How to hire labor relations specialists
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations. • Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes. • Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability. • Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences. • Negotiate collective bargaining agreements. • Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify. • Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations. • Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing and active learning skills • Working knowledge of personnel and human resources, English Language and law and government • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $45.87 an hour ($95,420 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for labor relations specialists
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What labor relations specialists do
- Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
- Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
- Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
- Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
- Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
- Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
- Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
- Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for labor relations specialists
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.1% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 4,800 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay labor relations specialists
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $118,370 |
| Massachusetts | $111,260 |
| California | $105,810 |
| Illinois | $104,180 |
| Washington | $104,100 |
| Michigan | $73,760 |
| Kentucky | $73,550 |
| Alabama | $48,120 |
See labor relations specialists pay in every state
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.