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The secret to a rewarding career in the quickly growing field of human resources is to seek the proper training with a DEC in Human Resources. It is a profession that demands integrity, tact and many types of communication skills. As its role in an organization continues to transition towards encompassing strategic requirements, business management and finance skills are becoming increasingly important. Acquiring the necessary talent recruitment, performance management, negotiation, training and organizational behavior capabilities will open doors to diverse career possibilities within human resources. The role of an HR professional will vary depending on the size and type of organization, with work in smaller companies covering a varied set of responsibilities. Most get their start in the industry by working as an HR Administrator, gaining an appreciation of how HR functions within an overall organization. Responsibilities increase as an HR Assistant, with a larger role in the recruitment and training process. Human Resources Management careers in larger organizations generally require specialization. Recruiting and placement managers search for promising job candidates by interviewing and testing applicants. Some make the final decisions. Jobs may be within HR departments of organizations or talent recruitment agencies with positions as recruiter, headhunter, test administrator or employment manager. Development and training specialists analyze, coordinate and conduct training for all levels of an organization. They educate employees about necessary job skills for advancement and create training manuals, procedures and tools. Trainers provide knowledge, practical skills and motivation to staff and are increasingly involved in strategic direction. Jobs in this specialization include career planner, training specialist, technical recruitment specialist and orientation specialist. Compensation specialists develop and administer job evaluations, manage wage and salary systems, and design incentive plans and stock options. Benefit specialists provide information and counseling to employees about fringe benefits, while analyzing benefit plan cost and effectiveness. Related jobs include compensation analyst or manager, salary administrator, benefits administrator, group insurance manager, and employee assistance program manager. Employee relations specialists maintain healthy working environments by managing work-life programs and employee grievances. Labour relations specialists, mediators, and arbitrators may deal with union contracts, negotiate collective bargaining agreements and handle formal grievance procedures. Health and safety specialists develop related programs, conduct safety inspections, collect accident data, report safety records, prepare government reports and liaise with security agencies, as necessary. Related positions include safety specialist, security officer, industrial nurse and employee welfare manager. Other HR specialists may work for governmental agencies, executive search firms, consultants or outplacement agencies. Some may work as equal employment opportunity representatives, employee communications or assistance program managers. Human resource information system specialists are experts in computer programming, hardware or user skills, and are responsible for designing and delivering training programs. Occupational psychologists combine psychology and HR skills to increase job satisfaction and performance, while sometimes consulting for organizational change. A good human resources program will develop professional qualifications in many areas to encourage adaptation or specialization for long and rewarding HR careers.