Is anyone experienced in Human Resources, or knows anything about it?

My uncle works in human resources for a UC (but I think he deals mostly with the tech aspects of it). His job consists of setting up the websites where people can find information about applying for a job. He makes sure that the correct information and deadlines are listed and he posts/removes positions that have been newly listed/filled.

Depends on the size of the company. HR can encompass hiring, training, payroll, benefits, employment law compliance, continuing education, succession planning, disaster planning, employee communications, employment policy. Those are really broad categories, and at large companies, there are lots of roles underneath those categories.

I’ve worked in HR and AlfredPrufrock is right on. It’s a pretty big category. It’s also a really good place to start if you want to learn all the ins and outs of an organization.

Pros: Interesting work with a lot of opportunity for career development, as well as exposure to all of the other roles in the organization, and what they do. There are usually good opportunities for training and development. Decent pay. You’re also one of the first to know when good jobs are opening, or are if there are organizational changes coming.The skills you learn in HR are easily applicable to many other industries, which makes it easier to move around.

Cons: Drama and more politics than you could ever imagine. You could also get stuck there for awhile if you don’t really know what you want to do. Given the economy though, that may not be such a bad thing,

Working as a Team Manager, the HR/people management is both the best and the worst aspect of my job:
Best: Assisting/facilitating employee development and seeing them succeed and progress.
Worst: Disciplinary issues and employment termination.

I also worked in HR and Alfreda hit the nail on the head. Keeping in mind that the volume and distribution of responsibilities will all depend on the type & size of the company. I enjoyed HR, it was never boring; though often it was frustrating.

In addition to the tasks on Alfreda’s list there are a few other things one might get involved in: compensation, organizational development, organizational change, and labor relations. If you’re interested in the field, there are a number of institutions where you can get an advanced degree in it.

One big con ia that in far too many organizations, they shipped all the incompetent people to personnel. So HR departments can have a bad reputation. On the flip side of that, if you’r good, you can show how a good HR department really has a positive impact on the organization’s bottom line.

I think it’s an excellent place to go if you are interested in improving the way an organization works. You can help improve employment policies (many organizations act as if this is still the 19th century). You can help plan for a changing workforce (Baby Boomers giving way to Gen X, Gen Y, and even younger folks) which has significantly different expectations out of work compared to each other.

HR can also be involved in community relations, developing programs to hire local people, and make sure they have a good career path within the organization. This can involve the use of research, and statistical expertise. Having some organizing experience can be good in these kinds of jobs. Hmmm. There are a lot of former teachers who go into HR. I guess if you can handle kids, and get them focused and on task, you’ll be able to do it with adults, too. Unless, of course, the union situation sucks.