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Human Resource Management Job Overview

Human resource managers perform the administrative functions of a company, which includes recruiting, interviewing, handling employee issues and ensuring that company policies are adhered to. Dealing with people is a vital and integral part of the job. These managers consult top executives for the purpose of strategic planning and, when required, suggest change in policies to the company.

Human Resource Management Schools and Degrees

The qualifications required for a human resource manager depends on the level of responsibility that he or she aspires to hold. Candidates can attend any of the colleges and universities offering degree programs in human resources and human resource administration. There are many certificate courses that a prospective human resource manager can opt for, such as education, business administration, human services, public administration or communication. A college diploma in human resources management may be sufficient for many employers. Relevant experience along with certification is preferred for being a successful human resource manager.

Job Requirements

The Society for Human Resource Management offers candidates two levels of certification in Human Resources and the Professional in Human Resources. This society also offers candidates Global Professional cartificates in Human Resources; those with cross-border and international responsibilities benefit from this certification. The California Certification in Human Resources educates people about California's labor and human resource laws. To qualify for all these certifications one should have the required experience and must pass a comprehensive examination.

Human resource managers must have strong skills in areas like computers, supervising, teaching and volunteering. They should have the capacity to supervise people from diverse levels of education, cultural backgrounds and experience. These managers should also have the ability to perform under pressure, be fair-minded and persuasive, tactful and possess an amiable personality.

Nature of Work

Human resource managers carry out all the functions required for hiring new staff, including selecting and screening potential employees for a company. When a close contact is not possible between the employees and the top management, human resource managers step in. These managers make use of employee skills for benefiting their organization or firm. They work towards enhancing productivity and morale and contain attrition, thereby improving business results and helping the organizations improve their overall productivity.

Human resource managers can work from the comforts of their office. They usually work for 35 to 40 hours in a week; however, the necessity of working overtime might arise in situations like contract agreements being under negotiation. Human resources personnel might have to travel to college campuses for the purpose of interviewing and recruiting candidates.

Human Resource Management Jobs and Outlook

According to a United States Department of Labor research in 2006, human resource managers held about 136,000 jobs in the US. Employment is considered to be highest in the following areas:

• Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
• Local Government
• Management of Companies and Enterprises
• State Government

The median annual earnings of human resource managers was recorded to be $88,510 in the US in May 2006.

Job Numbers and Growth

Human resource managers nationally number 58,000. The unemployment level for workers is low, compared to other occupations. About 3% of employees were unemployed recently.

Area Job Conditions

Human resource managers are relatively common in San Jose (California), Minneapolis (Minnesota), and Fayetteville (Arkansas). They are rarer in McAllen (Texas), Sarasota (Florida), and Scranton (Pennsylvania).

Workers are paid highest in San Jose (California), San Francisco (California), and Newark (New Jersey), and lowest in Lafayette (Louisiana), Shreveport (Louisiana), and Oklahoma City (Oklahoma).

Training and Education

Employees are generally expected to have a bachelor's or higher degree, plus work experience. About 58% of human resource managers hold a bachelor's degree or better. Currently 28% of workers have some college education, though not a degree. About 15% of employees were able to get their jobs with a high-school diploma. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

About 3% of human resource managers work less than full-time. In 1% of the cases, workers work for themselves.

Human Resource Managers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming