HR Manager Career Overview

Human resources (HR) managers play a critical role in companies, helping them recruit new talent, train employees, and ensure compliance with company policies. By providing department leads with the tools they need to guide new employees, assisting employees with their career progression, and verifying that labor laws are enforced throughout the company, they support a variety of organizational goals.

HR managers are well-versed in navigating the complexities of business administration and have well-developed interpersonal skills, which are needed to be able to listen to employee concerns and help drive positive changes in company policies. Completing a business administration degree program can provide aspiring HR professionals with the foundation they need to understand the elements of a satisfactory work environment and the details of managing employees’ administrative requirements.

What Is an HR Manager?

HR managers act as a company’s regulatory system, ensuring that its employees are treated fairly according to the company’s standards and are utilized by the company in the most effective way possible. These professionals help recruit new employees,  train them, and help guide their careers. They also help implement company policies while ensuring the company complies with relevant labor laws.

HR managers are typically heavily involved in maintaining alignment between the company’s goals and its workforce. They act as an intermediary between management and employees, working with executives and department leads on company policy changes based on employees’ feedback and ensuring that employees at all levels adhere to the company’s standards and initiatives.

HR Manager Responsibilities

The day-to-day responsibilities of an HR manager vary depending on the company’s needs and factors like the company’s size and structure. However, some responsibilities are consistent across the HR manager role, including the following:

• Recruiting employees: HR managers are often responsible for seeking out potential candidates to fill open positions. They’ll typically scout for candidates by posting job openings or physically attending job fairs to find eligible future employees. They may also interview applicants to get a feel for their fit within the company and provide tours of the company’s offices to those they are interviewing.
• Training employees: Once employees are hired, HR managers may continue to work with them to help them settle into their new roles in the company by explaining company policies and the employee’s salary and benefits, for example. They also help guide employees in managing their workplace interactions, including by providing classes on privacy, avoiding inappropriate workplace behavior, and the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
• Evaluating employees: HR managers help ensure that employees meet the standards set by the company and individual departments and are responsible for managing changes to employees’ salaries or bonuses as well as any promotions or demotions based on employees’ performance or changes within the company’s structure.
• Resolving employees’ conflicts and complaints: When conflicts occur in the workplace, HR managers typically act as mediators to help resolve the situation. Whether there is a disagreement between co-workers or an allegation of harassment, HR managers utilize their negotiating skills to help settle the issue in the best interests of the company and its workforce as a whole.

HR Manager Work Environment

Any company with more than a handful of employees may benefit from having an HR manager to handle recruiting, payroll, and employee engagement. The HR manager functions as the representative of company policy, making the role critical across all industries, from technology to health care to government. 

HR managers usually work in an office environment, where they can most efficiently meet and collaborate with employees at all levels. They frequently process forms and other paperwork and rely on computers, software, and databases to manage the information related to payroll, benefits, compliance, and staff performance. They may also travel to different branches of an organization to facilitate HR procedures in person and visit other regions to recruit new employees.

HR Manager Salary and Job Outlook

According to 2022 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for HR managers is $130,000. Individual HR managers’ salaries can vary due to factors such as their company’s size, their location, and their experience. An HR manager’s industry may also play a role in their salary, with the BLS noting that HR managers in professional, scientific, and technical services industries have the highest median annual salaries.

For those considering entering the HR manager field, the job outlook is promising. According to the BLS, HR manager positions are projected to grow by 5% between 2022 and 2032. This is faster than the 3% average job growth projected for all careers. 

The BLS notes that growth will vary by individual companies, but that HR managers remain a crucial part of emerging new organizations. They are necessary to help established companies navigate any changes to existing employment laws, including how health care and retirement plans are issued.

Improve the Workplace as an HR Manager

If you’re considering a career as an HR manager, whether you’re just starting on your professional path or looking to pivot in a new direction, you need to have a solid understanding of business administration fundamentals to succeed. HR managers particularly need a strong foundation in business policy, since they work with company stakeholders and employees at every level on all types of administrative policy. Those looking to prepare for a career as an HR manager should consider the benefits of enrolling in North Carolina Central University’s online Bachelor of Business Administration program.

With courses covering HR management and a focus on communication, leadership, and ethics, the online BBA program can be an excellent way to build critical knowledge of HR concepts. It also offers a concentration option in HR management that emphasizes the theory and practice of HR. Since the BBA program is an online program, you can pursue your degree at the time and place that is most convenient to you, allowing you to progress on your career journey without limits.

Discover how you can create a better workplace with North Carolina Central University.

Recommended Readings

How Technology Builds Resilience in Critical Infrastructure Security

How the Top Tech Companies in North Carolina Are Driving Industry Growth

What’s Information and Communications Technology?

Sources:

Indeed, “Human Resource Duties and Skills: Best Practices for HR”

Indeed, “What Does an HR Manager Do? Duties, Skills and Steps”

Indeed, “What Is Human Resource Management? (With Duties and Tips)”

Indeed, “What Makes a Good HR Manager?: 15 Skills and Traits of Effective HR Managers”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Human Resources Managers