What course should I take to work in HR?

Interested in a career in resources? Knowing how to manage, coordinate and take decisions within a company requires appropriate training. You need to be able to successfully implement the company’s strategies and internal policies if you want to develop as an HR manager. Universities and business schools offer the right courses and qualifications for working in HR. Which course of study is best for HR?

Contents

Definition

What is the HR sector?

The new challenges facing the HR and healthcare function include taking part in the HR transformation currently underway and redefining the shape of the future, attracting new talent, developing cross-functionality and digitisation, managing new work organisations and developing an employer brand while continuing to perform its operational functions.

HR management is one of the most important jobs in a company. As the person responsible for human resources management, you have to be a good listener, attentive to staff expectations. On the other hand, you need to be proficient in accounting, employment law, management, negotiation and communication. The profession demands skills and qualities that match the company’s values.

In fact, the tasks assigned to HR require a certain degree of professionalism, as they are directly linked to the development of staff and the competitiveness of the company. Positions requirea postgraduate degree in human resources, management or employment law.

What short courses are available in HR?

You can join a company’s HR department with a Bac + 2 or Bac + 3. A bachelor can take a short course in HR and then start a professional career in the field.

Universities and business schools offer short courses after the baccalauréat. Students can choose from the following courses and diplomas:

a Bac + 2, BTS or DUT in human resources, at university or a private establishment. You will learn the essential subjects for managing human resources within a company. After 2 years of study, you will have mastered all the techniques and methodologies needed to perform the duties of an HR manager or assistant;

A Bac + 3, licence or licence pro in human resources, after the BTS, you have access to more comprehensive training to manage a company’s personnel. In 3 years of apprenticeship, you’ll be able to master the tools and concepts of human resources management. Once you’ve obtained your diploma, you can go on to do a master’s degree in HR if you’re interested in continuing your studies.

What are the long courses in HR?

If you are considering a position of responsibility in a company’s HR department, a long HR training course is essential.

Universities and higher education establishments offer a range of long courses leading to a Master’s degree or Bac + 5 in human resources. Accessible after the baccalauréat, a Bac + 2, a Bac + 3 or an M1, you can start :

a BBA, a 4-year course leading to an M 1 diploma in human resources ;
a master’s degree in human resources, the entry level requires a general bachelor’s degree or a professional bachelor’s degree in the LPN
an MSc in Human Resources at INSEEC. You can access this programme with a Bac+ 3 or 4 in management, employment law or human resources. Or an MSc in Talent Management and Social Innovation.

a Grande Ecole programme with a major in HR.

Company

What is a work-linked HR course?

All these HR courses can be taken as initial or sandwich courses. For some programmes, only certain years are eligible for sandwich courses (more information on the dedicated programme pages).

This type of apprenticeship involves alternating between the world of study and the world of work. The cost of the studies is covered by the OPCO and the company, and the apprentice is paid so that he can immerse himself in the company environment.

Find out more about HR and work-linked training.

Training

Where can I do HR training?

After A-levels, you can do a course in HR :

At university, after a core curriculum and a bachelor’s degree in HR, management or employment law, you can go on to do a master’s degree in human resources;

at schools specialising in management and business, such as INSEEC. The school offers courses at baccalaureate +2, baccalaureate +3 and baccalaureate +5 levels. The school’s programmes include specialisations in management, administration and health.

Jobs

What are the career prospects for HR courses?

Recruiters are on the lookout for new graduates as soon as they leave school. Companies are looking for new talent to boost their competitiveness.

If you have a BTS or DUT in human resources, you have the skills to become an HR manager or assistant;
With a professional degree in HR, you can take on the role of HR manager or head of HR within a company. Your remit will be commensurate with the size and capacity of the company’s workforce;
With 5 years’ higher education, a Master’s degree or an MBA in HR, you can look forward to positions of high responsibility such as Head of Human Resources or Director of Human Resources.

See our detailed job descriptions.