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Human Resources

Possible Career Options

  • Compensation Specialist:
    A compensation specialist ensures that an organization’s pay system is compatible with the broader labour market, and also that there is a sensible relationship between pay and job characteristics. This specialist will evaluate various jobs to assess their importance and difficulty, so that each job is paid appropriately. A compensation specialist is also responsible for ensuring that the organization’s pay system is in compliance with labour standards and pay equity legislation. In addition, such individuals may be responsible for the overall administration of performance appraisal systems and designing performance-based compensation plans.
  • Director of Industrial Relations:
    This is a senior management position in a unionized organization. A person might aspire to this position after building a career in a more specialized area. Such a manager oversees industrial relations, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, coordinates grievance procedures to handle complaints, and supervises other staff members.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 383.3, COMM 387.3, COMM 384.3, COMM 485.3
  • Director of P/HRM:
    The Director of Personnel/Human Resource Management (P/HRM) is a senior management position, to which a person might aspire after building a career in a more specialized area. The director may oversee staff in various specialties such as recruiting, compensation, employment equity compliance, job analysis, and training.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 348.3, COMM 384.3, COMM 441.3
  • Employment Equity Specialist:
    An employment equity specialist ensures that the organization treats women and people from minority groups in a fair and equitable manner. This person investigates equity-related complaints, including sexual harassment, compiles data for employment equity reports, and ensures the organization is complying with all aspects of employment equity laws. In addition, the employment equity specialist ensures that the organizational atmosphere is hospitable for women and people from minority groups. In some organizations, this person is responsible for leading employee training on topics related to employee diversity.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 383.3
  • Employment Specialist/Recruiter:
    These specialists oversee the recruiting, interviewing, testing, and selection of employees. In some organizations, they may travel extensively to university campuses to conduct interviews. They have the responsibility of designing a combination of tests, interviews, and other selection devices that have a proven ability to predict how a person will perform the job if hired. In addition, they must be knowledgeable about human rights and employment equity guidelines and legislation.
  • Human Resource Information System Specialist:
    These specialists ensure that the organization has smoothly functioning software to process all HR-related data. Those seeking a career in this area need a firm grounding in information systems as well as HR.
    Suggested Electives: CMPT 275.3
  • Industrial Relations Specialist/Manager:
    Industrial relations managers and their staff oversee collective agreements with labour unions and ensure that the agreements are implemented appropriately. When a collective bargaining agreement is opened for negotiation, industrial relations specialists ensure that management negotiators are well-prepared and have the necessary information available. Managers in this area must be thoroughly familiar with labour law and comfortable working with economic data.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 383.3, COMM 387.3, COMM 384.3, COMM 485.3, COMM 487.3
  • Job Analyst:
    The job analyst interviews job-holders and their supervisors to determine exactly what duties and responsibilities a particular position entails, and what training and experience are necessary to hold that position. The job analyst then writes a job description, which becomes the basis of employee selection, promotions, performance appraisal, and discipline procedures. The work of the job analyst might play a pivotal role in any legal proceedings arising from contentious HR decisions.
  • Mediator:
    In negotiations between unions and management, mediators act as neutral parties to resolve disputes over labour agreements and other industrial relations issues. Mediators are employed by provincial and federal labour relations boards, or occasionally they are employed by consulting firms who offer their services on a contractual basis.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 383.3, COMM 387.3, COMM 384.3
  • Negotiator/Advisor Within a Labour Union:
    Unions need specialists who engage in negotiations with employers regarding collective agreements. In some situations this person will directly negotiate with the employer, while in other instances he/she will act as an advisor to those who are negotiating on behalf of the union.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 383.3, COMM 387.3, COMM 384.3, COMM 487.3
  • Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Specialist:
    The responsibility of this specialist is to ensure that the workplace is safe. This person is expected to be an expert in all areas of workplace safety practices, in order to prevent accidents and investigate any accidents that do occur. Traditionally such specialists focused on accidents in factories and mines; however increasingly, there is a growing awareness that workplace safety includes ergonomics, keyboard-related muscle strain, poorly ventilated offices, workplace stress, and a wide array of other workplace issues.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 384.3
  • Outplacement Specialist:
    Such specialists advise an organization about how to layoff or terminate employees, and they also provide career counselling to those who have lost their jobs. Outplacement specialists almost always work for consulting firms, who provide their services to various employers on a contract basis.
  • P/HRM Generalist:
    In smaller organizations, the various functions described in this list may be performed by a single individual who is responsible for all aspects of Personnel/Human Resource Management (P/HRM).
    Suggested Electives: COMM 348.3, COMM 384.3, COMM 441.3
  • Professor:
    A professor works in a university and has the dual responsibilities of teaching students and conducting research. In addition, many professors have administrative responsibilities. This position requires a Masters degree followed by a PhD in the relevant specialized area.
  • Researcher Within a Labour Union:
    Unions need specialized support staff who conduct research regarding compensation, industry trends, economic data, and information about agreements negotiated by other unions.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 383.3, COMM 387.3, COMM 384.3
  • Training Specialist:
    A training specialist has responsibility over the various training and development programs offered to employees. In some instances, the training specialist will conduct the training personally, as in the case of new employee orientation, but more frequently this person will be responsible for selecting experienced trainers from outside the organization to present courses on a contractual basis. The training specialist then evaluates the work of those outside experts to ensure that the training met the appropriate objectives. As well, many training specialists work for independent consulting firms.
    Suggested Electives: COMM 385.3
  • Organizational Development Specialist:
    An organizational development specialist will either work as an internal or external consultant to the organization. The specialist often has a background in training. Depending on the experience of the specialist, tasks range from spearheading interventions to improve organizational culture to facilitating the resolution of conflict in a department. The skill set will include presentation, networking, facilitation and strong interpersonal skills. A graduate degree is desirable.

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Professional Designations

Certified Human Resource Professional:
http://www.chrp.ca/en/
The CHRP designation is awarded as a statement to the Human Resources community that the recipient is a Human Resources professional and that they will abide by the code of ethics required in a Human Resources position.

Career Related Links

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