How To Become an HR Director

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A human resource director is an individual who works within the confines of an organization to ensure that the needs of every employee are satisfactorily met.

Usually, the duty of an HR director involves the areas of compensation, benefits, meticulously handling employee records, coordinating hiring processes, how employees relate to each other and being a responsible middle person between employees and senior management.

HR directors work across all sectors to ensure the satisfaction of employees.

And these sectors cuts across the service industry, government, media, communications, health, human services, transportation, universities, investment firms, public safety, healthcare administration, nonprofits, and others.

This article will walk you through a step-by-step procedure for becoming a Human Resource Director.

Still, before then, it’s important you know some important skills that a human resource director should possess.

SEE ALSO: How to Become a DHS Agent?

Table of Contents

Important Skills Expected of an HR Director

To become an HR director, you must possess the following skills, as they are needed to effectively serve in that capacity:

Multi-tasking
Mathematics
Empathy
Compassion
Sympathy
Clear communication
Deep understanding of health insurance company policy
Recruitment strategy
Personnel management
Discretion
Privacy
How to let go of an employee.

Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming a Human Resource Director.

Becoming an HR director isn’t an easy journey as it could be so challenging, but it’s attainable. In the next few points, I will show you how.

1. Graduate From High School With Good Grade

One way to prepare to be an HR director is by finishing up your high school. Once you are done with your high school, It is advised that you study a variety of business, economics, psychology, mathematics, speech, technical communications, and professional communications courses.

Before enrolling in a university degree program, it is also recommended that you attend community college or advanced placement (AP) classes to gain college credits in related disciplines.

This will place you on a better chance of becoming an HR director.

2. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree

To become a human resource director, you need to obtain a university degree related to the field.

You need to obtain a degree in human resource management or business and focus on:

Marketing
Operations
Communications
Journalism
Psychology
Legal Studies
Sociology.

The core curriculum in human resources emphasizes:

Human resource theory
Psychology
Operations
Management
Mathematics
Speech
Technical Communications
Labor Management
Employment Law
Employee Development
Accounting
Statistics
Information Technology
Professional Technical Communications.

And they’re all in the business or management department of the institution.

3. Participate in an internship (One Year or Less)

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, several human resources professionals regard their internship experience as crucial to their career success.

So, to become an HR director, you must take part in internship programs while you are still in school.

This is very much possible, especially during the periods when ASUU embark on their national strikes as a Nigerian students.

4. Gain HR Work Experience (At Least Two Years)

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field, it is good to enter the workforce to gain experience.

5. Earn a Master’s Degree and possibly a Doctorate Degree in Human Resources

Earning a Master’s and Doctorate in human resources could also be an added advantage that boosts your chance of becoming an HR director.

6. Think about HR Certification

A third-party agency analyzes an applicant’s knowledge and experience in human resources certification.

Those that meet industry standards are eligible for certification. This certification can also make you stand out for the HR director position.

7. Apply for the position of HR director.

Even though you can be promoted to the HR director position, you must take advantage of your qualifications and apply directly for the position.

This might help hasten and achieve your dreams of being an HR director.

Conclusion

Your journey to being an HR director is a possibility, even though it will require hard work and sacrifice to get there.

As you take what you’ve learned from this article into consideration, be sure that you can achieve that dream of being an HR director.