Human resources (HR) professionals often come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have worked their way up the corporate ladder into HR management; others launched their careers directly from college. Still others have transitioned from other career paths into HR. That’s probably not surprising, considering that HR offers challenging and rewarding roles in today’s business world.The past several years have seen dramatic changes in the economic environment in which businesses compete. Accordingly, the roles and requirements of HR managers have shifted. These professionals may now take on more strategic duties, while focusing on HR’s contributions to the bottom line and day-to-day operations. They can be corporate policymakers, change agents and in-house experts on HR practices.