Human Resource Management is the effective management of people in an organisation. The human resource function contributes significantly to the success of an organisation, thus managing the human resource department is important. Pursuing a career as a Human Resource Manager can be exciting and challenging at the same time. As roles for human resource managers are increasing, this blog is a one-stop guide for aspirants to know how to become a Human Resource Manager!
This Blog Includes:
Who is a Human Resource Manager?
A Human Resource Manager is a link between an organisation’s management and its employees. Human resources managers oversee the human resource department and ensure that the work culture within the organisation is positive. The job requirements as an HR could range from performing administrative tasks with an understanding of the law to resolving conflicts, making decisions related to policies, remuneration, a work environment that affects every single person in the company. The role of an HR manager is crucial and ensures the smooth running of the entire organisation.
Explore some of the Best Human Resource Management Books
Responsibilities of a Human Resource Manager
In order to become a Human Resource Manager in the future, aspirants must get a brief about the responsibilities of being an HR manager:
Job Analysis and Staffing
HR managers have to design the job analysis in order to hire the right person for the job. After specifying the job description and requirements, the HR manager undertakes the entire staffing process from posting a job to negotiating a salary package. The main steps under the staffing process are the development of a staffing plan, the development of policies to encourage multiculturalism at work, recruitment and selection.
Development of Workplace Policies
Human resource managers are responsible for the development of workplace policies to ensure fairness and continuity in the organisation.
Compensation and Benefits Administration
HR managers are responsible for determining the compensation and benefits and ensuring that it is fair, meets industry standards, and is high enough to entice people to work for the organisation.
Retention
HR managers need to make sure that employees retain or keep working in the organisation. They motivate employees to stay through compensation and factors like resolving conflicts, working on employees’ feedback, etc.
Training and Development
After hiring new employees, HR managers make sure that these employees are trained to do the job and also that they continue to grow and develop new skills in their job.
Monitoring Performance
HR managers continually monitor employees’ performance to compensate them fairly and if there is a scope of improvement, then train them to upskill them.
Maintaining Work Culture
HR managers are responsible for maintaining a positive culture within the organisation. They make sure that employees are able to freely communicate their problems and provide feedback.
Worker Protection and Dealing with Laws Affecting Employment
A Human Resource Manager should be aware of all laws affecting the workplace like discrimination laws, healthcare regulations, minimum wage, worker safety laws, labour laws, etc. They ensure the safety of employees.
Skills Required
The following skills are required while undertaking the job of a human resource manager:
- Great communication skills, know how to speak to people and deliver messages in the right way
- Good organisational skills
- Administration and Decision making skills
- Empathetic skills; someone that others will trust with sensitive data and information
- Negotiation and influencing skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Training and development skills to upskill employees
- Extensive knowledge of how a business works and an HR function operates
How to Become a Human Resource Manager?
Post knowing about who is a Human Resource Manager, responsibilities and skills required to become an HR manager in the future:
Step 1: Complete your Schooling
Complete your 10+2 or equivalent. A background in commerce is helpful as it helps you to be familiar with the business, accounts and economic aspects that can help in your career to become a human resource manager. As human resource involves dealing with people you can take up psychology.
Step 2: Get a Bachelor’s Degree
Get a bachelor’s degree in human resource management or a business-related field. The core curriculum of HRM focuses on human resource theory, psychology, operations, management, industrial relations, technical communications, labour management, employment law, employee development, accounting, statistics, information technology, and professional communications.
Pursue Diploma in Human Resource Management to skyrocket your career in HRM!
Step 3: Gain Work Experience
You can gain experience either through internships or by being employed in entry-level positions in HR. This will help you build your CV and attract better job prospects.
Step 4: Master’s Degree
After completing your graduation you can choose to specialise in any human resources by pursuing a masters course like MBA in HR, Executive MBA in HR, MA in HR or Masters in HR. You can also choose to specialise in any particular area within human resource management.
Step 5: Doctorate Degree
After completing your masters successfully, aspirants can also pursue a PhD in human resource management which will help you attract better job offers and become a professional in this field.
Popular Universities to Study Human Resource Management Courses
Here’s a list of the top 15 universities in the world that offer human resource management courses:
University | Location | QS World Ranking 2022 |
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology | Zürich Switzerland | =8 |
National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore, Singapore | 11 |
The University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh, United Kingdom | 16 |
The University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR China | 22 |
University of Toronto | Toronto, Canada | 26 |
The University of Manchester | Manchester United Kingdom | =27 |
Northwestern University | Evanston, United States | 30 |
King’s College London | London, United Kingdom | 35 |
The University of Melbourne | Parkville, Australia | 37 |
The University of Sydney | Sydney, Australia | 38 |
Université PSL | France, France | 44 |
The University of Queensland | Brisbane City, Australia | 47 |
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | London, United Kingdom | 49 |
Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Shanghai, China | =50 |
Technical University of Munich | Munich, Germany | =50 |
Let’s also explore the Best Universities for Human Resource Management in UK
Scope and Salary Trends
As a human resource manager, you can be employed in any company of any sector or industry where there’s a need to manage employees and the culture. You can be employed in HR consultancy firms from which smaller companies outsource their HR needs. You can also choose to specialise in a particular area of HR like talent management, recruitment, employee relations, employment law, compensation and benefits or learning and development or progress in your career in a generalist role. The typical path of career progression is:
HR Administrator > HR Advisor > HR Manager > Head of HR > HR Director
There are also opportunities for experts to gain employment as a teacher or lecturers at a university. The role of an HR manager is of importance and thus specialising in this field can fetch higher income. The average base salary of HR managers in India is around Rs 6-7 lakhs per annum. Let’s examine the average salary of a Human Resource Manager around the world:
Country | Average Annual Salary (Estimated) |
USA | $84,859 – $107,795 (INR 63,75,923 – INR 80,99,231) |
Canada | $70,000 – $80,000 (INR 41,02,135 – INR 46,88,154) |
UK | £35,000 to £55,000 (INR 35,22,051 – INR 55,34,651) |
Australia | $90,000 – $110,000 (INR 48,91,127 – INR 59,78,044) |
New Zealand | $80,000 – $100,000 (INR 40,94,837 – INR 51,18,546) |
Also Read: Scope of MBA in HR
This was everything that you needed to know about how to become a human resource manager. If you want to kickstart your career as a human resource manager, call our Leverage Edu experts today on 1800 572 000 and get started!