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What is the difference in Human Resources and Human Services?

A career in Human Resources and a career in Human Services are both exceptional careers to embark upon. Most people are not aware that they are entirely different because the job title sounds like one and the same.

Although both are focused on helping people, they each help their communities in a different capacity. Depending on your interests, you will want to pursue a degree that is right for you.

A position in Human Resources, in general, refers to the individual who oversees the management of company benefits for employees. They are responsible for recruiting new hires and for terminating others.

They guide the new employee through the process of becoming “one of the team,” which includes managing benefit packages, compensation, retirement plans, and healthcare benefits. The Human Resources clerk is responsible for maintaining all employee records and upholding labor regulations mandated by federal and state laws.

With your online Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, you will learn how to maintain good employer/employee relationships. The Human Resources clerk acts as an advocate and mediator in times of turmoil between employers and/or other employees.

They must be proficient in the laws of ethics and discrimination and the legalities of all other employment practices, in addition to processing payroll and other similar accounting requirements.

Your Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources will qualify you for positions such as:

  • Human Resources Clerk,
  • Recruiter,
  • Human Resources Assistant,
  • Payroll Specialist or
  • Training and Development Coordinator.

The Human Services clerk is committed to servicing the community in a different way. They provide goods or services to those who are disadvantaged or with various other needs or disabilities.

This may include the elderly, those recovering from drug or alcohol abuse, or issues involving children or teens adjusting to new homes or who have been abused. Human Service clerks act as liaisons between two parties to solve problems.

The Human Services representative must be a caring, loving person with a genuine love for helping people. You will work closely with your clients with a mutual goal of improving their quality of life. In addition to providing goods, you may be asked to find the best social service programs to fit their needs at the time, requiring you to collect data to determine eligibility.

Some possible job titles for someone owning a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services may include:

  • Social Caseworker,
  • Child Welfare Agent,
  • Family Court Coordinator,
  • Probation Officer
  • or Domestic Violence Agent.

Individuals in these positions must be proficient in their people skills and must be emotionally stable due to the occasional sensitive nature of the conditions that plague clients. Strong leadership skills are helpful.

A career in human resources or human services is rewarding and fulfilling. After all, helping others should be everyone’s ultimate goal. Both careers demand that you adhere to all confidentiality policies. Also, a career in Human Services may require certification, depending on your state’s requirements.

For more information, please check out our list of Best Online Schools for Bachelor’s of Human Resources degrees that we have compiled for your review.


Check this out, too: The Best Online Schools for Master’s in Human Resources

Rowan Jones
Chief Editor