Jobs for Bachelor of Human Resource Management Graduates

From degree to practising HR professional

A Bachelor of Human Resource Management covers recruitment, labour law, compensation, training, performance management and organisational behaviour. In Kenya HR is a regulated profession: the Human Resource Management Professionals Act, 2012 established the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) and the HRM Professionals Examination Board (HRMPEB), and practising HR requires registration and a practising certificate. Employers increasingly check this, particularly in the public sector.

Typical roles

• HR assistant or HR officer handling recruitment, records and onboarding
• Payroll officer, where knowledge of PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and the Housing Levy is essential
• Recruitment consultant in staffing and outsourcing firms, a common first job for graduates
• Training and development or employee relations officer in larger organisations

Entry requirements

Places are offered through KUCCPS with a minimum KCSE mean grade of C+, and many universities also accept diploma holders. If you are still choosing, an HR programme with a solid labour law unit will serve you better than one heavy on general management.

Know the law you will apply

HR officers are the people employees ask about leave, notice and final dues, so interviews often test the Employment Act. Our guides on probation, maternity and paternity leave and terminal dues cover the points that come up most. Being able to work out a payslip quickly with the PAYE calculator is also a practical skill to demonstrate.

Career path

Graduates usually spend two or three years as assistants or officers before moving into generalist or specialist roles such as reward, talent acquisition or HR business partner. Sitting the Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) exams early speeds this up, and senior HR manager roles almost always ask for it alongside several years of experience.

Getting the first job

HR is a popular course, so entry-level competition is stiff. Graduates who land roles quickly usually have an attachment in an HR department or a recruitment agency, can show they have screened CVs, scheduled interviews or kept staff records, and have started IHRM student membership. Volunteering to run recruitment for a church, chama or student organisation also counts as evidence when you have little formal experience.