Human resources manager

Human resources directors are tasked with looking after a company’s workforce. They’re the main point of contact for employees and partially oversee quality management and production. They also have a more central corporate role when it comes to advising operational managers on their skills forecasts, depending on how the business is developing as a whole.

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The life of a human resources officer...

Recruitment

HR officers have to define their company’s needs (alongside operational managers) in terms of recruitment drives. They typically oversee a number of practical processes, from sourcing candidates to carrying out interviews, as well as helping to select successful candidates.

Managing a workforce

The behaviour and concerns, triumphs and failings of a workforce are at the heart of an HR officer’s day. They’re required to assess staff via annual appraisals (solving any issues as they go), organise and hold interviews, as well as altering salaries, all the while continuing to reward successful staff (with the help of bonuses, promotions and positive feedback) and reprimand those who fall below the mark (via warnings, demotions and dismissals).

Leading employee representative bodies

This involves ensuring a constant dialogue between staff and company management, preparing meetings with employee representatives, works councils and health and safety committees, as well as dealing with those responsible for working conditions, safety and environment.

Training

HR officers regularly hold coaching and training sessions to improve their employees’ skills and drive motivation in the workplace. This involves various stages, including defining training needs, introducing training programmes, monitoring them and reporting on outcomes.

Fun fact

Robert Owen, the 19th century British industrialist, philanthropist and social reformer, is widely considered one of the founding fathers of human resources. He put forward a number of proposals to improve the lives of his workers based on the principle that a well-treated employee is a well-performing employee. In 1817, he coined the phrase (which was revolutionary for the time!) “eight hours’ labour, eight hours’ recreation, eight hours’ rest”.

Skills

Hard skills

  • Human resource management
  • Internal auditing
  • Management skills
  • Human resources department processes
  • Monitoring developments in area of expertise
  • Turf management
  • Employment law
  • Advise on risk management

Soft skills

  • Active problem identification
  • Negotiation
  • Self-adjustment

Typical educational background

  • Undergraduate studies in HR
  • 5 years of higher education, business studies, masters in HR

Within companies

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