{"id":54074,"date":"2021-08-17T18:51:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T16:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/?p=54074"},"modified":"2025-09-05T16:53:19","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T14:53:19","slug":"hr-career-paths","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/","title":{"rendered":"HR Career Paths: What&#8217;s the Next Step for You?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Offices are reopening and HR positions are in demand.\u00a0 Many professionals are wondering: What are the different HR career paths? And what is the best option for me?<\/p>\n<p>The time is right to ask these questions, especially with today&#8217;s job market.\u00a0 Within the past two months, there was an increase of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hiringlab.org\/2021\/06\/09\/job-postings-through-june-4-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more than 45% in HR job postings.<\/a>\u00a0 Demand for professionals working in human resources exceeds that for other industries, like restaurants and retail.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Due to this shift, HR professionals are looking at their options.<\/strong>\u00a0 Some may be considering career advancement while others are taking hold of the opportunity to change positions.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s the best way to move forward? This guide will help to chart out a future HR career path with success.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#hr\">HR Skills and Competencies<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#types\">Types of HR Career Paths<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what\">What is an HR Generalist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#is\">What is an HR Specialist<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-c9e65415-531e-40d7-a7af-2cf86746c70f\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-c9e65415-531e-40d7-a7af-2cf86746c70f\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-c9e65415-531e-40d7-a7af-2cf86746c70f\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n<![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/4960096\/c9e65415-531e-40d7-a7af-2cf86746c70f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-c9e65415-531e-40d7-a7af-2cf86746c70f\" class=\"hs-cta-img aligncenter\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/4960096\/c9e65415-531e-40d7-a7af-2cf86746c70f.png\" alt=\"New call-to-action\" width=\"900\" height=\"308\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(4960096, 'c9e65415-531e-40d7-a7af-2cf86746c70f', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"hr\"><\/a>HR Career Paths: Skills and Competencies<\/h2>\n<p>First and foremost, those who pursue an HR career path should know the <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/skills-qualities-hr-manager\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">skills needed as an HR manager<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Generally,<strong> successful HR professionals possess a hybrid of job knowledge and personal qualities<\/strong>, known as <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-soft-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hard and soft skills<\/a>.\u00a0 Hard skills are those that are more technical, job-specific, and easily taught. For example, legal knowledge and technological savviness.\u00a0 In contrast, soft skills are those that are more dependant on personality traits and emotional intelligence.\u00a0 For instance, conflict management and listening skills.<\/p>\n<p>For HR Professionals, these are the most important qualities to consider<\/p>\n<h3>Soft Skills for HR<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Leadership qualities<\/li>\n<li>Active listening abilities<\/li>\n<li>Effective communication<\/li>\n<li>Conflict Management<\/li>\n<li>Adaptability<\/li>\n<li>Problem-solving skills<\/li>\n<li>Interpersonal skills<\/li>\n<li>Emotional intelligence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Hard Skills for HR<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>An understanding of <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/hr-reports\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HR metrics<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fluency in labor laws<\/li>\n<li>Knowledge of HR practices<\/li>\n<li>Experience with <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/request-demo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HR software<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Although soft skills are a bit more difficult to develop, it is possible.\u00a0 <strong>Professionals wishing to advance in their HR career paths may benefit from soft skills training courses and team-building activities<\/strong>.\u00a0 With self-evaluation, HR professionals can measure their strengths and find the best-suited career options.<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"types\"><\/a>Types of HR Career Paths<\/h2>\n<p><strong>HR career paths are not always straightforward<\/strong>.\u00a0 Some professionals advance from entry-level assistants to managers.\u00a0 Others, however, choose to move from a generalist to a more specialized role. Job availability, personal strengths, and training opportunities all factor into career progression. Think about creating a <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/career-framework\/\">career framework<\/a> for your organization to be transparent about growth opportunities and advancement.<\/p>\n<p>Within a company, size and organization determine HR-related needs.\u00a0 Larger companies might need an ample HR team and have several distinct positions carved out.\u00a0 Smaller companies, however, might only need one or two personnel to carry out HR processes.<\/p>\n<p>In short, <strong>HR career paths are divided into two categories: generalist and specialist<\/strong>.\u00a0 HR generalist positions are responsible for several different HR-related tasks while specialists are experts in a specific field.<!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-2493a455-07a7-4965-9faf-ec449b8bbc5b\" class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\"><span id=\"hs-cta-2493a455-07a7-4965-9faf-ec449b8bbc5b\" class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-2493a455-07a7-4965-9faf-ec449b8bbc5b\"><!-- [if lte IE 8]>\n\n\n<div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div>\n\n\n<![endif]--><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/4960096\/2493a455-07a7-4965-9faf-ec449b8bbc5b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"hs-cta-img-2493a455-07a7-4965-9faf-ec449b8bbc5b\" class=\"hs-cta-img aligncenter\" style=\"border-width: 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/4960096\/2493a455-07a7-4965-9faf-ec449b8bbc5b.png\" alt=\"New call-to-action\" width=\"900\" height=\"308\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(4960096, '2493a455-07a7-4965-9faf-ec449b8bbc5b', {\"useNewLoader\":\"true\",\"region\":\"na1\"}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"what\"><\/a>What is an HR Generalist?<\/h2>\n<p>HR generalists are versatile individuals who have a good broad understanding of HR functions.\u00a0 In sum, <strong>they are masters of variety and multitask.<\/strong>\u00a0 Often, this position attracts personalities that resist repetition and enjoy connecting parts of a moving whole.<\/p>\n<p>HR generalist positions work especially well in small business settings where there are no divisional roles.\u00a0 However, in larger business settings, specialists might be more commonly found.<\/p>\n<p>Although not always, the HR career path for generalists traditionally moves from HR assistant to a mid-level manager position.\u00a0 With time and experience, professionals can advance to a more executive director role.<\/p>\n<h3>HR Assistant<\/h3>\n<p>This is the position that many have upon entering the world of HR.\u00a0 \u00a0HR assistants have their hands in a little bit of everything! It\u2019s a great opportunity for those who wish to establish a base knowledge of HR\u2019s diverse functions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Above all, HR assistants serve as the right-hand person to HR managers.<\/strong> From recruiting to payroll, individuals working in this position might carry out whatever tasks are needed to move forward.\u00a0 Although it isn&#8217;t always the case, often, the responsibilities are administrative and data entry is a crucial part of the job.<\/p>\n<p>The specific tasks for this position might include<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Administration<\/li>\n<li>Recording absences<\/li>\n<li>Posting job vacancies<\/li>\n<li>Calling references of applicants<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Software for this position:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/holidays-leaves-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Time Off Management Software,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/time-attendance-signing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Employee Time Tracking Software<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/shift-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shift Management Software<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>HR Managers<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/human-resources-manager-know-your-role\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Human resources management<\/a> roles are usually filled by professionals with more than 3 years of HR experience.\u00a0<strong> Essentially, HR managers act as a bridge between the goals of the employees and those of the company.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In general, they are responsible for overseeing all HR tasks. In addition to this, their duties include recruiting, training, payroll, managing performance, and employee relations.\u00a0 Additional support and supervision might come from HR directors, VPs and Cheifs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Software for this position:<\/strong> \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/get-started\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HR Management Software<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>HR Directors and Chiefs of HR<\/h3>\n<p>HR directors and CHROs are the top positions of the HR department.\u00a0 Generally,<strong> they are leaders with a wide influence on the direction of the company<\/strong>. Both are executive positions for professionals with at least 15 years of experience. CHROs in particular work in close contact with the CEO and other members of the C-suite.<\/p>\n<p>Responsibilities include developing strategies, coordinating, and organizing the HR team.\u00a0 HR directors and CHROs ensure that the HR department is aligned with the company\u2019s quarterly and annual goals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Software for this position:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/measure-objectives-okr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OKR Software<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"is\"><\/a>What is a Human Resources Specialist?<\/h2>\n<p>In short, HR specialists are individuals with a specific skill set and knowledge of a particular discipline.\u00a0 Specialist titles encompass a range of fields, from DEI to payroll to recruiting.\u00a0 Here are brief descriptions of some of the most commonly found positions.<\/p>\n<h3>Head of Learning and Development<\/h3>\n<p>Specialists in <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/learning-and-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">L&amp;D<\/a> work to develop and strengthen training programs, onboarding, and professional growth.\u00a0 These individuals are highly skilled at recognizing gaps between the workforce\u2019s skillset, and the company\u2019s objectives.\u00a0 In addition to keeping tabs on employee progress, they organize programs to help train team members for success.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Software for this position:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/training-management-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Training Management System<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Recruiters<\/h3>\n<p>Recruiting managers or talent acquisition specialists are <strong>conductors of the hiring process.\u00a0<\/strong> They are adept at recognizing new faces to bring the organization to the next level.\u00a0 In addition to sculpting the company\u2019s workforce, they oversee all stages of recruitment and selection.<\/p>\n<p>In general, recruiters find ways of promoting job opportunities, selecting and interviewing candidates, and providing onboarding and orientation to new employees.\u00a0 While hiring new talent, they look for ways to ensure a good candidate experience and project a positive brand image.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Software for this position:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/applicant-tracking-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Applicant Tracking System<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/employee-onboarding-and-offboarding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Onboarding and Offboarding Software<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Managers (DEI)<\/h3>\n<p>DEI specialists are in charge of creating and managing the company\u2019s efforts and goals towards diversity, equity, and inclusion.\u00a0 Their responsibilities might include hiring a more diverse team, working to eliminate unconscious bias, and developing workplace inclusivity training.<\/p>\n<p>In general, individuals who specialize in DEI management look for underlying problems preventing the company from achieving its DEI goals.\u00a0 Upon detecting problems, they consequently develop strategies to improve workplace diversity and inclusion. Subsequently encouraging all employees to participate and value the contributions of others.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Software for this position:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/performance-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Performance Management Software<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Payroll Manager<\/h3>\n<p>HR professionals who choose to specialize in payroll make sure that employees are paid in an accurate and timely manner.\u00a0 They are responsible for revising hours, calculating payments, and understanding and withholding employment taxes.\u00a0 Payroll managers also oversee deductions and employee benefits.<\/p>\n<p>Deciding to specialize in payroll might be right for individuals who like to research and stay current with new employment laws.\u00a0 Or, those who are skilled with calculations and numbers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Software for this position:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/payroll-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Payroll variations<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/expense-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Expense Management Software<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Offices are reopening and HR positions are in demand.\u00a0 Many professionals are wondering: What are the different HR career paths? And what is the best option for me? The time is right to ask these questions, especially with today&#8217;s job market.\u00a0 Within the past two months, there was an increase of more than 45% in<a href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/\" class=\"read-more\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":54079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-human-resources"],"acf":{"topics":"talent-career"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.5 (Yoast SEO v21.9.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>HR Career Paths: What&#039;s the Next Step for You? | Factorial<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Offices are reopening and HR positions are in demand.\u00a0 Many professionals are wondering: What are the different HR career paths?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"HR Career Paths: What&#039;s the Next Step for You?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Offices are reopening and HR positions are in demand.\u00a0 Many professionals are wondering: What are the different HR career paths?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Factorial\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Factorial\/100064908455810\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-17T16:51:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-05T14:53:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/17184604\/HR-Career-Paths.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"830\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kat Valier\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@factorialapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@factorialapp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kat Valier\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kat Valier\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d882156e06f5a88a198e92bce0abc0f1\"},\"headline\":\"HR Career Paths: What&#8217;s the Next Step for You?\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-08-17T16:51:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-05T14:53:19+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/\"},\"wordCount\":1266,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Tips\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/factorialhr.com\/blog\/hr-career-paths\/\",\"name\":\"HR Career Paths: What's the Next Step for You? 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