How Do I Become a Staffing Director?

A staffing director has the job of making decisions about hiring and firing employees while keeping his employer's goals in mind. To become a staffing director, you will typically have to earn a college degree in a field such as business administration or human resources, though some employers may set other requirements. You will usually need several years of related experience as well. Additionally, you can improve your chances of qualifying for this job by building skills that will help you make good staffing decisions, relate well with others, problem-solve, and handle administrative tasks.

The educational background you need to become a staffing director will usually vary from employer to employer. Many employers, however, require candidates for this position to possess bachelor's degrees in fields related to business management or human resources. There are, however, some employers who will request less or more of potential employees. For example, some companies may offer the opportunity to work up to this title, even if you do not have a college degree. Others, might prefer to hire candidates who have master's degrees in related fields.

Regardless of your educational background, you will most likely need experience when you want to become a staffing director. Many employers will give preference to individuals who have completed human-resource-related internships or who have held jobs as interviewers or recruiters. If you have experience training others, this may also help you secure the job you want. The amount of experience you will need may vary, but many employers give preference to individuals with several years of related experience.

Becoming a staffing director usually requires you to understand a company's goals and be able to devise ways to meet those goals by making smart staffing choices. Most employers will also expect you to have good interpersonal skills and the ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently. As such, you may increase your chances of landing the job you desire by taking college classes and choosing work experiences that give you the opportunity to develop and demonstrate your analytical mind. You might also benefit from courses, internships, and employment that help you hone your communication skills, solve problems, and demonstrate your ability to get along well with others even as you help to lead them.

Though much of the contact you have with job candidates will likely take place in person, you will probably need good telephone and computer skills to perform well in this job. For example, you might use the telephone to contact job candidates and set up interviews, contact references, and follow up after job interviews. In some cases, you may even conduct telephone interviews as well. As far as computer skills are concerned, you likely will perform many recruiting and administrative tasks via computer, so good computer skills as well as experience with office productivity software is often a must.