Get to Know the Role of HR Manager and Skills and How to Start a Career

HR Manager is an important position in a company that is responsible for managing human resources. This role is becoming increasingly important as the complexity of the modern workplace increases.

Let's explore more about what an HR Manager is, its important role, the skills needed, and how you can start a career in this field!

What is an HR Manager?

A Human Resources Manager or HR Manager is a professional who is responsible for managing human resources in an organization. This role is very important to ensure that the company has a competent, productive, and satisfied workforce.

HR Managers also act as a liaison between management and employees, and work to create a positive work culture. Where, they must have strong communication, leadership, and analytical skills.

Role of HR Manager

HR Managers have a very important role in ensuring the effectiveness and productivity of a company. Here are some of their main responsibilities:

1. Recruitment and Staffing

HR Managers are responsible for recruiting the best candidates and ensuring they fit into the company culture.

They must be able to analyze job needs and select prospective employees appropriately.

2. Compensation and Benefits

Setting competitive compensation, evaluating salaries, and managing employee benefits are some of the roles of an HR Manager.

3. Designing Training and Development Programs

This role must also identify employee training needs and design appropriate development programs. This is important to improve employee skills and productivity.

4. Employee Relations

Managing the relationship between employees and the company, including handling conflicts and ensuring compliance with employment laws.

5. Organizational Development

The HR Manager also plays a role in leading every stage of the company's growth and development, including creating a positive work culture.

Skills Needed to Become an HR Manager

To become a professional HR Manager, there are several skills you need to master:

1. Communication

Communication is the most important skill for an HR Manager. Why? Because, you will often interact with various parties. Starting from ordinary employees to top-level executives.

Therefore, the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, is very important.

In this role, you must be able to:

• Convey information clearly and easily understood.
• Negotiate and mediate conflicts.
• Give persuasive presentations.
• Write clear and concise reports and policies.

2. Knowledge of Employment Law

HR Managers must have a strong understanding of employment laws and regulations.

This is important to ensure the company complies with all legal requirements and avoids legal problems.

You need to understand:

• National and local employment laws.
• Laws on discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
• Laws on employee compensation and benefits.
• Occupational safety and health regulations.

Because employment laws change frequently, it is important to keep your knowledge up to date.

3. Leadership

As an HR Manager, you will lead the HR team and influence the company's strategic decisions.

Therefore, an HR Manager must have strong leadership skills, for example:

• The ability to motivate and inspire others.
• Decisive and timely decision making.
• Effective delegation of tasks.
• Coaching and developing team members.
• Demonstrating integrity and being a role model.

Good leaders don’t just give orders, they empower their teams to grow and excel.

4. Analytical and Decision-Making Skills

HR Managers are often faced with complex situations that require careful analysis and wise decision-making.

Therefore, you need to be able to:

• Analyze HR data and trends.
• Identify problems and find creative solutions.
• Make decisions based on available information.
• Predict the impact of decisions on employees and the organization.

5. Business Understanding

A professional HR Manager must understand that the HR function is not only about managing employees, but also about supporting the company's business goals.

So, you need to have the ability to:

• Understanding the company's business strategy and goals.
• Ability to align HR strategy with business strategy.
• Knowledge of industry trends and the labor market.

6. Technology Skills

In this digital era, HR Managers need to be proficient in using various HR technologies. For example:

• Human Resource Information System (HRIS).
• Online recruitment and selection tools.
• Digital learning and development platforms.
• Technology-based performance management systems.

7. Interpersonal Skills

Finally, HR managers need to master interpersonal skills. As a leader, you will deal with various personalities and situations. So, you need to have:

• Empathy and the ability to understand other people's perspectives.
• High emotional intelligence.
• The ability to build relationships and trust.
• Flexibility and adaptability in dealing with various situations.

How to Start a Career as an HR Manager

If you are interested in pursuing a career as an HR Manager, here are some steps you can take to prepare:

1. Education

Typically, a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Psychology, or a related field is required.

2. Experience

Most HR Managers have 7-10 years of experience in HR before reaching a managerial position.

3. Professional Certification

Obtaining professional certification such as PHR (Professional in Human Resources) or SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional) can increase your credibility.

4. Developing Skills

HR is an ever-evolving field. Keep yourself updated with the latest HR trends, technologies, and best practices through continuous learning.

5. Networking

Join professional HR associations and attend industry conferences to network and learn from experts.

From the explanation above, it can be said that HR Manager is one of the jobs that is currently needed by many companies. With the right combination of education, experience, and skills, you can build a successful career in this field.

As an HR Manager, you will have a unique opportunity to shape the culture of the organization and influence the professional lives of many people.

So, if you have a passion for working with many people and want to make a difference in the business world, a career as an HR Manager might be right for you.

Are you ready to develop a career as an HR Manager?

Join the HR Today: Building Employee Experience class from prasmul-eli and improve your understanding of human resource management.