A Human Resources Specialist is the person who helps an organization find, hire, onboard and support its people, while keeping everything legal and fair. Day to day you will write job postings, screen applications, interview candidates, explain policies, keep employee records accurate in an HR system, and handle employee concerns. Most people in this job have a bachelor's degree (47%) and about a quarter have a master's, but employers mostly hire for skill: clear communication, good judgment, and solid knowledge of employment law. This roadmap teaches you why each skill matters, then gives you
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Every stage from beginner to expert, with lessons, practice drills, projects, interview questions and free resources. Free with a Rolearch account.
Stage 1 of 4 · about 8 weeks
Understand the employee lifecycle and the core laws: Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, at-will employment, I-9 and EEO basics. Learn HR vocabulary. Practice professional writing and active listening by drafting a job description and a short policy summary. Use the EEOC and U.S. Department of Labor sites as your free textbooks.
The employee lifecycle and HR vocabulary
Every HR task you will do, from posting a job to processing a resignation, sits somewhere on the employee lifecycle. If you know the map and the words, you can follow any conversation with managers, recruiters and lawyers.
Anti-discrimination law: Title VII, ADA, ADEA and EEO basics
Hiring and managing people fairly is the heart of the job, and these laws set the rules. One careless interview question can create legal risk, so you need to know them well.
Wage, leave and hiring-paperwork rules: FLSA, FMLA and I-9
Pay mistakes, leave denials and missing paperwork are among the most common and costly HR errors. These rules also show up in your daily work from the first week.
Professional writing and active listening for HR
Speaking, writing and active listening are the top skills in this role. Most of your output is words: postings, emails, policies and notes of sensitive conversations.
Then 3 more stages (about 88 weeks in all) with lessons, drills, projects, 10 interview questions with strong answers and free resources.