Career Paths in Management & Human Resources - Orfalea College of Business

About Human Resources

Human Resources (HR) focuses on managing people, fostering workplace culture, and supporting organizational development, including recruitment, training and development, employee experience and retention, and more. HR plays a critical role in fostering organizational culture, improving employee satisfaction, and ensuring the efficient operation of a company. Career paths in Human Resources range from generalist roles, which cover a wide array of HR responsibilities, to specialists in areas like talent acquisition, compensation, and people analytics. The Management & Human Resources concentration prepares students for entry-level roles in HR functions, as well as broader leadership positions.

Career Pathways

Human Resource Generalist

HR Generalists handle a wide range of HR responsibilities, including recruitment, employee relations, benefits administration, and compliance with labor laws. They provide day-to-day support to employees and management, ensuring smooth HR operations across various functions. Their broad expertise allows them to address diverse workplace needs in organizations of all sizes.

Top Job-Titles	Key Skills	Applicable Courses	Further Education
Human Resources Generalist	Knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations Verbal and written communication skills Interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills Organizational skills and attention to detail Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software HRIS and talent management systems skills	BUS 471 – Managing & Rewarding Employee Performance BUS 480 – People Analytics	Communication Studies Minor

HR Business Partner

HR Business Partners work closely with specific departments to align HR strategies with organizational goals. They provide guidance on talent management, employee relations, and performance improvement, within that specific department. Working closely with leadership, they help drive workforce effectiveness and foster a positive workplace culture.

Top Job-Titles	Key Skills	Applicable Courses	Further Education
HR Business Partner	Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply the appropriate sections of applicable laws, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, and policies. Ability to acquire a thorough understanding of the organization’s hierarchy, jobs, qualifications, compensation practices, and the administrative practices related to those factors. Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.	BUS 480 – People Analytics BUS 497 – Business Analytics ITP 303 – Lean Six Sigma Green Belt	Communication Studies Minor

Talent Acquisition

Careers in talent acquisition focus on identifying, attracting, and hiring top talent for an organization. Professionals in this field, such as Talent Acquisition Specialists and Recruiters, manage the entire recruitment process, from identifying and sourcing talent to conducting interviews and coordinating onboarding. Their goal is to create strong company brand, build strategic partnerships to cultivate talent, and identify strong candidates that will advance the company’s long-term goals.

Top Job-Titles	Key Skills	Applicable Courses	Further Education
Recruiter Talent Acquisition Coordinator/Assistant	Background in administrative knowledge and HR processes, knowledge of communication methods and media production, knowledge of ATS and HCM systems Excellent critical thinking and personal/ customer skills, active listening, planning skills, relationship- building, marketing skills, organization, excellent time management and attention to detail, persuasion or negotiation skills Ability to use inductive reasoning, communicate clearly and consistently, be able to follow-through Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.	BUS 302 – International and Cross Cultural Management BUS 476 – Leading Social Innovation in Organizations BUS 480 – People Analytics	Communication Studies Minor

Organizational Development and Learning

Careers in organizational development and learning involve creating and implementing training, leadership development, and change management practices. Professionals in this field design and implement programs to improve employee skills, foster a positive culture, and drive strategic growth. Their work helps organizations retain employees and adapt to change by developing their people.

Top Job-Titles

Key Skills

Applicable Courses

Further Education

Learning and Development Specialist/Consultant
Training and Development Specialist/Consultant

Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Strong presentation skills
Adept with a variety of multimedia training platforms and methods
Ability to evaluate and research training options and alternatives
Ability to design and implement effective training and development
Knowledge of learning models and best practices

BUS 302 – International and Cross Cultural Management
BUS 471 – Managing and Rewarding Employee Performance
BUS 476 – Leading Social Innovation in Organizations

Psychology minor
Communications Studies minor

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Corporate careers in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) focus on creating and implementing strategies that promote a diverse and inclusive workplace. DEI professionals work on initiatives such as developing training programs, addressing systemic biases, and fostering an equitable work environment. Their role is crucial in driving organizational culture and ensuring that all employees feel valued and supported.

Top Job-Titles

Key Skills

Applicable Courses

Further Education

Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
DEI Consultant
Diversity Training Coordinator
Diversity Recruiting Specialist

Legal and Human Resource background information, public speaking experience, social justice and workplace inclusion methodologies and concepts
Conflict resolution, organization, verbal and written skills, management and training skills
Clear communication, facilitation abilities, committee supporting tendencies, clear employee care and insight into necessities for equity, building relationships
Compassionate, up-to-date on current events, interest in history (specifically with social injustices), event planning talents

BUS 302 – International and Cross Cultural Management

Ethnic Studies minor
Gender, Race, Culture, Science, and Technology minor
Law and Society minor
Queer Studies minor
Women’s and Gender Studies minor

People Analytics

Careers in People Analytics involve analyzing data related to employee performance, engagement, and workforce trends to inform HR strategies and decision-making. Professionals in this field use data-driven insights to improve recruitment, retention, and overall organizational effectiveness. Their work helps organizations optimize their human resources by identifying patterns and forecasting future needs.

Top Job-Titles

Key Skills

Applicable Courses

Further Education

People Analyst
HRIS Manager
HR Systems and Data Analyst
Workforce Analyst

Consulting and quick decision making abilities
A thorough understanding of and background in data analysis and collection
Excellent communication and visualization abilities
Knowledge of and background in cloud-based technology and technical proficiency for reporting out
Analytical abilities

BUS 302 – International and Cross Cultural Management
BUS 471 – Managing and Rewarding Employee Performance
BUS 476 – Leading Social Innovation in Organizations
BUS 480 – People Analytics
BUS 490 – Data Visualization
BUS 497 – Business Analytics

Statistics minor
Computer Science minor

Compensation & Benefits

Careers in Compensation and Benefits focus on designing and managing salary structures, bonuses, and employee benefit programs such as health insurance and retirement plans. Professionals in this field analyze market data to ensure competitive compensation practices and develop strategies to attract and retain talent. Their work ensures that compensation packages align with organizational goals and employee needs.

Top Job-Titles	Key Skills	Applicable Courses	Further Education
Benefits Analyst Benefits Coordinator Compensation Manager Compensation Analyst	Extensive knowledge in current labor laws, knowledge of 401(k), COBRA, HIPAA, and ERISA requirements, knowledge of HRIS systems, background in compensation and benefits administration Accounting skills, high attention to detail, high organizational skills, analytical skills Ability to maintain confidentiality, ability to orally express and comprehend, inductive reasoning, problem sensitivity, ability to be creative and original Integrity and strong ethics Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite	BUS 393 – Database Systems in Business BUS 471 – Managing and Rewarding Employee Performance BUS 476 – Leading Social Innovation in Organizations BUS 480 – People Analytics	Additional Accounting coursework Economics minor

Graduate Outcomes

Top Job Titles

People Operations Coordinator
Human Resources Coordinator
Employee Engagement Coordinator
Human Resources Generalist
Recruiter
HR Business Partner

Salary Report

Top Companies

Management & Human Resources Alumni Mentors

Kate Marchant: Senior HCM Solution Consultant @ Workday

Kate had two internships during her time at Cal Poly as an HR Assistant in the education and hospitality industries. She took that HR experience and used it now to HR, Recruiting, & Engagement Software with Workday. Kate absolutely loves her job and hopes to share her career path and experiences with students who are concentrating in HR/Management curious about what to do with their degree after graduation or with students who think they want to get into the tech sales space. It’s a great place to be!

Eunice Lee: HR Generalist @ Adobe

Celeste started working in tech marketing interning for DocuSign in 2019. Since then, she’s gone on to build demand generation and growth marketing programs and campaigns at DocuSign, Airkit (acquired by Salesforce) and currently, Glean. Celeste has had an array of experience working with B2B marketing and sales teams with lead gen, webinars, digital marketing, email programs and more. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her husband and their baby daughter, traveling, CrossFit and learning new hobbies any chance I get!

Emily Navala: Sr. Analyst, Learning & Development @ Aledade

Emily has worked in Healthcare, Finance, Wellness and the Tech industry broadly in Human Resources before moving up into her Learning and Development specialty. Outside of work, Emily enjoys hiking, cooking and playing pickle ball. She can help students with resume prep, mock interviewing and reach any personal goals.

Connect with Alumni

To gain mentorship from these alumni or other industry professionals, apply to the Alumni Mentoring Program or reach out on Cal Poly Career Connections. Mentors exist in various pathways in Information Systems and provide career-related support to launch your career.

ALUMNI MENTORING PROGRAM