The world of Human Resources is one of the most popular and in-demand career opportunities in psychology.

It is not only that the figure of the organizational psychologist is increasingly consolidated in companies; it is also that, as research into the science of behavior and technology associated with personnel selection advances, various work spaces are being created in this area.

Therefore, it is not surprising that year after year many graduates in Psychology, as well as in Business Administration and Management, decide to specialize professionally to start working in Human Resources . Now then… how do you choose a training program that is up to scratch?

In the following lines we will see the different criteria you should look at when deciding where to study Human Resources through Masters and Postgraduate courses.

Where to study Human Resources? A quick guide

It is totally understandable that, before investing time and money in a specialization program, we should look for signs that what we are going to choose is quality.

These are the characteristics that a Human Resources training programme of several months (or more than a year) should have to ensure that what you learn will be useful when looking for a good job linked to this sector.

1. There is an opportunity to do an internship

It is said that there is no theory without practice, but in the field of Human Resources, which is predominantly applied . It is of little use to believe that we know how to work in the organizational context if at the moment of truth reality denies it.

The internship is the perfect stage to get used to the characteristic work dynamics of the companies and the teams and departments that form them. They offer us a moment to learn and rehearse, to see what works and what doesn’t, to get used to embrace a methodical way of working, and to control the times to reach the results with the resources available.

2. The teaching staff is dedicated to the company

Following the logic of the previous characteristic, it is important that most of the teaching staff is used to be immersed in a daily basis in the functioning of the business world .

Obviously, there is always room for contributions from specialists who do not necessarily work mainly in organisations and who can teach specific subjects, but as a rule it is essential that teachers devote most of their time to intervention in companies and to contact with Human Resources beyond the academic world.

3. Its contents are up-to-date

What we know about human behavior is constantly changing, as is the environment in which organizations operate.

Therefore, it is very important that the Master or Postgraduate course in Human Resources that you are going to choose has updated contents , both in relation to the strategies used to work with the members of the company, and in relation to the technologies used in the selection and management of personnel.

4. It not only teaches how to select, but also how to retain talent

A Human Resources system that only takes into account the selection of personnel will be lame; the workers not only enter the companies , they also try to adapt to it once they are inside, and if they do not feel comfortable, they leave.

In fact, the phase where worker and organization try to be compatible with each other is much longer than the selection phase.

Therefore, when you ask yourself where to study Human Resources, you should also look at whether these training programmes include content on this subject and give them the importance they deserve .

5. Also teach the small crucial details

Learning about Human Resources is not only about applying proven selection techniques, or developing talent retention plans that are stimulating and even creative.

It is also knowing small details apparently banal but basic to unravel in the day to day. For example: how payroll works, how hiring is done, etc.

The University’s own Master’s Degree in Talent Selection and Management (UMA)

If you’ve come this far, you’ll be interested to know that the University of Malaga’s Master’s Degree in Talent Selection and Management has all the features we’ve seen so far. It is a one and a half year specialization program in Human Resources with a labor insertion rate of more than 70%.

In addition, the Master has two modules that can be carried out independently as Postgraduate courses: one of Personnel Selection, and another of Talent Management and Retention.

To these two thematic blocks we must add the practices , in which students can apply a good part of the strategies and tools learned.

With regard to these tools used in Human Resources, throughout the Master’s Degree in Selection and Talent Management students will come into contact with all the most used and effective, as well as those of more recent appearance and arising from the development of new technologies applied to the organizational world, such as Big Data or Machine Learning .

If you are interested in knowing more about the Master, which takes place in the city of Malaga, click here.