Which activities appear in relevant job advertisements and how often? What is required in the HR specialist jobs?
Job advertisements for HR specialists contain all the requirements that a company places on a new employee for the vacant job. People looking for a job will find all the important information about the vacancy in job advertisements, such as
- the activities
- the employer's requirements such as previous education, professional experience, personal skills and characteristics
- More information about the company
Many graduates go on to work in the following roles:
- HR Specialist (Male or Female)
- HR Generalist (Male or Female)
- HR Specialist
- HR Business Partner (Specializing in Corporate HR Management; some junior positions available)
- HR Consultant
- HR Advisor
- HR Officer
- HR Manager (depending on experience)
- Recruiter / Recruiting Specialist
- Talent Acquisition Specialist
- Payroll Specialist
- HR Administration Specialist
- People & Culture Specialist
- People Operations Specialist
- HR specialist (specializing in operational HR management)
- Recruiter (Specializing in Private Recruitment and Temporary Staffing)
- Recruiter (Specializing in Private Recruitment and Temporary Staffing)
- RAV Consultant (Specializing in Public Employment Services and Consulting)
- Learning & Development Specialist
Note: Larger companies, in particular, often use English job titles today, such as HR Business Partner, People & Culture, or Talent Acquisition.
An analysis of current job postings reveals roughly the following distribution:
| Support for Employees and Managers | approx. 25% of the time |
| Recruiting and Hiring | approx. 20% of the time |
| Personnel administration | approx. 20% of the time |
| Consulting on Labor Law and HR Issues | approx. 15% of the time |
| Personnel development and continuing education, further training | approx. 10% of the time |
| HR Projects and Digital Transformation | approx. 5% of the time |
| Reporting and Key Metrics | approx. 5% of the time |
Depending on the company, the focus shifts toward recruiting, payroll, or HR business partners.
Requirements mentioned in job advertisements for HR specialists
This information on HR specialist jobs varies depending on the employer. We have selected, viewed and summarized the information from relevant job advertisements on various job boards*:
| Professional requirements |
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| Specialist knowledge for HR specialist jobs |
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| Personal characteristics |
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| Other for HR Specialist jobs |
Today, HR professionals do far more than just traditional personnel administration. They support the entire employee lifecycle—from recruitment through employee support and development all the way to separation. At the same time, they support managers with personnel issues and contribute to HR projects, digitalization initiatives, and employer branding efforts. In international companies, proficiency in English and collaboration with global HR teams are often part of the day-to-day job. Problem-solving skills are particularly important—that is, the ability to make effective decisions when faced with problems, including time management skills |
Important to know: Knowledge of modern HR systems, in particular, is now required much more frequently. It is striking that interpersonal skills are almost always just as important as technical expertise in HR positions.
HR professionals work in the following areas, among others:
- HR Administration
- Recruiting
- Talent Acquisition
- Payroll
- Personnel development
- Employer branding
- HR Business Partner
- Compensation & Benefits
- Learning & Development
- HR Services
- People & Culture
- Recruitment Consulting
HR professionals are particularly likely to work in:
- Industrial companies
- Banks
- Insurances
- Healthcare
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Retail trade
- IT companies
- Public administration
- Recruitment Firms
- Trust company
- Educational institutions
- Nonprofit Organizations
This clearly demonstrates the versatility of the profession across a wide range of industries.
Career Development Opportunities for HR Specialists
For HR professionals, there are many career opportunities for advancement in various directions. Current job postings highlight the growing importance of topics such as the transition to an HR business partner role, digital HR systems, employee retention, and actively supporting change processes.
Typical Career Opportunities
As they gain more professional experience, HR professionals often go on to become:
- HR Business Partner
- HR Manager
- Head of HR Administration
- Payroll Manager
- Talent Acquisition Manager
- Learning & Development Manager
- Head of Human Resources Development
- Head of HR
- People & Culture Manager
- Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
The path toward becoming an HR business partner, in particular, is very common these days.
Current Developments in the Job Profile "HR Specialist"
Human resources is increasingly evolving into a strategic business function. In addition to administrative tasks, topics such as employer branding, talent management, employee retention, diversity and inclusion, and HR digitization are gaining importance. Modern HR professionals work with digital HR systems, support data-driven personnel decisions, and actively facilitate change processes. At the same time, personalized counseling, discretion, and a professional approach to employees remain central components of the profession.
Depending on the company, HR professionals often specialize in:
- Recruiting and Talent Acquisition
- Payroll and Wage Administration
- Personnel development
- HR Business Partner
- Labor law
- Employer branding
- Compensation & Benefits
- HR Digitalization
- Learning & Development
- People Analytics
This is a good reflection of trends in the labor market.
In addition:Here you will find interesting links on the subject of job advertisements and job search:
- Job search
- Overview of job directories
- Support fromCoaching providers
*The information listed here comes from an ad hoc study to provide a unique insight into the labor market and what is required in HR specialist jobs.
