Master's Program
Career Opportunities
Why should you consider an ILIR education? Because of the enormous career opportunities it provides. While no program can ever guarantee 100% employment placement, an ILIR master's degree affords instant credibility that few programs can provide. Whether it is an internship opportunity or full-time job placement, the caliber and professionalism of the ILIR Career Services Office rivals that of select headhunting firms. Companies that recruit from ILIR range from new economy high-tech firms to the very largest Fortune 100 corporations. As long as companies look to their employees to provide the only known source of sustained competitive advantage, they will continue to look to ILIR-educated HR professionals.
Rob Chavarry, M.H.R.I.R.
'99
Personnel Director, General Motors, Noblesville, IN
Human Resources and Industrial Relations is a business function with a focus on developing and maintaining an organization's human capital. This includes hiring the right people; keeping those hires well-paid, motivated and satisfied; complying with government regulations; and dismissing employees who are not performing well. In today's economy it includes attracting the right mix of people to make an organization competitive, which has sparked the field of human resource management to grow as a profession as it helps organizations of all sizes succeed. HR/IR requires more human interaction than other business functions such as accounting, finance and IT. You will notice that the focus of the job descriptions below is not solely on job duties but on personal and professional qualities: leadership, communication, maturity, integrity, business savvy and problem-solving skills.
Graduates from ILIR are highly sought for internship opportunities and full-time employment. The descriptions below will give you some idea of the jobs available to human resource professionals. It is not uncommon for our graduates entertain more than one job offer and most accept a position before they graduate. As Rob Chavarry says above, there is no guarantee of employment, but ILIR will provide the resources, the access, and the opportunity to maximize your education and convert it to a well-paid and exciting job. The average starting salary for ILIR graduates in 2003-2004 was approximately $63,000, with different ranges depending on location. On top of that, most students added an average $8,180 signing bonus. Over 80 employers accessed the Career Services Office during 2003-2004 looking for good hires, and many of those came on campus to recruit ILIR students. You can read more about our students' success, the companies that recruit at ILIR, and the career services offered to ILIR students by checking out our placement statistics.
International applicants to the ILIR program should note that employment opportunities in the United States are restricted by strict immigration laws. As a result, an increasing number of U.S. companies are unable to hire candidates other than U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Some international students are ultimately successful in obtaining internships and full-time employment with U.S. companies, but many are not.
Companies hire our graduates in full-time positions that are either "direct hire" or "rotational." Direct hire positions enable you to go into a position and immediately begin contributing in that particular location. Rotational programs typically are broad-based development programs designed to give your career a boost by providing a high level of visibility within an organization, broad-based skill development, and a wide understanding of the business operation. Below are a few examples of job descriptions that encompass direct hire and rotational job types, as well as internship opportunities.
Merck & Co., Human Resource Specialist - Intern
Merck HR Interns are placed into departments matching students' interests with
assignments providing exposure to Merck's business and key HR initiatives.
Interns will be provided with one primary project, but will also have the
opportunity to work on other projects to obtain a variety of experiences.
Each intern will receive a mentor that will provide ongoing professional
support and developmental feedback. Internship assignments will be in one
of Merck's Centers of Excellence: Compensation, Decision Support, Diversity,
Organizational Development, Organizational Learning, Staffing and Work Environment.
National Labor Relations Board, Field Examiner
Field Examiners perform a number of functions, including investigating charges
alleging unfair labor practices filed by individuals, employers and labor
unions; conducting pre-election hearings; and conducting elections. Graduate
students interested in positions with the Agency must possess analytical,
investigatory, writing, and negotiating skills. They must also have the ability
to deal with diverse parties and witnesses, and to handle a heavy case load.
Integrity, honesty and a desire to serve the public interest are a must.
Pepsi Bottling Group, Human Resources Intern
Interns will experience an HR generalist's responsibilities including: staffing,
labor/employee relations, legal compliance and project work. Interns work
closely with a Human Resources Manager supporting a local market unit team
in either a plant or headquarters environment. An HR intern will have the
opportunity to make significant contributions to the business and provide
independent thinking and analysis on business issues and human resources
matters.
Raytheon, HR Leadership Development Program
HRLDP is a 2-year rotational program focused on developing leadership talent
for a dynamic HR organization. Three 8-month assignments will afford the
opportunity to gain broad exposure to our diversified businesses and achieve
breadth across the HR functions. Participants will be assigned challenging
positions and projects that will provide them the opportunity to be a strategic
business partner, working with various levels of management. HRLDP offers
a comprehensive assimilation and mentoring program along with formal and
on-the-job training.
Shell Oil, Human Resources Representative
Human Resource Representatives are responsible for providing HR products, services
and systems to support Shell's performance and business objectives. These
include: providing organizational excellence support; modifying policy and
procedure in accordance with business requirements; defining/delivering team
development activities; leading projects such as staff planning, compensation,
and benchmarking studies; administrating discipline and performance management
systems; managing employment processes and EEO/AAP efforts; and promoting
and fostering diversity.