What is an HR Manager?

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Since every organization in the competitive business marketplace of the 21st century is seeking to attract and retain qualified employees to increase productivity, the role of human resources (HR) manager is growing in demand for nearly every industry. As the complex employment laws for occupational safety, healthcare benefits, equal employment opportunity, and hourly wages continue to grow more complex, HR managers are being hired to ensure businesses are adhering to these regulations. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites employment growth for HR managers will be faster than average at the rate of 13 percent before 2022. If you are considering a career in human resources, the following is a broad overview of the administrative functions of the HR manager.

Job Description for Human Resources Managers

As a vital link connecting an organization’s upper-level executive management with its employees, human resources managers ensure that businesses are best utilizing their human capital to gain a competitive edge within the global marketplace. In order to identify the ways in which to maximize the value of an organization’s employees, most HR managers work closely with top executives for strategic planning. Although human resources managers can be employed in basically every industry of the economy, most find employment in government, manufacturing, corporate management, healthcare and professional services. HR managers spend most of their 40-hour full-time workweek in offices during regular business hours, but some may need to travel to other company branches or attend recruitment events often.

Daily Responsibilities for HR Managers

On a typical day in the life of a human resource manager, these HR leaders will be responsible for handling a wide range of personnel decisions, ranging from hiring and position assignment to employee training and benefits. HR managers often coordinate a business’ workforce to best utilize employees’ abilities, administer employee services, offer advice to managers about organizational policies, supervise the work of human resources support staff, oversee a company’s recruitment or hiring processes, mediate labor disputes, direct disciplinary procedures, and assess worker productivity for meeting budgetary goals. While some HR managers may be tasked with coordinating all aspects of an organization’s human resources department, others at larger corporations may specialize their work in compensation and benefits, training and development, payroll, recruitment or employee relations.

How to Become a Human Resources Manager

In most cases, human resources managers will need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources or business administration with extensive coursework in labor relations, industrial psychology, organizational behavior and information technology. While a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for most positions, some upper-level HR jobs in management will require an MBA or master’s degree concentrated in human resources. In order to demonstrate proficient decision-making, organizational, interpersonal, and leadership skills, candidates typically must have a combination of higher education and several years of related work experience. Many employers also prefer hiring HR managers who have received certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for professional credibility.

Overall, human resources managers are leaders in an exciting and evolving profession to help create a unique business culture that attracts the highest quality employees. From hiring the best suited candidates to handling major union disputes and determining benefits packages, HR managers have a hand in ensuring companies are successful in motivating employees to come to work each day. If you enjoy working with people and have natural management skills, then you may want to consider becoming a human resources manager to help boost employee morale at organizations of all sizes.

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