HR career path

5 roles in hr, ordered from entry level to executive. Each guide covers what the role owns, the skills employers screen for, and what the next step looks like.

The ladder

Progression is rarely strictly linear, but this is the common shape of a hr career.

Mid level 2–5 years

HR Business Partner

The HR Business Partner serves as a strategic advisor and hands-on resource to business leaders within an assigned client group, aligning HR practices with business objectives. …

Strategic HR consulting and … Employee relations and workplace …
Read the guide
Mid level 2–5 years

Learning & Development Manager

The Learning and Development Manager designs, implements, and evaluates organizational learning programs that build employee capabilities and support business performance. This role owns the learning strategy …

Instructional design and adult … Leadership development program design
Read the guide
Senior 5–8 years

Talent Acquisition Lead

The Talent Acquisition Lead owns the end-to-end recruiting strategy and operations for the organization or a major business segment, managing a team of recruiters and sourcers. …

Full-cycle recruiting strategy and … Sourcing techniques and talent …
Read the guide
Lead / Director 8–12 years

HR Director

The HR Director leads a major HR function or supports a large business unit, translating enterprise people strategy into operational plans and managing a team of …

HR program design and … Team leadership and talent …
Read the guide
Executive 12+ years

Chief Human Resources Officer

The CHRO serves as the top human resources executive, responsible for developing and executing the people strategy in support of the overall business plan. This role …

Executive leadership and C-suite … Strategic workforce planning and …
Read the guide