Associate degree in personnel management: Opening doors to career diversity

Earning your associate degree in personnel management provides entry level training for a career in human resources. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects overall job growth within human resources to increase by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than average job growth rates. The field of human resources provides qualified candidates with a wide variety of potential employers and positions. Although many jobs in personnel and human resources require a bachelor's or graduate degree, it's possible to get started with an associate degree in personnel administration or management.

If you're considering a career transition or otherwise need to balance work and family with your career, earning an online associate degree in personnel management can provide the scheduling flexibility you need. The demand for personnel management professionals may mean that your employer will pay for all or part of your education in this important career field.

Associate degree in personnel administration: What you'll study

Associate degree programs typically offer a variety of "core" courses required for graduation in all disciplines in addition to courses particular to business management and personnel/human resources. Subjects may include the humanities, business, math, physical, natural and social sciences, business technology, data administration, and personnel administration and policy.

Personnel management: Diversity is the name of the game

Personnel jobs are many and varied, and may be specialized according to the nature of an organization, its job descriptions, and labor relations needs. Here are the top paying fields in personnel management in 2008. These positions typically require bachelor's degrees, but are representative of employment potential in personnel administration:

• Training and development specialists, $52,120 median
• Employment, recruitment and placement specialists, $46,200 median
• Compensation, benefits, job analysis specialists, $55,620 median
• HR managers, all other $63,100

Although human resources jobs don't require formal internships, such opportunities may be offered to employees within organizations seeking new employees in personnel management. Here are examples of personnel management jobs you can qualify for with a personnel management degree:

• Human resources generalists: HR generalists typically work in smaller organizations that don't have large human resources departments. They may perform recruiting, hiring, personnel administration and human resources management functions.
• Employment and placement managers; These positions supervise recruitment, hiring and separation of employees and oversee specialists responsible for these areas of personnel management.
• Employment interviewers: Responsible for interviewing candidates for employment, while employment relations representatives may work for government agencies and academic institutions to match candidates with appropriate employers. Strong verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills are important for these positions.
• Compensation, benefits and job analysts: Within their specific category, these specialists research and develop compensation and benefits policies and job descriptions. These positions require research and analytical skills.
• Training and development managers and specialists: Training and employee development are increasingly viewed as an important aspect of promoting and improving organizational success, and are among the most desired personnel administration jobs.

Candidates for personnel administration jobs can gain a competitive edge by earning professional certifications from professional organizations and becoming proficient in technology used in personnel management and human resources jobs. Contact schools to confer with admissions officers and financial aid counselors. Federal financial aid programs are available for eligible students enrolled in accredited schools.

If you think you could do a good job of helping employees do well at their jobs, you owe it to yourself to explore the possibilities available to you with an associate degree in personnel management.

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