Job Responsibilities
Manages all Human Resources programs to include benefits,
employee relations, training, recruitment, safety, workers
compensation, Unemployment Compensation, Affirmative Action,
equal opportunity, labor relations, personnel policies, and
more. Supervises the Human Resources operation for four
companies in 30 states.
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Job Requirements
Educational requirements vary, but those candidates with degrees
generally have more opportunities for career advancement. A
Human Resources curriculum is desirable, but other degrees have
merit such as Psychology or Business. Achieving top grades is
extremely important because Human Resources professionals
usually scrutinize their own prospective team members very
closely.
The importance of employment law knowledge cannot be
underestimated. In addition to rapidly changing federal laws, HR
professionals must be knowledgeable of or able to research state
and local laws. Many HR situations involve some law or a number
of laws. Labor relations has become increasingly important as
unions attempt to increase membership in a society where there
has been declining union membership.
An understanding of business is essential because the HR
department must be strategically oriented, i.e. its initiatives
must support those of other departments and the goals of the
company.
My academic experiences were thoroughly enjoyable because I set
high standards for myself. In addition to their advanced
degrees, professors had relevant professional experience.
Typically, knowledge was assessed by essay examinations, but
each university can differ.
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Uppers
The best parts about this profession are numerous. My team makes a difference in
the lives of our employees. We contribute in many ways to the bottom line of the
business. Human Resources jobs are never boring because they can be very
unpredictable. However, these unpredictable circumstances should always be
construed as challenges and opportunities to excel.
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Downers
Some employees perceive the HR staff members in a negative way
because they get involved in things like employment terminations
and disciplinary matters. In addition, people can get frustrated
when they ask questions and receive answers that they do not
expect. For example, I have been asked to start benefits
enrollment for some employees early (before the 90-day waiting
period). Granting these types of requests invites legal and
other problems; I will not compromise my ethics nor will I grant
special favors.
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Lifestyle
The HR lifestyle can be a little bit different, but bears many similarities to
other occupations. Depending on the workload and deadlines, extra hours may be
necessary. Business travel is sometimes a necessity for numerous reasons,
especially if the company has multiple locations. Meetings, conferences, and
training can provide fun travel opportunities. Open enrollment meetings for
benefits are sometimes necessary so that employees at all locations get the
information they need to make the right decisions. Employee relations
investigations, court appearances, depositions, and labor union negotiations are
just a few other instances.
The HR Department is often instrumental in planning company social events. It is
important to understand the climate and the culture of your organization because
successful social events are some of the best opportunities for team building.
Poorly planned events can have the opposite effect and can bring liability to the
company. Serving of alcoholic beverages must be done in a responsible manner.
Social events should be fun, but should not involve risky activities such as
bungee jumping.
The majority of HR professionals approach social settings with a little caution.
I choose not to drink alcohol when in the company of co-workers nor do I
associate excessively with individual employees in any setting. If perceptions
were to develop that certain employees are "the buddies of the HR Department,??
there could be trouble.
Dress code varies with each employer. HR folks dress like everyone else. In a
manufacturing environment, the employees can relate better to us when we dress
casually like they do. Simple differences in attire can cause communications
barriers. At a bank or law firm, I would expect more dry cleaning expenses since
I would be wearing suits.
Diversity is important in every work center and I consider it to be super
important in HR. Human Resources professionals must be champions of diversity and
equal opportunity. As such, diverse candidates for HR positions often enjoy
advantages. For example, during my career, I failed to qualify for many good
opportunities because I am not fluent in more than one language.
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Compensation
As with any other position, compensation is usually determined
by your value to the company. Two years ago, when I accepted
this job, the base pay was $52,000 (with bonus potential). My
first bonus check amounted to over $6,800. Dedication and hard
work brought three hefty pay raises within 18 months. Today, my
base pay is $85,000. Although I do not receive stock options
(our companies are privately held), we offer a full benefits
package.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Understand that learning is a lifelong responsibility in this
career field. Be sensitive to the need for change and help the
organization to manage that change.
Practical experience, training, and self-study are all critical
to your development. In addition to academic achievements, join
the Society for Human Resources Management (our professional
organization) and seek professional certification through the
Human Resources Certification Institute.
There are many business and Human Resources magazines and
newsletters available. These publications are important and
relevant sources of information.
Regardless of your background, study and gain knowledge of the
business world. As a Director, I must know how HR processes
affect cash flow. It's not enough to ask for upgraded software;
my recommendation should include a study of this initiative's
Return on Investment. If I want to increase the employer
contributions for our 401(k) investment program, how much would
that cost? As a supervisor, I strive to teach my team members
that their daily activities are important business decisions.
The future is bright for Human Resources professionals.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor
Statistics, "Overall employment of human resources, training,
and labor relations managers and specialists is expected to grow
faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. In
addition to openings due to growth, many job openings will arise
from the need to replace workers who transfer to other
occupations or leave the labor force."
(http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos021.htm#outlook)
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