For people with an aptitude for strategic planning and number crunching, a career as a resource planner may be an ideal choice. Resource planners collect and use data to best allocate an organization's human capital, budgets and other resources.

Data Collection and Analyzing

A primary function of a resource planner is collecting data, and then analyzing it to determine the benefits and costs of a particular action. These plans are often designed to fit the long-term needs of an organization. The work done by resource planners also helps determine companies' inventory needs. Organizations use cost-benefit analyses prepared by their resource planners in order to reduce their ultimate cost, mitigate risk and conserve company resources.

Industry Knowledge

Though resource planners can be found across many industries, having specific knowledge of particular industries can help a perspective planner secure a position. For instance, a resource planner in the energy sector may need to have electrical engineering knowledge and experience in order to carry out her duties. Conversely, a resource planner in a customer call center needs to have an understanding of call centers in order to properly forecast future call volume for staffing needs, and may also need experience with Workforce Management software programs like Vernit or IEX.

Educational Requirements

Because of the highly analytical responsibilities of resource planning, perspective candidates should have correlating education credentials. A bachelor's degree in mathematics, economics or statistics can help a perspective planner secure a position across different industries. A graduate degree in these fields or an MBA can further set a perspective candidate apart and reinforce his ability to analyze complex numerical data.

Salary and Job Progression

A career in resource planning can be very lucrative. According to Glassdoor, a careers website, resource planners it surveyed in 2014 earned upwards of $75,000 per year. With some experience, more senior resource planners and resource planning managers can earn even higher salaries.