What does a Human Resource Specialist do?
A human resources specialist is responsible for assisting in the recruitment and staffing process. Duties of a human resources specialist include updating the requirements and qualifications of a job post, handling employees' inquiries regarding compensation and benefits, maintaining employees' records, updating the status of new joiners, tracking performance reviews, and generating reports as business requires. A human resource specialist must be detail-oriented, as well as excellent in organizational and communication skills. Additionally, a human resource specialist must have a broad knowledge of the recruitment process and structure.
Human resource specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real human resource specialist resumes:
- Manage site KRONOS payroll, time and attendance, and vacation tracking for hourly.
- Manage new hire and current employee paperwork that includes status change forms, W-4s, I-9s, etc.
- Lead a compliance initiative to ensure successful transition to the e-Verify employment verification process.
- Integrate efforts on actions and programs where joint OPM functional effort are necessary to accomplish recruitment and enhance organizational effectiveness.
- Advise, coach, and counsele managers and Sr.
- Assist with affirmative action reporting, VETS100 and EEO-1 submission.
- Discuss diploma issues, criminal offenses of applicants and new incidents of current employees with Sr.
- Update ADP & ICIMS data records, keeping employee data current, resolving risk management issues, and meeting compliance deadlines.
- Develop and update LinkedIn and other recruiting websites.
- Research and develop social media recruiting techniques, specifically LinkedIn.
- Complete quarterly EEO reports and submit to corporate office, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Execute HRIS projects and relate technology initiatives resulting in more efficient self-service options for employees.
- Administer recruitment/selection process in compliance with EEO legislation, licensing requirements and agency s employment selection policies.
- Administer FMLA and short-term & long-term disability, including preparing documentation according to applicable laws and processes.
- Develop and present new hire orientation - PowerPoint presentation of benefits, company policies and standard company agreements.
Human resource specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Human Resource Specialists are proficient in Data Entry, Oversight, and Life Insurance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Communication skills, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Human Resource Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 10%
Worked with the HR Service Center to ensure data entry accuracy and completeness through independent review from daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly audit reports.
- Oversight, 9%
Recognized for improving the tracking system for personnel within the organization allowing oversight and knowledge of all instructors and administrative personnel.
- Life Insurance, 9%
Administered employee benefits including contract negotiation for medical and dental insurance; workers compensation; life insurance; retirement programs.
- Human Resources Policies, 8%
Facilitated ongoing performance evaluations of employees and management in order to ensure compliance of human resources policies and procedures.
- Customer Service, 7%
Provide verbal customer services responses to routine questions regarding employment eligibility verification; such as I-9 protocol and appropriate documentation.
- Timekeeping, 5%
Reviewed time worked and absences entered into the electronic timekeeping system Reconciled payroll expenses, account invoices and general ledgers.
Common skills that a human resource specialist uses to do their job include "data entry," "oversight," and "life insurance." You can find details on the most important human resource specialist responsibilities below.
Detail oriented. The most essential soft skill for a human resource specialist to carry out their responsibilities is detail oriented. This skill is important for the role because "specialists must pay attention to detail when evaluating applicants’ qualifications, doing background checks, maintaining records of an employee grievance, and ensuring that a workplace complies with labor standards." Additionally, a human resource specialist resume shows how their duties depend on detail oriented: "prepared detailed job analysis, vacancy announcements, certificates, crediting plans position descriptions. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform human resource specialist duties is communication skills. Human resource specialists responsibilities require that "listening and speaking skills are essential for human resources specialists." Human resource specialists also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "coordinated recruitment processes and communications related to open positions, filled positions, offer letters, and agreements. "
Interpersonal skills. human resource specialists are also known for interpersonal skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to human resource specialist responsibilities, because "specialists continually interact with others and must be able to converse and connect with people from varied backgrounds." A human resource specialist resume example shows how interpersonal skills is used in the workplace: "demonstrated collaboration, customer service and interpersonal skills along with the ability to effectively interact with a diverse group of individuals. "
The three companies that hire the most human resource specialists are:
- Army National Guard278 human resource specialists jobs
- Target238 human resource specialists jobs
- National Guard149 human resource specialists jobs
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Compare different human resource specialists
Human resource specialist vs. Employment coordinator
An employment coordinator is in charge of overseeing a company's employment procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They coordinate and work together with a company's human resource department to facilitate job opening and hiring procedures, developing strategies to optimize operations. It is also their duty to maintain records of all employees, conduct background checks, and participate in screening applicants. Furthermore, an employee coordinator typically represents a company at college or job fairs, aiming to find and reach out to potential employees.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a human resource specialist are more likely to require skills like "data entry," "oversight," "life insurance," and "human resources policies." On the other hand, a job as an employment coordinator requires skills like "hr," "payroll," "rehabilitation," and "social work." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Employment coordinators earn the highest salaries when working in the education industry, with an average yearly salary of $41,687. On the other hand, human resource specialists are paid more in the government industry with an average salary of $67,295.The education levels that employment coordinators earn slightly differ from human resource specialists. In particular, employment coordinators are 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a human resource specialist. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Human resource specialist vs. Recruiting coordinator
A recruiting coordinator's tasks include posting job vacancies, coordinating candidate travel, setting up schedules for interviews and handling last-minute scheduling changes, preparing offer letters, and conducting background checks on aspirants. The coordinator assists in the company's recruiting and talent acquisition procedures and strategies by hiring job-seekers to fill in vacant positions and to supply the company's workforce needs and goals. To be effective, he/she should have excellent communication skills and intimate knowledge about hiring best practices to be able to attract aspirants.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real human resource specialist resumes. While human resource specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "oversight," "life insurance," "human resources policies," and "timekeeping," recruiting coordinators use skills like "human resources," "phone screens," "interview process," and "onsite interviews."
Recruiting coordinators earn a lower average salary than human resource specialists. But recruiting coordinators earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $47,481. Additionally, human resource specialists earn the highest salaries in the government with average pay of $67,295 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Recruiting coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than human resource specialists. In fact, they're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Human Resource Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Tina Kowalski
Human resources manager, Kowalskis Markets
Human resource specialist vs. Staffing recruiter
A staffing recruiter is primarily in charge of handling the hiring operations of a company or organization. Typically their responsibilities revolve around advertising and publishing job openings on boards or online platforms, devising strategies to bring in more potential employees, and coordinating with department personnel to develop criteria or requirements for applicants. Aside from promoting employment opportunities, a staffing recruiter is also responsible for handling training and internship activities, producing progress reports and presentations, and implementing the company's policies and guidelines.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from human resource specialist resumes include skills like "oversight," "life insurance," "human resources policies," and "timekeeping," whereas a staffing recruiter is more likely to list skills in "business development," "human resources," "healthcare professionals," and "work ethic. "
Staffing recruiters make a very good living in the transportation industry with an average annual salary of $51,478. On the other hand, human resource specialists are paid the highest salary in the government industry, with average annual pay of $67,295.When it comes to education, staffing recruiters tend to earn similar degree levels compared to human resource specialists. In fact, they're 3.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Human resource specialist vs. Recruiter associate
A recruiter associate is responsible for supporting the human resources department of an organization on their staffing processes. Recruiter associates identify a department's staffing needs and coordinate with the hiring managers for their requirements and qualifications on a job opening. They update the company's online job boards, as well as posting on various social media platforms as instructed. A recruiter associate carefully filters the application, selects potential applicants, schedules interviews and assessment, and assists the successful candidate on the submission of documents during onboarding.
Types of human resource specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
