HR Managers are experts in improving company culture, overseeing the interactions between employees, and ensuring the workplace runs smoothly. They’re excellent communicators, with a creative mindset and a strong ability to solve problems.

These individuals also have a strong level of emotional intelligence, allowing them to empathize with the professionals they serve, and understand which personalities fit well together. HR managers aren’t just there to solve arguments between staff members. They can also help to structure an entire business, by hiring the right talent and building development plans to ensure staff have the correct skills. If you’ve ever considered a career in HR management, here’s what you need to know to start your journey.

What Do HR Managers Do?

A HR manager is responsible for overseeing all of the aspects of Human Resources in a business. This can include dealing with employee stress and overall relations, recruiting new staff, and even addressing common conflicts in the office. In your role, you might be responsible for training and development initiatives, or ensuring the right wellbeing strategies are in place for staff. In general, HR managers are there to ensure the culture of the company is effective, and that everyone involved with the brand is comfortable in their role. You might complete tasks like:

• Managing and overseeing appraisal systems
• Maintaining benefits and pay programs
• Monitoring and developing HR strategies
• Managing and developing data storage systems
• Resolving employee issues and grievances
• Managing the recruitment and selection of new employees
• Assessing the need for development and training

Your life as a HR manager can also pave the way for various progression routes. You could start as a HR manager, before gradually working up towards a position as a HR business partner or a HR director. Some specialists also become consultants in their field, or create freelance agencies to assist companies with various HR requirements.

What Skills Do You Need to Be a HR Manager?

Most specialists in the HR world need essential skills surrounding math and English, as well as exceptional communication abilities. However, if you plan on becoming a manager, you might need to consider taking out a student loan and going back to college. Providers like Earnest private student loans can offer an easy and cost-effective way to get your degrees or certification. You can consider looking into a degree in communications and business management. There are also specialist diplomas and certificates specifically designed for human resources professionals which you can access online and offline.

If you’re planning on jumping into a career as a HR manager straight from college, you might find you need to take some time to develop your experience first. It’s usually a good idea to start in a lower HR role and work your way up towards management opportunities. While developing your technical skills will be critical to your success, you’ll also need to think about your soft skills too. HR managers need to have excellent judgement and negotiation skills. They also need a strong sense of ethics and morals. You may also need to develop your organization skills, so you can multi-task when dealing with numerous employees at once.

Is Becoming a HR Manager Easy?

Becoming a HR manager does take some time and dedication. You’ll need to develop a strong understanding of the business and commercial world, as well as developing your knowledge of people. In many cases, companies looking for HR managers will demand a certain level of experience from experts in their field. You may need at least five years of background in a HR role.

HR Managers are also under significant pressure from management a lot of the time, so you should prepare for a high-octane role. Your business leaders will be reliant on you to source the right talent and make sure professionals can thrive in a business. This will require significant planning and creativity. At the same time, you may find yourself dealing with a lot of tense and high-strung situations between different employees and team members. If you think you’re excellent at communicating with different kinds of employees, you have fantastic organizational skills, and you can thrive under pressure, this could be the career path for you.