How to Become a Human Resources (HR) Manager

If you've set your sights on a business career and you're hoping for something where you can make a difference in the lives of others, a path that focuses on an organization's most important asset — its people — could be a natural option for you. A career in human resources (HR) can allow you to combine your business acumen with your people skills, so to speak. HR managers may tend to work behind the scenes at an organization, but they have a sizable impact on their company's daily operations and outcomes.

In this article, let's delve into the human resources manager role, detailing its duties, the skills needed to excel, the timeline to get there, and more. When we're finished, you should have a good idea of how to become a human resources manager.

What Is the Role of Human Resources?

It's important to remember that the specific duties these professionals are tasked with will vary depending on the size and structure of the organization. In general, HR managers are responsible for all functions that deal with the needs and activities of an organization's people. They do everything from recruiting employees and negotiating salaries to developing the organization's culture and creating policy recommendations.

Human resources managers work toward several different goals in the organization. They facilitate productive relationships within an organization — between support staff and employees, between assistants and managers, and between coworkers in general. They aim to enhance overall productivity, provide satisfying work experience, and support the organization's business strategy and long-term objectives.

Human resource management carries weight in every organization. Most companies recognize that the quality of their output is directly dependent on the skill and commitment of their employees, which depends on the leadership of their HR staff.

Because a typical HR manager role covers such a variety of duties, it's critical that these professionals maintain strong organizational skills and stay adaptable. In this role, you'll often be sifting from one project to the next, keeping your work interesting as it continually evolves.

As a Human Resources Manager, What Do You Do?

As mentioned above, the facets of the role of HR manager can vary somewhat between organizations. Still, the core functions of these managers are basically the same wherever you go.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these are the typical duties of an HR manager:

• Plan and coordinate the organization's workforce to maximize and best use employee skills
• Provide the link between management and the employees
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee the organization's employee benefit plans
• Advise managers in other departments on human resources issues, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment
• Coordinate the work of others in the HR department
• Oversee the organization's recruitment, interviewing, selection, and overall hiring processes
• Handle staffing issues, such as mediating disputes and directing disciplinary procedures

Human resources managers oversee finding, motivating, and keeping the best employees and matching them with the roles where they are the most competent and skilled. In broad terms, HR managers oversee employee relations; ensure regulatory compliance; and administer employee-related services such as payroll, training, and benefits.

What Skills Are Needed for a Human Resources Career?

According to the Academy to Innovate HR, these are the most important skills that are needed to become an excellent HR manager.

• Strong Communication Skills — Clearly convey information to employees, leadership, and job candidates, both verbally and in writing.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence — Understand and respect employees' perspectives and manage sensitive situations with care and discretion.
• Ethical Judgment and Integrity — Maintain confidentiality, uphold company policies, and navigate complex workplace issues with fairness and honesty.
• Problem-Solving Ability — Handle employee conflicts, staffing challenges, and policy issues with thoughtful, effective solutions.
• Organizational Skills — Manage multiple responsibilities such as recruiting, compliance, benefits, and training.
• Knowledge of Employment Law — Stay up to date with labor laws and HR regulations to ensure the organization remains compliant.
• Adaptability — Respond effectively to changes in workforce dynamics, company structure, or industry trends.
• Leadership and Decision-Making — Guide teams, influence company culture, and make strategic HR decisions that align with organizational goals.
• Technological Proficiency — Use HR software and data tools to streamline processes and support data-driven decision-making.
• Conflict Resolution Skills — Navigate interpersonal issues with professionalism and work toward positive outcomes for all parties.

How to Become a Human Resource Manager: 3 Important Steps to Take

While you can't become an HR manager overnight, it's a completely attainable career path. Here's a look at how you can get started.

1. Attain Education

Some higher-level HR positions require a master's degree. But most human resource management positions simply expect candidates to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. To enter this field, you can complete your bachelor's degree in a number of different fields, such as human resources, finance, business management, education, or information technology.

If you've already earned your bachelor's degree in a field that may not be applicable to an HR position, you might want to look for HR management certification options. The program at UMass Global, for example, can help you with the following:

• Mastering the basics of managing policies and benefits that support a capable staff.
• Learning to manage employee relations, compensation, performance management, and employee appraisals.
• Developing an HR management strategy that can better handle all the employee issues within your company.

2. Acquire the Necessary Work Experience

A degree isn't the only thing you'll need to achieve the status of HR manager. If you've already spent some time in the professional world, that experience could be beneficial. Nearly all positions of this caliber require a number of years of related work experience.

Management positions in the HR field typically call for a thorough understanding of various programs and topics; such as compensation and benefits plans; human resources software; and federal, state, and local employment laws.

As they work to gain relevant experience, many HR managers begin their careers as human resource specialists or labor relations specialists. It's important to try and build a broad foundation of HR skills. If you can work at a smaller firm, it's more likely you will build a broader HR skill set because you will be tasked with more wide-ranging duties.

3. Consider Pursuing Official Certification

Not all HR manager positions require official certification, but some organizations prefer candidates with this background. Certification through a professional association allows you to demonstrate your level of expertise and credibility, helping you stand out from the competition during the hiring or promotion process.

You have a variety of options when it comes to HR certification. Two of the most common paths are the Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®) certification and the Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®) certification through the HR Certification Institute™ (HRCI™).

The PHR exam demonstrates an individual's mastery of the technical and operational aspects of HR management. PHR-certified professionals often work under another HR professional and focus their responsibilities on the HR department rather than the overall organization.

The SPHR exam centers more on demonstrating an individual's mastery of the strategic and policy-making aspects of HR management. SPHR-certified professionals are typically responsible for planning rather than implementing HR policy. Organizations look at these HR pros to help set goals, as their experience deomstrates an in-depth understanding of business issues far beyond the HR function.

How Long Does It Take to Become an HR Manager?

While there isn't a "set" pathway to becoming an HR manager, the steps involved in getting there are typical. How long will it take? From time spent getting your education to work experience and advancement, a good career plan/timeline would encompass 7–8 years. This could be shortened through grad school or certification.

• Education = 4 years. Should you choose to add an MBA or an MA in HR, you would add 1–2 years of school time, but this could speed your advancement.
• Entry-Level Experience = 2–4 years. With a BA, most careers would begin as HR assistants, coordinators, or specialists. The hands-on experience gained is crucial for advancement.
• Advancement into Management = after 1–2 years of experience. Once you've demonstrated your HR expertise and leadership potential, with the requisite experience, you can move up into management positions in the human resources department.

What Is the Career Outlook for an HR Manager?

The BLS projects employment of human resources managers to grow by six percent over the next decade. This is faster than the average job growth for all occupations.

As the U.S. population ages, it is estimated that this growth in HR jobs is largely due to the need to replace workers who are retiring.

There are two paths to becoming a human resources manager. Obviously, you can work directly for a company in its HR department. Or you can work for a provider of HR services to smaller organizations that opt to outsource their HR functions.

Make Your Way to a Career in HR Management

If you're intrigued by the idea of dedicating your career to supporting the well-being of your organization and its employees, you could be a great fit for a career in HR. Now that you know more about how to become an HR manager, you can see where you are along the journey. It may be time to start thinking about the next step.

If you haven't yet earned a bachelor's degree, head to UMass Global's Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in human resources program page to learn more about our program. Browse around to see all the Bachelor of Business Administration programs that we offer to learn more about your options.

If you've already completed your bachelor's degree and you're looking to arm yourself with more HR-specific skills, visit the Master of Science in Human Resources program page or the Certificate in Human Resource Management page to learn more.

Ready to take the next steps? Speak with an enrollment coach today at 800.746.0082.