Human Resources Manager Career

hr-manager-500Human Resources managers are responsible for part or all of the HR department of a given organization. Most medium and large organizations have an HR department to provide services to its employees, so HR directors are needed in a variety of industries and within most companies.

HR generally deals with collecting and processing new hire paperwork, administration of employee benefits, and acting as a liaison between employees and upper level management, but human resources managers are likely to handle more of the fine details rather than routine, day-to-day tasks. While this does make for a more interesting work experience, it can also require candidates for these jobs to have highly developed people skills and high levels of empathy.

Human Resources Manager Career Snapshot

HR managers are generally full-time employees and may be hourly or salaried. Overtime is dependent on the organization in question and may be paid to hourly employees. Most HR departments are located in central locations or main buildings for the organization, and managers may have an open office, closed office, or cubicle depending on the work culture.

Further details on a career as a human resource manager are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):

$104,440

is the annual mean salary for human resource managers.

9%

increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.

68%

have a Bachelor’s degree while 18% have a Master’s degree.

Human Resources Manager Education

Most companies require their HR managers to have at least a Bachelor’s degree, and those seeking employment in this field may benefit from joining an organization such as the SHRM which will provide a certification after a test stating the individual is versed in a variety of HR issues. This certification is generally not required but can help people advance within their field more quickly.

Human Resources Manager Job Duties

HR managers tend to deal with difficult issues relating to benefits and administration. Duties may include following local, state, and federal laws relating to labor, counseling employees about personal matters, processing claims for difficult health or life insurance situations, and listening to employee’s requests and complaints.

Human Resources Manager Salaries

HR managers earn approximately $61,300 to upwards of $187,200 per year, with the average salary coming in around $104,440 as reported by May 2015 BLS.gov reports. However, salaries can vary based on the industry chosen and the number of managers already at the company.

Human Resources Manager Job Outlook

Because HR managers are required in almost every organization, the job outlook is extremely positive. The industry is growing about 9% faster than average and has excellent opportunities for growth as more companies are developed and expanded.

Human Resources Manager Skills & Traits

HR Manager Skill Set:Required Abilities:Tools Used by HR Managers:Typical Work Activities:
• Active Listening
• Management of Personnel Resources
• Social Perceptiveness
• Speaking
• Coordination
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Speech Recognition
• Written Expression
• Desktop/notebook computers
• Scanners
• Audio recording equipment
• Accounting software
• Document management software
• Communicating with Others
• Resolving Conflicts
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Decision Making
• Evaluating Information

Related Careers

Compensation & Benefits Managers

Bachelor’s Degree

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