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Naturally, every HR department runs differently and not every Human Resources leader will have a degree. However, with the increasingly competitive market, a degree does make you stand out from the crowd. Here are some reasons to consider getting a higher education degree if you’re interested in a career or career advancement in Human Resources.

Think About the People You’re Leading and Advising

The people you’ll be advising and managing will most likely have their degrees already. Higher education, especially Bachelor’s Degrees, are becoming the equivalent of what a high school degree was 20 years ago. If you’ve been working for a few years in Human Resources, think about going back for your MBA– it’ll show leadership skills and dedication to the field.

Think About the Possibilities for Promotion

If you don’t have your degree, you’ll need more years of experience to compete with your co-workers that have their degree already. Higher education can give you a boost in salary and your promotional chances. You can also use the outside skills you learned in college to enhance your resume. Don’t forget to include foreign language skills or computer training (or anything else you may have learned).

What Kind of Degrees are Available?

The lowest “rung” on the HR education ladder is HR certification courses. Associate’s degrees are also available. Bachelor’s degrees often are available with specialties or minors in Human Resources. For Master’s degrees, you’re going to be looking at MBA programs with emphases in HR or organizational development. Finally, it’s not unusual to see HR leaders with a Ph.D. or a J.D., so dream big!