Whether they’re negotiating a contract with union leaders, or interviewing a hopeful job applicant, Human Resources Managers combine the qualities of leadership and initiative with steadiness and perseverance. It’s not a job for the faint of heart, since the responsibility for overseeing layoffs, or firing an employee, usually lands in their hands. These managers work both to attract qualified candidates, and to ensure they are productive and fairly-treated once they’re hired. They also develop recruiting and training programs, and administer employee pay and benefits. Human resources managers make sure employment policies are followed throughout an organization. They help managers and employees understand work contracts and resolve discipline issues or conflicts. They may facilitate important conversations about equal opportunities, and preventing sexual harassment. Sensitivity to others’ perspectives is important. Human resource managers work in business, government, education, and non-profits. Some positions require travel, especially to recruit applicants from college campuses, or to attend conferences. Typically, though, this is an office-based career with 9-to-5 hours and the possibility of good benefits. A career as a human resources manager usually begins with a bachelor’s degree in human resource management, business, communications, or a related field. A good human resources manager is pivotal to the morale and success of an organization.
What they do:
Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.
On the job, you would:
Design, evaluate, and modify benefits policies to ensure that programs are current, competitive, and in compliance with legal requirements.
Analyze compensation policies, government regulations, and prevailing wage rates to develop competitive compensation plan.
Administer, direct, and review employee benefit programs, including the integration of benefit programs following mergers and acquisitions.
Business
human resources (HR)
management
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Safety and Government
law and government
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
reading work related information
People and Technology Systems
thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
communicate by speaking
communicate by writing
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
use rules to solve problems
Math
add, subtract, multiply, or divide
choose the right type of math to solve a problem
People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Analytical Thinking
Dependability
Initiative
Self Control
You might use software like this on the job:
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
SAP software
Workday software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Human resources software
Human resource management software HRMS
Vantage Point Software HRA
bachelor's degree or master's degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.