There are several options available to students at secondary school for becoming an HR specialist. General subjects are often preferred. These enable students to acquire the economic, management and communication skills that are essential for the HR profession.

The STMG (Sciences and Technologies of Management and Administration) stream is also recommended for those wishing to go into human resources professions. It offers courses in management, economics and law, skills that are in great demand in this field.

Once you have passed your baccalauréat, there are a number of courses available to help you become an HR professional.

Firstly, you can follow a university course in the social sciences, psychology or law, leading to a Master’s degree specialising in human resources management. This course is particularly suitable if you want to acquire in-depth theoretical knowledge of human resources management, employment law and organisational psychology. However, university studies are often lengthy and require a great deal of hard work and organisational skills.

Post-baccalaureate vocational courses such as BTS in Human Resources Management or DUT GEA (Gestion des Entreprises et des Administrations) are also interesting options for training in HR professions. They are shorter than university studies and are more oriented towards practical work and the acquisition of professional skills. Finally, it is also possible to follow a sandwich course, such as the Bachelor in Human Resources, which combines theoretical training with work experience in a company. This work-linked training is an excellent way of learning about HR professions, while gaining practical experience in the field. It also makes it easier to find a job on completion of the course.

There are a number of training courses available to help you enter this field. The traditional academic route to becoming an HR professional is to obtain a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree in human resources management. These programmes offer comprehensive training in human resources management, employment law and organisational psychology.

It is also possible to become an HR professional through business schools or specialist HR schools, which offer professional training programmes in human resources management. Courses can cover topics such as talent management, employee training and development, compensation and benefits, and conflict management in the workplace.

After 5 years’ higher education, preferably on a sandwich course, and an average of 15 years’ experience, an employee can take on the post of HR Director. The larger the company and the more complex the issues (industry, redundancy plans, staff turnover, takeovers, etc.), the more years of experience you will need.

The Bachelor’s degree in Management and Administration gives students the opportunity to follow theoretical and practical courses and to take part in in-company projects. Graduates of this course can go on to careers in finance, management or human resources.

Students also have the opportunity to specialise in specific areas such as recruitment, training or career management. The programme is available on a sandwich course basis, enabling students to gain significant professional experience while continuing their studies.

Graduates of this Master’s programme can move into positions of responsibility in HR departments, such as HR director or manager, recruitment consultant or HR project manager.

Once you’ve got your Master’s degree, joining the human resources department is one thing. But there are 3 possible options for becoming an HRD:

Find out more in our HR FAQ!