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For many Americans, Black Friday is a staple of their Thanksgiving tradition. Retailers count on these shoppers enough to open on Thanksgiving Day, a move that provides more chances for shoppers to find bargains. Even so, Black Friday remains one of the biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers brave crowds and long lines to take advantage of deals — which can lead to considerable profits for businesses.

The most successful stores have established strategies for marketing deep discounts to consumers. When these strategies are effective, stores can stay top-of-mind with consumers on Black Friday and rise to the top of their shopping list.

Why You Should Offer Black Friday Deals

Local and small retailers may have reservations about offering Black Friday deals. Business owners may wait to provide deals on Small Business Saturday, leaving Thanksgiving weekend for big-box retailers with mass inventory and room to slash prices. But Black Friday gives local stores opportunities to:

• Clean up their inventory: As Black Friday approaches, small businesses can move overstocked or seasonal items to point-of-sale displays — and reduce prices to ensure they sell. This process helps retailers clear slow-moving items to make room for in-demand products that consumers will seek on Black Friday.
• Score first-time customers: People who hunt for deals may go out of their way to shop at stores that they’d otherwise pass up. Black Friday offers chances for stores to attract these first-time customers and create a shopping experience that gives them reasons to become repeat customers.
• Get a revenue boost: Stores shouldn’t assume they must price inventory at a loss to attract customers. Most stores — big and small — move a considerable number of products on Black Friday and the surrounding shopping days, providing a window for generating revenue.
  

Understanding How Black Friday Shoppers Think

Black Friday presents a unique shopping experience. Many consumers plan for crowds, scout for deals, and revel in scoring hard-to-find products. Retailers who understand how these shoppers think can create unique shopping experiences that boost their chances of driving revenue. Here are thoughts that consumer experts have shared about the thought processes that can occur on Black Friday. 

• Crowds create enjoyable shopping experiences: Typically, shoppers try to avoid crowds. But a study led by Sang-Eun Byun of the University of South Carolina found that competition for products can spark excitement and positive feelings. This finding may explain what draws many shoppers to stores on Black Friday.
• Preparation adds to the excitement: Savvy shoppers map out game plans to make the most of their time and money before hitting the stores. But plans that go awry can lead to what Sharron Lennon, a professor at Indiana University Bloomington, calls “consumer misbehavior.” This occurs when shoppers engage in mischief after missing out on bargains.
• Black Friday shopping is habit-forming: Black Friday shopping is now a tradition for many Americans. Winthrop University professors Jane Boyd Thomas and Cara Peters say that dedicated shoppers plan their Black Friday expeditions as thoroughly as they plan holiday meals and other traditions. But the rise of Cyber Monday may be changing those habits.
  

Online Marketing Raises the Stakes for Holiday Shoppers

Cyber Monday has produced deals on top of what stores offer on Black Friday. Stores of all sizes offer bargains on Cyber Monday, not just big-box stores and Amazon. This extended shopping window provides small businesses with opportunities to sell more products online and grow revenues during the holiday season.

• Manage your online presence: During the lead up to Cyber Monday, businesses should ready their websites to attract more traffic. To begin, they should develop engaging content and create product pages that entice people to visit online stores. It’s also important for businesses to test their website functionality to ensure they provide seamless digital shopping experiences.
• Go mobile: A Pew Research Center study found that 81% of Americans own a smartphone — and many of them likely use their devices to shop online. Therefore, businesses should ensure their websites are responsive and navigable on all devices. For the best results, retailers can develop mobile apps for easy checkout.
• Dip into e-commerce sales: Small businesses can add products to Amazon and eBay to reach an international audience. This third-party approach is especially beneficial for small retailers that don’t have the capacity to build complex commerce systems.
  

Of course, most retailers compete for customers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. As a result, businesses must develop effective marketing strategies to avoid losing shoppers to the competition.

To learn how to thrive in business, consider the online bachelor’s degree in marketing from Concordia University, St. Paul. Through a comprehensive curriculum, you will explore core marketing strategies and tools to help your business stand out during busy holiday seasons and beyond. Designed for busy adults, this online program gives you the flexibility to complete your studies where and when it works best for you.

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It is no secret that earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the best ways to get ahead in today’s competitive business world. Graduates benefit from a return on investment, both in terms of career advancement and salary increase.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has reported that “more than half of employers (57%) [planned] to increase starting base salaries” for new hires with an MBA. Add increased knowledge and skill development in core business competencies, and it is clear that pursuing an MBA is a smart choice for many students.

Employers recognize the value of the MBA due to its versatility as well. This is why the MBA was named one of Fortune’s Best Graduate Degrees for Jobs. In fact, Fortune notes that MBA graduates report high job satisfaction and relatively low stress levels.

Value of the MBA

Among the many benefits of earning an MBA, one of the most significant is gaining transferable skills. The hard and soft skills gained through MBA coursework are relevant to a wide range of business careers, from accounting and finance to marketing and management. Beyond the business world, MBA graduates find work in fields like technology, health care, government, and nonprofits, according to U.S. News & World Report.

MBA holders can expect higher employment rates and increased job security because graduate business degrees have become a powerful differentiator in the job market. The same article points out that, according to the GMAC, 96 percent of employers “agreed that hiring business school graduates creates value for their companies.”

In its annual employer survey, the GMAC also found that 75 percent of surveyed employers expected to hire MBA graduates in 2016. As U.S. News & World Report puts it, they “like hiring MBAs for their ability to handle complex situations, be nimble and adapt in the face of a rapidly changing global environment.” Recruiters seek out candidates with strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills, as well as analytical thinking and collaboration, Bloomberg says.

Many MBA programs offer degree specializations. Students can concentrate on key skill areas that directly apply to their chosen career path. A popular choice for many is health care management due to the rapid growth of the health care industry in recent years.

Finally, MBA programs allow students to network with individuals from diverse professional backgrounds. This is particularly valuable in today’s global economy. Students are exposed to “different business practices, cultures, and points of view,” along with alumni networks that are useful during the job search, U.S. News & World Report says.

Combined, these factors make the MBA one of the most relevant degree programs for graduate students.

Why Earn an MBA?

There are many reasons individuals choose to continue their education with an MBA. Pursuing an advanced business degree can help professionals meet their career goals and expand their knowledge. However, there are other motivating factors for pursuing the MBA credential. The following are just a few:

Career Change

According to industry expert Stacy Blackman, “By some estimates, at least two-thirds of MBA applicants look to business school as a surefire way to launch their career in a new direction.” For those who have decided to pursue a new career path, earning an MBA can help hone skills that can be directly applied in the workplace.

Job Requirements

Some organizations require a graduate degree for all upper management positions. While getting hired in an entry-level role with a bachelor’s degree is by no means impossible, professionals are more likely to be chosen for senior positions if they have the added credential of an MBA. Many companies expect entry-level hires to continue their education after a few years of work as well.

Career Advancement

For those looking to move up the corporate ladder, continuing education is key. Earning an MBA is an ideal way to become more versatile and learn the broad range of skill sets required in high-level positions. Because coursework often includes topics ranging from leadership, communication, economics, operations, and more, MBA programs prepare students for the next stage in their careers.

Of course, the reasons to earn an MBA vary depending on each individual’s career goals and priorities. “When you map out your medium- and long-term professional goals, think about what gaps you have and whether an MBA could be that transformational experience that changes your career trajectory forever,” Blackman says.

Once you determine that an MBA is right for you, it is important to consider which type of MBA best aligns with your desired business career. Just as the business world is varied and complex, there are many degree options available for students who know what they are looking for in their business education.

In-Demand MBAs

Two of the most useful types of MBAs are a general, business-focused MBA and a specialized MBA in health care management. Both of these degrees provide students with in-demand expertise and skill sets that are valuable in today’s fast-paced and innovative marketplace. The general MBA is traditionally valuable among employers for reasons discussed above, but MBAs in health care management are a relatively new option that arose from a need for trained professionals who can address the business of health care. Learn more about each of these degree options below.

General MBA

According to the Harvard Business Review, earning an MBA “sends a signal to the marketplace.” It arms students with skills related to a wide variety of fields: Organizational leadership, marketing, communications, economics, human resources, finance, operations, and general management roles are some of the most applicable.

Students are able to apply what they learn directly to the workplace and gain knowledge and competencies that are highly useful to employers. This is perhaps why, as Fortune reported in 2014, the MBA became the most popular postgraduate degree in the United States.

While the specific types of coursework you will complete depends on the program you choose, general MBA coursework is designed to provide advanced training in core business processes. Though many students have completed similar courses as part of their undergraduate business degree, MBA programs teach concepts from a high-level perspective that emphasizes management and real-world application.

Once core coursework is completed, many MBA programs allow students to choose elective courses or specializations to focus their coursework in a specific area that is beneficial to their future career goals.

Health Care MBA

With the advent of health care technology and the rapid change taking place in the industry, skill sets related to health care management are in high demand. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment in health care occupations is expected to grow by about 1.9 million new jobs from 2018 to 2028 — more than most other occupations.

Harvard’s Richard M.J.Bohmer, M.D., points out that many of the most important competencies in the modern health care system focus on management and innovation. Earning an MBA focused on health care management gives graduates the knowledge to excel in this rapidly changing industry.

In most health care management MBA programs, students learn skills that prepare them for leadership careers in health care facilities, such as supervising operations for health care systems or a specific hospital. The curriculum explores the role of core business skills in the U.S. health care system.

Another important component of health care management MBA programs is studying the function of insurance companies and physicians in patient care delivery. Understanding the intersection of these elements is essential to the successful running of health care facilities. Generally, programs focus on a combination of typical MBA coursework and topics specifically related to health care. Especially for students who studied business in their undergraduate education, health care MBA programs provide an ideal opportunity to develop stronger health care credentials to transition into the field.

For students interested in management positions in the health care field or further graduate study related to health care management, earning a specialized MBA is an ideal way to prepare for success.

Careers for MBA Graduates

The following career paths are particularly well-suited to MBA graduates. They require the skill sets and competencies that are learned as part of MBA degree coursework.

Leadership Careers in Business

According to the BLS, employment in business and financial occupations is expected to grow 7 percent through 2028, a rate that is faster than the national average. The median annual wage for management occupations is $104,240.

This data makes the following careers some of the most financially rewarding and in-demand for MBA graduates. It is important to note that all salary and growth information is dependent on variables like experience, location, and setting.

Chief Financial Officer

As executives, chief financial officers (CFOs) are responsible for managing the financial operations of a company. CFOs lead finance teams and ensure that they meet the organization’s requirements as well as complying with all laws and regulations. CFOs may be responsible for putting together budgets.

The average salary for these professionals is $133,117, according to PayScale, and the BLS reports a 6 percent growth rate for top executives.

Business Development Manager

Business development managers ensure that employees receive adequate training for their positions, as well as overseeing skill development efforts on behalf of the company. They may create educational materials and teach relevant skills so that managers can pass on information to their direct reports.

The average salary for business development managers, also known as training and development managers, is $111,340. Professionals in this role can expect to see 8 percent growth through 2028, the BLS says.

Marketing Director

Marketing directors “work with department heads or other staff to discuss topics such as budgets and contracts, marketing plans, and the selection of advertising media,” along with maintaining positive client relationships, according to the BLS. They earn a median annual salary of $132,620. In terms of growth, the BLS reports that advertising, promotions, and marketing management roles will grow 8 percent through 2028.

Financial Controller

Also known as comptrollers, financial controllers manage the various financial departments of a company, including accounting, audits, and more. They create reports that analyze an organization’s financial health and performance, along with maintaining good standing with regulatory agencies.

PayScale reports that financial controllers earn $83,062 per year. While the BLS doesn’t offer outlook information specific for controllers, it notes that a similar occupation, financial managers, can expect 16 percent growth through 2028.

Sales Director

Sales directors are responsible for overseeing a company’s sales teams. They “set goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives,” the BLS says. Sales directors analyze sales statistics and develop plans to gain customers, in addition to setting quotas. According to the BLS, sales directors earn about $124,220 per year, and this field is expected to grow 5 percent through 2028.

IT Director

Also known as computer and information systems managers, IT directors “plan, coordinate, and direct computer-related activities in an organization,” according to the BLS. They are responsible for understanding the technology needs of a company and creating goals around the adoption of new computer systems. The average salary for IT directors is $142,530 per year, and this role is expected to grow much faster than the national average at 11 percent.

Leadership Careers in Health Care Management

The BLS reports that employment in health care occupations is expected to grow 14 percent through 2028. This rate is much faster than the national average for all occupations. Such impressive growth is due to an aging population and federal health insurance reform, among other factors. As people have increased access to health care services, demand for trained leaders in the field is increasing.

The median annual salary for medical and health services managers, the category BLS considers relevant to most management-level health care careers, is $99,730. The job outlook for these careers is strong, with a reported growth rate of 18 percent through 2028. High demand and impressive salaries make earning a health care management MBA a smart move for students. The following careers provide the highest earning potential and job growth for qualified candidates.

Hospital Administrator

Hospital administrators are responsible for overseeing the operations of hospitals. This can include working with the press and community, coordinating various departments to meet hospital-wide goals, supervising staff, and more. Hospital administrators can also carry out human resources duties, such as hiring. According to PayScale, hospital administrators earn an average of $86,377 per year.

Pharmaceutical Project Manager

Project managers in the pharmaceuticals industry are in charge of “overseeing new products and/or new iterations of existing products within their company,” PayScale says. They create reports and manage timelines for various product releases, working closely with clients to ensure that their needs are met.

The average annual salary for pharmaceutical project managers is $92,772. Though there is no specific listing for this role, the BLS reports that similar management occupations will see a growth rate of 7 percent through 2028.

Medical Practice Manager

Medical practice managers ensure the successful functioning of medical facilities such as private physician offices, hospitals, clinics, and more. They schedule patient appointments, make sure records are up to date, and manage other office staff. The average salary for medical practice managers is $60,517.

Health Informatics Manager

These professionals are responsible for all the coding and medical records personnel within a medical facility. Health informatics managers oversee compliance, ensuring that the facility follows all laws and regulations. They “should be capable of implementing new technologies to increase productivity and workflow,” PayScale says. The average salary for health information managers is $71,162.

Health Care Consultant

Health care consultants usually work for large health care organizations and work with clients to identify areas for improvement and possible solutions to existing problems. This might include “observing and talking with employees and managers, writing reports, and conducting meetings with clients,” PayScale says.

Other responsibilities include creating effective systems and procedures and conducting evaluations. According to PayScale, the average salary for health care consultants is $77,362. A similar BLS category, management analysts, is expected to grow 14 percent through 2028.

MBA Skill Sets

For all the careers featured in this guide, there are certain skill sets that make candidates stand out from the competition. While many of those skills are directly tied to the business world, others are “soft” skills that help professionals succeed. Through a combination of core business coursework and the skills learned along the way, MBA programs prepare graduates for ongoing career success.

Employers and recruiters view the following skills as the most valuable and sought-after in potential hires. According to Inside Higher Ed, “Employers are looking for leaders who can work as part of a team and communicate effectively.” The skills below reflect both the needs of employers and key components of MBA coursework.

Interpersonal Communication

According to a GMAT survey of employers, communication skills are among the most in-demand for new hires. “Communications, teamwork, and interpersonal skills are critical—everything we do involves working with other people,” one employer said. Because MBA programs require students to work with other professionals to complete coursework, they help foster the communication skills you need for success.

Leadership

Successful managers and others in advanced positions need to be able to lead their employees while motivating them to perform at a high level. “A good leader will inspire those who work with them and around them, make them feel valued, and give the whole undertaking a sense of direction,” Top MBA says. MBA coursework helps give students the confidence and experience to lead.

Decision-Making

Being able to think strategically and make tough decisions is one of the core skills business leaders need. A main benefit of earning an MBA is that it prepares you to “move from a functional role to a ‘big picture’ one,” Top MBA says. Completing the advanced coursework required in MBA programs prepares students to be forward-thinking and innovative.

Project Management

Project management skills enable business professionals to manage a team and execute projects effectively. Being able to navigate complex projects is a cornerstone of leadership and can make the difference between failure and success. Coursework in strategic management and related topics provides students with these skills and more.

Technology Management

Because technology is such a driving force in the business world, many leadership positions are only attainable with an MBA. Understanding the connection between business and technology is one of the best ways to advance in your career.

Finance and Economics

Among the most important “hard skills” that MBA programs teach are finance and economics. A global understanding of core economic topics and financial approaches shows employers that you are ready for the challenges of modern industries.

Information Analytics

This skill set is quickly emerging as a key component of success for many business professionals. Information analytics can increase productivity and drive businesses, helping them to stay competitive. Information analytics use “large amounts of data to uncover hidden patterns, correlations, and other insights,” according to SAS. Utilizing this skill set helps businesses understand consumer behavior, so MBA graduates who have a grasp of these approaches provide in-demand competencies to employers.

Data Analytics (Health Care Informatics)

Data analytics in a health care setting describes “the interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption, and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare services delivery, management, and planning,” according to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

Understanding these systems gives professionals an advantage as technology plays a more and more central role in health care delivery. MBA programs that teach this skill set prepare students for some of the most in-demand careers in the country, like those featured above.

Skills like these help MBA graduates stand out among the competition and leverage their degree for ongoing career success. While specific coursework varies by program, the hard and soft skills covered here can typically be learned through advanced business coursework.

About Concordia University, St. Paul

Concordia University, St. Paul is a private, regionally accredited university. It was founded in 1893 as a Christian liberal arts university dedicated to providing students with skills to prepare them for successful careers. The faculty and staff at Concordia have remained focused on that mission by providing both online and on-campus degree programs.

Master of Business Administration

Concordia’s online MBA program uses cross-curriculum education activities to help students become experts in their chosen industry. The knowledge and practical experience gained give students the confidence they need to succeed in their professional setting. The program explores business trends and how they affect the current business environment.

MBA in Health Care Management

The online MBA in Health Care Management gives students the knowledge and skills to make an impact in the modern health care industry. Students learn about the intersection of business and health care through coursework that combines traditional MBA topics such as accounting and finance with specialized health care coursework in bioethics, health care informatics, quality practices, and more.

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Social media is a valuable business tool for reaching new customers, increasing sales, and building brand awareness. By developing practical social media strategies, companies can improve their bottom line while creating a community of engaged consumers. Here are the top benefits of social media for business, along with methods for making tactics successful.

Sustained Growth of Social Media Engagement

Social media engagement is continuing to grow, as an estimate shows that more than 3 billion people will use platforms each month in 2021. In 2017, Facebook alone had 2 billion monthly users. These statistics illustrate the benefits of social media for business — and provide motivation for companies to bring Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube into their media strategy.

By maintaining an active presence on popular social media sites, your business can enhance consumer relations and foster product research to help people make informed purchasing decisions. These platforms also provide a seamless way to monitor customer feedback and conversations. As a result, you can leverage social engagement to keep customers informed, accelerate sales, and boost profits.

Tips for Using Social Media for Business

Follow these tips to use social media to reach motivated shoppers, build a loyal following, and illustrate your brand’s story.

Deploy Targeted Advertising

One of the key benefits of social media for businesses is the ability funnel consumers to e-commerce stores. Most social platforms offer options for creating targeted ads, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Be sure to develop ad campaigns to provide people with the right content and offer. This way, social media users will not only discover your page, but they may become your customers.

To build a successful targeted advertising campaign on social media, you must determine which platform will perform the best for you organically. The more followers you have on a platform, the better chance you will have of achieving organic engagement. For example, if you have a much larger following on Instagram than on Twitter, creating an Instagram campaign will likely produce better results.

Also, consider the demographics of social media users to gauge whether they will become your customers. If your brand sells quilting supplies, conduct consumer research to find the best audience for your products. This process could show that you can generate more sales by marketing on Pinterest than other social platforms.

Engage With Your Audience

Many social media users would rather watch a short video than read a lengthy post. So, it’s essential to incorporate video content across your social media pages. Content ideas include offering a behind-the-scenes look at how you make your products and a live feed of your business at a trade show. While simple, these activities can attract people to your accounts and help you gain followers.

Before you develop videos, consider the types of content that your ideal consumers will find engaging. All content should also fit within your brand identity, using humor or emotion in ways that match the image you want to project. When executed well, this content can foster social conversations that result in a spike in likes, retweets, and followers.

Additionally, social media should be, in fact, social. After all, one of the central benefits of social media for business is having the opportunity to interact with customers directly. As a social media marketer, you should respond to user comments and questions. Creating this relationship with your followers can increase brand loyalty, trust, and awareness, not to mention sales.

Tell Your Brand Story

Audiences value compelling storytelling. By telling your brand story on social media, your business can stand out among the competition. It’s important to humanize your story, as people would rather connect with other people instead of companies, according to the social engagement company Post Planner. That’s why stories should center on the people behind your brand. But be sure this content reflects your mission and values.

You can also craft brief narratives in your social media updates. By telling micro-stories that show how a problem is resolved, your audience may relate to the content on a deeper level, which could generate more likes, comments, and shares. As more people engage with the content, it can appear in more feeds and expand your brand awareness even further.

Work With Influencers

A Tomoson survey found that influencer marketing is the fastest-growing channel for gaining customers. That same survey found that 22% of marketers consider influencer marketing to be the most cost-effective method of customer acquisition.

As the role of influencers in marketing has increased, more companies have begun collaborating with them. If your brand works with an influencer who has a large following within your niche, you could expand your consumer reach tremendously. As shown by a CivicScience study, 34% of Instagram users purchased a product based on the recommendation of an influencer or blogger. This buying behavior may stem from a willingness of influencers to engage with their social media followers.

Learn How to Use Social Media for Business

As these strategies show, there are many benefits of social media for businesses. Using social media strategically is one of the most cost-effective ways to build brand awareness and boost sales. But social media is one of many channels that marketers leverage. Now, you can gain the skills and knowledge to connect with customers when you earn an online B.S. in Marketing.

At Concordia University, St. Paul, you will gain marketing expertise in social media and more engaging channels. The program defines core business principles, along with marketing tools and best practices. You will experience a convenient online format that allows you to complete coursework when and where works best for you.

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Human Resources (HR) is an in-demand, potentially lucrative, and dynamic field that offers many positions, responsibilities, and opportunities to truly impact people’s lives.

HR Career Path & Job Responsibilities

The size and structure of a company can create several different job titles and a wide range of responsibilities for HR positions. Here are some of the most common HR careers, using real-time salary information from PayScale at the time of publication.

What is Human Resources?

Human resources (HR) is a function in organizations designed to maximize employee performance in relation to the employer’s strategic objectives. The field is a strategic and coherent approach to managing an organization’s most valued assets—the people who work there.

According to the European Journal of Business and Management, the roots of HR can be traced to prehistoric times, when consistent methods for selecting tribal leaders involved safety and health considerations. From 2000 to 1500 B.C., the Chinese used employee screening techniques, and the Greeks used an apprentice system to select and train individuals for jobs.

The beginnings of modern HR developed in the 1700s when the Industrial Revolution took place. Large factories replaced cottage industries, creating an influx of immigrant workers. That helped create sizable workforce populations that contributed to themes like personnel functions for keeping worker records and the rise of middle-level supervisors. Power-driven equipment and improved production systems allowed products to be manufactured more cheaply than before, resulting in monotonous, unhealthy, and hazardous jobs. A clear division between management and the working class led to trade unions that fought for workers’ rights.

In the early 1900s, governments in the United States and the United Kingdom became involved in work systems. They passed laws regulating work for women and children, establishing minimum wages for male labor, and protecting workers from hazardous working conditions. Management theorists began examining the nature of work and work systems, drawing on current psychological and sociological research.

Those theories and research led to today’s HR practices. From the mid-1900s to the present day, several factors and themes emerged—such as collective bargaining and employment laws, computerization, employee benefits, automation, and globalization—forming the current state of HR.

Why is Human Resources a Good Career Path?

HR presents a compelling case as a top career path choice. HR entry-level jobs typically start at $40,000 to $50,000, with high-level titles nearing and exceeding the six-digit mark. The job outlook is attractive, as well. Despite the integration of technology that can automate some low-level HR functions, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of HR specialists is projected to grow 10% through 2028, and HR managers by 9% over the same period.

HR truly shines as a career path when considering its intangibles; HR professionals have a tangible impact on workers. These professionals meet fundamental needs, from finding top talent and training new hires to solving organizational issues. A well- or poorly-run HR department can make or break a company.

The “human” part of HR is not to be underestimated. HR workers interact with an organization’s employees to help them sort out issues with managers, receive benefits for a new child, and progress their careers so they can experience occupational growth and better provide for their families. Whether entry-level or advanced, plenty of HR positions involve these sorts of scenarios, and no two days are the same.

It’s also important to note the sheer variety of positions in this field, as the next section will cover. There are general HR roles, titles involving specialization (benefits or training), and managerial- and executive-level jobs. HR is one field that includes several types of professionals with different skills and job descriptions.

Why is HR such a great career choice? The statistics and research demonstrate why companies absolutely need a strong HR department with skilled, caring professionals.

According to Gallup, only 20% of employees worldwide are engaged in their jobs. Another survey found that 32% of workers ages 18 to 35 said they could see themselves leaving their position within a year. One way to prevent employee turnover is by hiring the right people. The Harvard Business Review estimated that as much as 80% of turnover is due to bad hiring decisions.

The results of ineffective hiring are costly. Research from the Society for Human Resource Management suggests that direct replacement costs can reach 50 to 60% of an employee’s annual salary, with total costs ranging from 90 to 200 percent of the annual wage. Arguably, the costs can add up even more, as high turnover rates can impact overall employee morale and productivity. On the other hand, happiness at work can lead to a 13% spike in productivity, according to research from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. Companies that invest in employee support and satisfaction can enhance happiness; Google’s employee satisfaction rates rose 37% as a result of those initiatives.

Skilled HR professionals are needed to reverse the alarming trends surrounding employee engagement and turnover.

Start or Enhance Your HR Career

Concordia, St. Paul’s online Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management and online Master of Arts in Human Resource Management can help you achieve your goals in this desirable career field. Enjoy small class sizes with a personal learning environment geared toward your success, where you’ll learn from knowledgeable faculty who have industry experience. Get started with CSP today.