Job Description
HR Consultants usually have an expertise in one specialty area. The most common ones are Compensation, Recruitment (especially Executive Recruitment), HR Outsourcing and Leadership Coaching. You can work for a for a company or as an independent consultant. Most consultants have deep expertise in their field, acquired through many years of work experience or through a Ph.D., or both. If you are interested in being an HR consultant it is best to try at the beginning of your career so that you can be trained early, or 10 years into it, so that you can claim considerable work experience.

If you are considering a career as an HR Consultant, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you like working independently?
• Do you prefer to work on multiple, short-term projects instead of one long-term one?
• Are you comfortable with some variability in your pay?
• Are you willing to seek out customers instead of expecting them come to you?

Median Salary
$56,000

Education Requirements
The educational backgrounds of HR Consultants vary considerably, reflecting the diversity of duties and levels of responsibility. In filling entry-level jobs, many employers seek college graduates who have majored in human resources, human resources administration, or industrial and labor relations. Other employers look for college graduates with a technical or business background or a well-rounded liberal arts education.

Job Outlook
Employment of HR Consultants is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. College graduates who have earned certification should have the best job opportunities. Overall employment is projected to grow by 17 percent between 2006 and 2016, faster than the average for all occupations.