Human Resources Associate Degree Online
Guide to programs offering a Human Resources Associate Degree
Almost every mid to large sized company has a human resources department. When you think about it, they have to have one. With multiple employees someone needs to manage who is getting hired and fired, who needs training, and who gets what benefits. With a human resources associate degree this is exactly what you'll be doing.
The great thing about getting your associate degree in human resources is that this field is growing at an amazing rate. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that careers in the human resources industry are expected to grow by at least 20% by 2014. Why so fast? Well, because so many industries, especially tech industries, are outsourcing work in foreign countries the field of human resources is growing to meet the new challenge of managing an international workforce. Virtually every single industry needs human resources professionals so finding a job shouldn't be difficult.
When you get a human resources associate degree you'll be learning about employee and team management, labor law, civil rights, motivation and compensation systems, benefits management, employee recruitment, payroll processing, conflict resolution, employee training and education, and about many different computer systems. Because technology is so important in this industry it's vital that you completely understand how to use the software that this field relies on. Without the proper training you'll get in school it can be very hard to succeed in this field.
With an associate degree in human resources you can expect to earn between $30,000-$40,000. Like many degrees, however, if you continue with your education and get a Bachelor's Degree in human resources you can expect your opportunities and salary to go up quite a bit.
You can also make significantly more if you focus on a niche, like international business or technology. Adding foreign languages and computer skills to your knowledge will only help you earn more and work with a wider variety of companies. You can also make a lot more if you focus on management. The average salary for a Compensation and Benefits Manager is around $66,000. For a Training and Development Manager, it's $67,000.
Another great thing about the human resources field is that quite a few professionals work as freelancers. This means they don't work for any one company "full time", but rather are hired out on an as-needed basis when the company needs help. The advantage to this is that you get to be in business for yourself, work at home, and make your own hours. Most of the time you'll be using the phone and Internet to communicate with your clients, which means you can work anywhere you have access to those two things.
Getting an associate degree in human resources can be a great way to embark on a secure, well-paid career. You can work for a large corporation or go into business for yourself. Either way, you'll need plenty of people and computer skills to succeed, which is why taking the time to go to school for this career is essential.
