Human Resources Managers

Overview

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Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Examples

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

Yearly Salary

High: $208K
Median: $121K
Low: $71K

Demand

Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend

Core Tasks

  • Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
  • Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
  • Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
  • Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
  • Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
  • Negotiate bargaining agreements and help interpret labor contracts.
  • Plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives.
  • Analyze and modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
  • Identify staff vacancies and recruit, interview, and select applicants.
  • Analyze statistical data and reports to identify and determine causes of personnel problems and develop recommendations for improvement of organization's personnel policies and practices.
  • Investigate and report on industrial accidents for insurance carriers.
  • Administer compensation, benefits, and performance management systems, and safety and recreation programs.
  • Prepare and follow budgets for personnel operations.
  • Maintain records and compile statistical reports concerning personnel-related data such as hires, transfers, performance appraisals, and absenteeism rates.
  • Provide current and prospective employees with information about policies, job duties, working conditions, wages, opportunities for promotion, and employee benefits.
  • Conduct exit interviews to identify reasons for employee termination.
  • Plan, organize, direct, control, or coordinate the personnel, training, or labor relations activities of an organization.
  • Analyze training needs to design employee development, language training, and health and safety programs.
  • Oversee the evaluation, classification, and rating of occupations and job positions.
  • Allocate human resources, ensuring appropriate matches between personnel.
  • Prepare personnel forecast to project employment needs.
  • Study legislation, arbitration decisions, and collective bargaining contracts to assess industry trends.
  • Develop or administer special projects in areas such as pay equity, savings bond programs, day care, and employee awards.
  • Develop, administer, and evaluate applicant tests.
  • Contract with vendors to provide employee services, such as food service, transportation, or relocation service.
  • Provide terminated employees with outplacement or relocation assistance.

Technology Skills

Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Accounting software
Intuit QuickBooks
Analytical or scientific software
IBM SPSS Statistics
Business intelligence and data analysis software
Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition
Charting software
AASoftTech Web Organization Chart
Compliance software
Stratitec TimeIPS
Computer based training software
Training software
Data base reporting software
SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports
Data base user interface and query software
Microsoft Access
Desktop publishing software
Microsoft Publisher
Document management software
WinOcular
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Workday software
Financial analysis software
Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
Human resources software
WhizLabs
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Multi-media educational software
Nearpod
Office suite software
Microsoft Office software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Process mapping and design software
Microsoft Visio
Project management software
Microsoft Project
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Time accounting software
Kronos Workforce Timekeeper
Video creation and editing software
YouTube
Web page creation and editing software
Facebook
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Desktop computers
Security surveillance and detection
Audio recording equipment

Top 10 Knowledge Required

Personnel and Human Resources
99%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

English Language
87%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Administration and Management
84%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service
79%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training
78%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Law and Government
72%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Psychology
66%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Public Safety and Security
64%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Computers and Electronics
61%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Communications and Media
60%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Top 10 Skills

Active Listening
88%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Management of Personnel Resources
85%
Importance

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Reading Comprehension
85%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Speaking
85%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination
83%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Writing
83%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning
80%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Complex Problem Solving
80%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Critical Thinking
80%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making
80%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Top 10 Abilities

Oral Expression
90%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Oral Comprehension
88%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension
88%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Speech Clarity
83%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Expression
83%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning
80%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning
80%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Near Vision
80%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Recognition
80%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Problem Sensitivity
78%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Top 10 Work Activities

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
95%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
95%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
95%
Importance

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
93%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
92%
Importance

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Developing and Building Teams
89%
Importance

Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
89%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Coaching and Developing Others
87%
Importance

Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
86%
Importance

Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Staffing Organizational Units
85%
Importance

Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Liaise between departments or other groups to improve function or communication.
  • Supervise employees.
  • Manage human resources activities.
  • Hire personnel.
  • Represent the organization in external relations.
  • Negotiate labor disputes.
  • Recommend organizational process or policy changes.
  • Advise others on legal or regulatory compliance matters.
  • Conduct employee training programs.
  • Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.
  • Administer compensation or benefits programs.
  • Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
  • Recruit personnel.
  • Investigate industrial or transportation accidents.
  • Prepare reports related to compliance matters.
  • Analyze data to inform personnel decisions.
  • Prepare operational budgets.
  • Compile operational data.
  • Maintain personnel records.
  • Communicate organizational policies and procedures.
  • Estimate labor requirements.
  • Maintain knowledge of current developments in area of expertise.
  • Coordinate special events or programs.
  • Perform human resources activities.
  • Administer standardized physical or psychological tests.
  • Negotiate sales or lease agreements for products or services.
  • Advise others on career or personal development.

Education

Interests

Enterprising
100%
Importance

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Conventional
75%
Importance

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Social
56%
Importance

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Investigative
39%
Importance

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Artistic
25%
Importance

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Realistic
16%
Importance

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Work Values

Relationships
86%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Recognition
81%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Achievement
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Independence
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Support
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Colleges

SAGE Scholars Member Schools that offer majors leading to this career.

Check out the College Search to see the full list of schools with majors for this career.