Human Resources Managers: Schools and Careers

Human Resources Managers - Career Information

Human Resource Manager is a job title that can be applied to a wide variety of professionals, all of who are responsible for one or more aspects of employee hiring, training, treatment, and job satisfaction. What they all tend to have in common is that they act as somewhat of a liaison between employees and employers. They perform many of the employee-related administrative functions of an organization, including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, and handling employee benefits. To an increasing extent, they are also being utilized by management in a consulting capacity to assist organizations in their strategic planning. They are helping their management decide how best to utilize the skills of the firm's workforce, to provide the most effective training and development opportunities to improve those skills, and to increase employee satisfaction with employment and working conditions.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of human resource managers depend on their specializations and also the size and nature of the organizations that employ them. In a small organization, a human resources manager is often a generalist who handles all aspects of human resources work and performs a wide variety of tasks. A large corporation, on the other hand, will often designate a Director of Human Resources, who typically acts as the overall manager in charge of several departments covering specific human resources activities. Each of these departments often has its own manager. Some examples of department managers are as follows:

• Employment and Placement Managers oversee the hiring and separation of employees. They typically supervise a staff of specialists who handle employee recruitment, hiring, and placement.
• Training and Development Managers oversee the development and conduct of employee training and development programs.
• Labor Relations Managers implement labor relations programs and prepare information for management to use during collective bargaining agreement negotiations. They often supervise a staff of labor relations specialists who are familiar with economic and wage data and have extensive knowledge of labor law and collective bargaining trends.
• Compensation Managers are in charge of an organization's pay system. They need to maintain a fair and equitable salary structure and ensure that the firm's pay scale is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. They also design pay-for-performance plans and similar employee reward systems.
• Employee Benefits Managers oversee an organization's employee benefits program, most significantly its health insurance and pension plans.
• Employee Assistance Managers are responsible for a wide array of programs relating to the safety, health, and welfare of employees. These programs address issues such as occupational safety and health, food service, recreation activities transportation, employee feedback, child care, and employee counseling.
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Managers are found in some organizations, particularly government agencies or large firms. They are responsible for investigating and resolving EEO grievances, examining corporate practices for possible violations, and compiling and submitting statistical reports.

Job Characteristics

Human resource managers typically work a standard 40-hour week. Some of them, particularly those who specialize in labor relations, are sometimes required to work longer hours. This usually happens during those periods when contract agreements are being developed and negotiated. The work environment is generally pleasant and comfortable. Work is most often done in an office, although some managers, particularly those who specialize in recruitment and hiring, are required to travel in order to attend professional meetings and to visit college campuses for student interviews.

Individuals who work in this field need to possess a wide range of personal attributes and skills. They need to be effective communicators via both the spoken and written word. They need to have congenial and engaging personalities and they must also be fair-minded and discreet when necessary. The growing diversity of the workforce requires that managers be able to deal effectively with individuals representing a variety of cultural backgrounds and levels of education and experience. Managers must also be able to perform well under pressure and be able to accommodate conflicting points of view.

Employment Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (USDL BLS) anticipates job employment in this field to grow at a faster rate than the average for all occupations over the next decade. Demand for experts in the human relations realm will be strong for a number of reasons, including legislation and court rulings which are mandating minimum standards in areas such as occupational safety and health, equal employment opportunity, wages, health care, pensions, and family leave. Demand is expected to be particularly strong for certain specialists. Training managers are likely to benefit from an increase in job-specific training programs resulting from technological advances and the increasing complexity of many jobs. Employment and placement managers will be in high demand to accommodate heightened efforts throughout industry to recruit and retain quality employees. Labor relations managers will be needed as firms become increasingly inclined to resolve potentially costly labor-management disputes out of court.

Although employment is expected to grow at a significant rate, there are factors which may work against job growth. One of these factors is the increasing use of computerized human resources information systems. Other factors which could limit employment growth include corporate downsizing, restructuring, and corporation mergers and acquisitions. Generally speaking, the best job opportunities will go to college graduates who have supplemented their college degree with a certification.

Human Resource Management Training, Certification, and Licensing

The majority of jobs in this field require either a bachelor's or an advanced degree. Many colleges and universities today have degree programs in personnel, human resources, or labor relations. Still others offer courses in other departments (e.g., business administration, communication, education, or public administration) which can lead to a career in human resource management. An advanced degree is a requirement for certain specializations. For example, many labor relations manager jobs require graduate credits in industrial or labor relations. In large organizations, a master's degree in human resources can be not only helpful but in many cases necessary for employment as a human resource manager.

Human resource managers are generally not licensed; however, certification can be useful and even important in many cases. There are several organizations which offer certifications in this field. The Society for Human Resource Management offers two of them: the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). The American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) Certification Institute offers certification in the learning and performance field. The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans confers the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBP) designation on those who complete a series of college-level courses and are able to pass qualifying exams.

Resources

• Society for Human Resource Management
• American Society for Training and Development
• International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
• World at Work
• Human Resource Executives Online
• Labor and Employment Relations Association

Major Employers

Less than 20% of all human resource managers are employed at the government level. The rest are employed by the private sector and are found in nearly every industry. Many are employed by firms involved in management, consulting, and employment services. A relatively small percentage of managers are self-employed, working as consultants to public and private employers.

Schools for Human Resources Managers are listed in the column to the left.

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