Like any job, employers look for relevant education or work experience on your resume before considering you for the position. If you don't have a background in HR, earning a degree in the field can help. Through a program like Penn Foster's Human Resources Management Associate Degree, you'll learn the foundational skills all HR employees should have, from an understanding of employee benefits and compensation to management skills. You can also combine what you learn in school with previous skills you've gained at other jobs that could be transferrable to the workforce, such as leadership, such as leadership and people skills you may have picked up in a retail job.