What Does An HR Manager Do? - What You Need To Know

It’s a well-known fact that the employees are what make a company run successfully, and an HR manager plays an important role in making sure that a company’s culture and employee performance are positive and beneficial to the organization. 

If you’re interested in becoming an HR manager, we’ve created this guide to what the role entails and what you need to become an important part of a company’s operations.

Also read: How to Ask For a Promotion

What Is HR Management?

Human resource management inside an organization is the integration of strategies and processes for managing a company's workforce. Employer engagement, learning and development, compensation, rewards and benefits, and organizational development are all included under the general term "HR management" in order to support the development and growth of the business and its employees.

Also read: Improve Employee Engagement

What Is An HR Manager? What Do They Do?

The job of a HR manager is to oversee the employees of a company. It involves managing a buisness’s biggest asset, overseeing employees’ entire career within the company.

The main role of a HR manager involves developing policies, services, and programs to manage employees. They might be in charge of creating job role descriptions, onboarding new employees, providing training, recruiting, and resolving employee conflict. It usually depends on the size of the company they work for and the sector the company is in, often involving teams of specialized HR managers in larger businesses.

Common responsibilities and duties for a HR manager include:

• Onboarding new employees by conducting training, development, orientation, and enrolling new hires in a benefits scheme.

• Helping their company to plan around their employees so their needs are met

• Implementing diversity programs.

• Handling employee compensation and benefits.

• Sourcing candidates for new job roles within the company, reviewing resumes, and conducting phone screens.

• Conducting performance reviews.

• Managing employee relationships.

• Resolving conflict.

• Communicating policies and programs.

• Developing policies for the company, such as training and vacation time.

• Ensuring employee safety and welfare.

• Ensuring company compliance with tax and labor laws and regulations.

Also read: Skill Assessment is Important During Hiring the Process

Becoming An HR Manager

If becoming an HR manager is a career that you’re interested in, there are some specifics you might want to take into consideration. Below, we’ll go through the skills and qualifications for the job, as well as salary expectations and specialized career paths you can follow in human resources management.

Skills

As a HR manager, there are a few skills that are essential to do your job and do it well. These include specific knowledge about human resources and business practice, and desirable skills that can help you excel at the job.

Specific Skills

• Knowledge of computer software used in HR, such as payroll, applicant tracking systems, and HR software.

• Ability to conduct onboarding for new employees.

• Data Analytics

• Knowledge of benefits and compensation structures.

• Interviewing skills.

• Awareness of industry-specific regulations and standards.

• Ability to recruit qualified candidates.

• Develop initiatives for development.

• Succession planning.

• Knowledge of HR compliances.

• Knowledge of tax and labor laws.

Desired Skills

• Analytical thinking.

• Good communication.

• Adaptability.

• Interpersonal skills.

• Relationship-building.

• Problem solving.

• Conflict resolution.

• Organization.

• Time management.

• Empathy

• Collaboration.

• Discretion.

Also read: 10 Best Work-Life Balance Jobs in the USA

Experience

You'll often need some HR experience before transitioning into HR management; those who have worked as an HR coordinator, HR assistant, or recruiting coordinator may find it easier to transition into such a role.

It can be worthwhile to apply for a more junior position as an HR administrator or HR assistant to begin with if you're thinking about a career in HR management but have never worked in the field previously. For the most part, you can begin in these positions without prior HR management expertise, and you'll pick up a lot of the fundamentals on the job.

Since HR management is a specialized field, it's also important to look for summer internship or work placement options in a big company, particularly if that company has the capacity to fund your HR management education.

Qualifications

It is advantageous to have HR manager credentials even if there are a number of ways to become an HR manager, including apprenticeships, graduate roles, and the choice to change disciplines with some administrative and commercial experience.

A bachelor's degree is often required for HR management positions. You'll often have the best odds of getting hired if you have a degree in human resources or a closely related field, like organizational development.

Salary

The location, size, and sector of a company, as well as the HR manager's industry, all affect salary.

All levels of HR managers in the US have an average salary of $69,201. The average salary for an HR manager with less than one year of experience is $53,008. However, with five or more years of experience, you can expect to make around $69,500, and with ten years of experience, you can expect to make an average of $74,100.

Generalists frequently make less money than specialists. For instance, compensation and benefits managers typically make $87,805, but with ten years of experience, their pay might increase to $96,583.

Specialization

Some HR managers choose to specialize in a certain area of human resources. These specializations usually exist in larger companies.

Some HR specializations include: 

• Training and development managers - improve training initiatives to enhance employees’ skills, knowledge, and performance.

• Talent acquisition and recruitment managers - find candidates who are qualified and handle every step of the hiring process.

• Labor and employee relations managers - makes sure that all employees have everything they need to do their job properly and resolve any issues or conflicts that arise.

• Benefits and compensation managers - responsible for administering and organizing employee benefits and wellness programs.

• Diversity, inclusion, and equity managers - leads the company towards a more inclusive workforce.

Also read: Learning Programs For Startup Employees During Pandemic

Final Thoughts

Being a HR manager can be a rewarding career, giving you interchangeable skills that will always be needed throughout every industry. With this guide, you’ll know more about what it means to be a HR manager.

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