Overview of Human Resources
Human Resources (HR) is responsible for managing all matters related to an organization's employees, including: recruitment, training, compensation, payroll, and retention.
Get details on the salary and job security of these Human Resources careers:
Get Career Ready for Human Resources
Find out what it takes to land a career in Human Resources
Earn a Degree
To work in the field of Human Resources, it is recommended to have a strong background in human resource management, business, psychology, conflict resolution, or public administration. Majors, minors, and degree information can be found in the George Mason Catalog.
In addition to your degree, certifications can increase your employment options in the field of Human Resources. Here are a few:
Gain Experiences
Employers are expecting candidates to have at least six to twelve months of related experience to be competitive for full-time positions. Gain experience while you are a student at George Mason.
Here are the types of experiences most valued by Human Resources employers, and where to find them:
Internships/Jobs
- SHRM Jobs
- HR Certification Institute (HRCI) Jobs
- Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)
Leadership positions
- Orientation Leader
- Patriot Leader
- Peer Advisor
- Resident Advisor
- Recruitment Chair
- GMU Student Strengths Coach
Market Your Skills
It is important for you to be able to clearly communicate the knowledge, skills and experiences you have gained in and outside of the classroom.
Below are top ways to showcase your qualifications to Human Resources employers:
Resume
Interview
Interviewing well is key to standing out with employers in HR, talent development, and organizational leadership—and the best way to build confidence is through practice. Use InterviewPrep, George Mason’s free virtual mock interview tool, to explore industry-specific interview questions and sharpen your responses at your own pace.
- Register for an account at InterviewPrep using your George Mason email.
- Once you're logged in, use the following code to access a curated interview set for this career area: [Ds0NApNoj9Bv]
Career Ready
As every organization has a Human Resources function, career-ready George Mason grads have gone on to work for employers, such as:
| Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Capital One | Deloitte |
| Fairfax County Public Schools | Fairfax County Government | General Dynamics Information Technology |
| Inova Health System | Peraton | US Department of State |
Join the Human Resources community
Get involved with academic and professional societies to grow your network while you're still a student.