# "Total Human Resource Mgmt Program"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-human-resource-mgmt-program/260088 "2004-08-16T14:58:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-human-resource-mgmt-program/260088/1 "2004-08-16T14:58:13Z")
So I’m looking for a new job and I’ve been running across human resource ads requiring experience in a ‘total human resource management program’. I’m currently the Executive Director of a not-for-profit, so I’ve been thinking I’d be a good candidate for something in human resources, but I have no idea what this ‘total HR management program’ means. Some help, please. Pablito ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-human-resource-mgmt-program/260088/2 "2004-08-16T15:25:38Z")
I’ve been Googling, checking online business & human resources dictionaries, & Ask Jeeves. Nada. No joy. ☹ All I can do is bump the thread, & hope the next guy has the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-human-resource-mgmt-program/260088/3 "2004-08-16T15:43:01Z")
I’m going to assume that it’s either 1) the title of a book (that I couldn’t find in a search) or 2) made up buzzword. Just for fun, you may want to call from someone else’s phone and pretend that you’re working for a trade magazine and want to ask them about their program. Tell them that your readers have been asking for it and given you the company by name. If it is a buzzword, this will definitely let you know what it is. You may also want to have someone else call and pretend… ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-human-resource-mgmt-program/260088/4 "2004-08-16T15:48:50Z")
You’re looking too deep, here. It’s HR. They’re looking for somebody with experience in HR. But they can’t just say that. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-human-resource-mgmt-program/260088/5 "2004-08-16T17:24:52Z")
I think all they mean is they want someone with experience in the entire HR realm - an HR generalist; an HR director. Not someone who knows only benefit plans or only recruiting or only pension plan administration. ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-human-resource-mgmt-program/260088/6 "2004-08-16T17:45:11Z")
Thanks for all the replies so far. I’ve been thinking, too, that it’s basically a buzz-word for someone who covers the gamut of HR–hiring, benefits, training, recruiting, etc., but with the phrase popping up in a few different places, I was wondering if there was more to it. Sounds like I’ll be ok so long as they’re not limited only to people with HR degrees (if there is such a thing). I suppose I’ll just continue to emphasize the range of my HR experience in my current job.