The Basics of Becoming a Human Resource Manager
Are you investigating how to become a Human Resource Manager and want to know more about the career? The main job of an HR Manager is to act as a link between management and employees. They find and recruit new talent, train and develop workers, engage employees, and resolve conflict. In addition, Human Resource managers are also tasked with creating organizational policies regarding equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment. Human Resources Managers analyze employee salary and benefits, monitor legal compliance, and ensure a safe work environment. They also evaluate employee productivity and recommend changes to an organization’s structure.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, human resources managers generally need a bachelor’s degree in human resources or business administration. However, it’s not uncommon for HR Managers to have bachelor’s degrees in another field or take courses in human resources subjects, such as labor or industrial relations, organizational development, or industrial psychology. Some positions are also filled by experienced individuals with other backgrounds, including finance, business management, education, and information technology.
What Are Hurdles to Becoming A Human Resource Manager?
To have a more realistic picture of the HR profession, it’s critical for people considering HR careers to really spend time learning about how Human Resources activities are performed in organizations today. Taking an internship in an HR department, speaking to current HR professionals, reading HR magazines (such as HR Magazine, published by the Society for Human Resource Management), joining the local HR Society for Human Resource Management chapter, and reading HR blogs can all help provide a more realistic perspective of the HR field.
Human Resources can be a very rewarding profession, particularly if those entering the profession go in with “both eyes wide open” and have a desire to grow their skills.
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- Todd Averett, President of Leading People Partners
Most Important Decisions A Human Resource Manager Makes Every Day
The most important decision a Human Resources Leader can make is in determining how their Human Capital strategy will positively impact the overall results of the organization.Click To Tweet!
Their day to day decisions on culture, engagement, talent, performance, total rewards, well-being, training and development etc. all assist in determining the overall results of the organizational strategy.Click To Tweet!
- Dawn M. Cacciotti, Owner of EngageHRnow
A Human Resource Manager's Salary Potential
- Lowest 10th%
$68,300 - Median
$116,720 - Highest 90th%
$205,720
States with the Highest Employment Levels
| STATES | 2019 ANNUAL MEAN WAGE | NUMBER OF JOBS |
|---|---|---|
| California | $145,710 | 21,600 |
| New York | $158,830 | 10,980 |
| Illinois | $121,720 | 10,890 |
| Texas | $126,470 | 10,260 |
| Florida | $107,520 | 7,980 |
How Do Your Skills Stack Up?
As reported by O*NET, these traits are ranked as either extremely or very important to the day to day life of a Human Resource Manager.
What You Will Learn With a Human Resource Degree?
If you’re thinking about earning a bachelor’s degree in human resources, you’ll want to know what coursework to expect! Schools with human resources degree programs, may offer classes like:
- Training & Development
- Business Policy & Strategy
- Employment Law
- Compensation & Benefits
- Intercultural Management
Human resources degree programs usually have the goal of preparing students for the complex duties of recruiting, managing, and developing staff. The coursework you take on typically cover areas specific to human resources, like staffing, training, compensation, benefits, and more. Your program could also explore general topics in business and management, like leadership principles, business ethics, and organizational communications. Finally, courses like conflict management and negotiation are designed to help future leaders to mediate problems among staff members and promote a positive work environment.
Who are some creative people to watch in the HR Industry?
SmartRecruiters.com compiled a list of trend-setters in the HR Space. These are HR influencers who are performing well at well-known companies:
- Felicia Fields: Vice President of Human Resources at Ford Motor Company, earned a degree in administration from Central Michigan University
- Dianne Mills: Former Global Head of Human Resources at PayPal, received a bachelors in finance from Virginia Tech
- Laszlo Bock: Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google, received an MBA from the Yale School of Management
- Kalen Holmes: Former Vice President of Human Resources at Starbucks, holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organization Psychology from the University of Houston
FAQs About How to Become a Human Resource Manager
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Job information sourced from O*NET