Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Personnel Intern

💰 $16 - $25 per hour

Human ResourcesInternshipTalent ManagementHR Operations

🎯 Role Definition

The Personnel Intern is an integral, entry-level member of the Human Resources team, designed to provide comprehensive, hands-on exposure to the core functions of HR. This role is a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring HR professional to gain practical experience across the entire employee lifecycle, from talent acquisition and onboarding to employee engagement and offboarding. You'll be a key player in supporting the daily operations of the department, contributing to meaningful projects, and learning the fundamentals of creating a positive and productive workplace. This position acts as a critical support system for HR generalists and specialists, ensuring that administrative processes run smoothly and efficiently.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • University Student (pursuing a degree in HR, Business, or a related field)
  • Recent Graduate with a passion for people-centric roles
  • Career Changer seeking foundational experience in Human Resources

Advancement To:

  • HR Coordinator
  • Junior HR Generalist
  • Talent Acquisition Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

  • Recruiting Coordinator
  • Benefits & Compensation Assistant
  • Learning & Development Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assist the Talent Acquisition team by posting and managing job openings on various career sites, university boards, and professional networks.
  • Participate in the initial screening of resumes and applications against job requirements to create shortlists of qualified candidates.
  • Coordinate and schedule phone, virtual, and in-person interviews between candidates and hiring managers, managing complex calendars.
  • Support the new hire onboarding process by preparing offer letters, initiating background checks, and sending out new hire paperwork.
  • Facilitate a welcoming first-day experience by preparing onboarding kits, coordinating with IT for equipment setup, and assisting with new hire orientation sessions.
  • Maintain and update employee records within the Human Resources Information System (HRIS), ensuring accuracy and confidentiality of all data.
  • Perform regular audits of employee files, both digital and physical, to ensure compliance with company policies and legal regulations.
  • Respond to basic employee inquiries regarding HR policies, procedures, and benefits, escalating more complex questions to senior HR staff.
  • Assist in the administration of employee benefits programs, including open enrollment support and processing qualifying life events.
  • Support the offboarding process by preparing separation paperwork, coordinating final paychecks, and conducting exit interview scheduling.
  • Help maintain organizational charts and employee directories to ensure they are current and accurate.
  • Provide administrative support to the HR team, including filing, scanning, data entry, and preparing materials for meetings.
  • Contribute to the planning and execution of employee engagement activities, company events, and wellness initiatives.
  • Assist in tracking and reporting on key HR metrics, such as time-to-fill, turnover rates, and new hire satisfaction.

Secondary Functions

  • Conduct preliminary research on HR best practices, employment law updates, and industry trends to support policy development.
  • Assist with the administration of performance management cycles, including tracking review completion and compiling feedback.
  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to provide insights for HR projects and initiatives.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by helping to cleanse and validate HR data.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements for HR reporting.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team if assigned to a technical HR project.
  • Draft and prepare internal communications related to HR announcements, policy updates, and upcoming events.
  • Support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives by assisting with program coordination and research.
  • Assist with HR compliance projects, such as EEO-1 reporting or I-9 form audits.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Microsoft Office Suite: Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for creating documents, tracking data, and managing communications.
  • HRIS/ATS Familiarity: Basic understanding or prior exposure to Human Resource Information Systems (e.g., Workday, ADP) or Applicant Tracking Systems (e.g., Greenhouse, Lever).
  • Data Entry: High accuracy and speed in entering and managing sensitive employee information.
  • Basic Research Skills: Ability to gather and synthesize information from various sources on HR-related topics.
  • Calendar Management: Expertise in scheduling and coordinating for multiple stakeholders, often across different time zones.

Soft Skills

  • Discretion and Confidentiality: An absolute must-have; ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost integrity.
  • Strong Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact professionally with candidates, employees, and leadership.
  • Organizational Skills & Attention to Detail: Meticulous in managing tasks, records, and schedules to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
  • Proactive & Eager to Learn: A "no task is too small" attitude combined with a genuine curiosity and desire to absorb all aspects of HR.
  • Interpersonal Skills: Ability to build rapport and work collaboratively with a diverse group of people.
  • Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced environment and can pivot between different tasks and priorities smoothly.
  • Problem-Solving: Resourceful in finding answers and solutions to challenges that arise in daily tasks.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.

Preferred Education:

  • Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field of study.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Human Resources Management
  • Business Administration (with a concentration in HR)
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Communications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0 - 1 years of professional experience.

Preferred: Prior internship in an office or corporate setting is highly valued. Leadership or active involvement in student organizations (such as a SHRM student chapter) is a significant plus.

Explore More Careers