistent handling in compliance with organizational policies

Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator

HR professionals aren’t confined to hiring and recruiting responsibilities. Let’s spell it out: Human. Resource. They serve as people support, ensuring employees have the tools to thrive in the workplace.

A Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator fosters a workplace environment that values and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. This position entails developing and executing strategic programs to enhance diversity initiatives.

• Strategic Program Development: Creating, developing, and executing strategic programs to enhance organizational diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Assessments and Surveys: Conducting in-depth evaluations and surveys to identify underrepresented groups’ unique challenges and barriers within the workforce
• Training Sessions: Organizing and facilitating engaging training workshops that educate employees on the importance of DEI, unconscious bias, and cultural competency
• Mentorship Programs: Designing and implementing mentorship and career development programs tailored specifically for underrepresented groups, enabling equitable opportunities for professional advancement
• Progress Tracking: Continuously monitoring the effectiveness of initiatives through feedback gathering and assessments while driving accountability and promoting a culture of inclusion throughout the organization

Diversity and Inclusion Coordinators are relatively recent positions but offer handsome compensation. Coordinators earn an annual median wage of $55,000-$85,000.

Human Resources Trainer

Given your extensive experience in the field, you possess the qualifications to train and mentor entry-level Human Resource professionals effectively. Your expertise can give them valuable insights into HR practices, workplace dynamics, and essential skills needed for success in their roles.

This senior HR professional’s responsibilities include: 

• Training Needs Benchmarking: Identifying and assessing the training needs of different departments and roles within the organization to ensure relevant content
• Training Calendar Preparation: Developing a comprehensive training calendar that outlines scheduled training sessions and topics that align with organizational priorities
• Course Administration: Administering and facilitating training courses, ensuring they are engaging and informative while accommodating different learning styles
• Feedback Analysis: Gathering and analyzing participant feedback post-training to identify improvement opportunities and enhance future training sessions
• Market Monitoring: Keeping abreast of innovations and trends within the training and development field, integrating new methodologies or technologies into training programs

Through your guidance, these newcomers can develop a strong foundation to support their career growth in Human Resources. With your extensive experience, you are qualified to train entry-level Human Resource professionals.

Human Resource Trainers, or Training and Development Managers, earn a median wage of $125,040 annually.

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Become an HR Pro

HR jobs shape the success and culture of an organization. From talent acquisition to employee relations, HR professionals ensure businesses attract, develop, and retain top talent while maintaining a positive work environment.

You can have this impact on your workplace by becoming an HR pro. Career changers thrive in HR because you already have many of the skills needed, such as communication and interpersonal skills. 

Merit America helps career changers—like you!—translate your experience into workforce-ready skills.

Our Human Resources Career Track will bring you up to speed with the technical skills to launch your HR career in just 18 weeks.

Here’s what you’ll achieve:

• 150+ hours of technical training and 70+ hours of professional skills development.
• Mastery of HR essentials like talent acquisition, employee relations, and legal compliance.
• Hands-on experience with industry tools, including Microsoft Suite and Workday.
• Preparation to pass the aPHR certification exam, unlocking access to 91,000+ entry-level HR jobs across the U.S.

HR is not just a job; it’s an opportunity to lead during times of change and shape the future of work. Are you ready to begin your HR journey?