How to Become a Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers do a lot of the heavy lifting around the office. Just to be clear, you probably won't have to actually lift anything heavy. But you will be responsible for a lot of the administrative funcations within the organization you work for. So, you know, that kind of heavy lifting.
Since a human resources department is needed in almost every company, you won't have any problems finding a job. You'll definitely have your pick of industry. Typically, employers will hire individuals who have a bachelor's degree. But some might hold out for those with a master's degree.
As a human resource manager, you'll probably only have to work a full-time schedule. Although, some managers might work more than the normal 40-hour week. At the end of the day, as long as you're putting your employees' talent to good use, you're doing a good job.
What Does a Human Resources Manager Do
Human resources managers plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. They oversee the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new staff; consult with top executives on strategic planning; and serve as a link between an organization’s management and its employees.
How To Become a Human Resources Manager
Candidates need a combination of education and several years of related work experience to become a human resources manager. Although a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for most positions, some jobs require a master’s degree. Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills.
EducationHuman resources managers usually need a bachelor’s degree. There are bachelor’s degree programs in human resources. Alternatively, candidates may complete a bachelor’s degree in another field, such as finance, business management, education, or information technology. Courses in subjects such as conflict management or industrial psychology may be helpful.
Some higher-level jobs require a master’s degree in human resources, labor relations, or business administration (MBA).
Work Experience in a Related OccupationTo demonstrate abilities in organizing, directing, and leading others, related work experience is essential for human resources managers. Some managers start out as human resources specialists or labor relations specialists. Others gain management experience in a variety of fields.
Management positions typically require an understanding of human resources programs, such as compensation and benefits plans; human resources software; and federal, state, and local employment laws.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsAlthough certification is voluntary, it can show professional expertise and credibility and may enhance advancement opportunities. Many employers prefer to hire certified candidates, and some positions may require certification. The Society for Human Resource Management, Human Resource Certification Institute, WorldatWork, and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans are among many professional associations that offer a variety of certification programs.
Important QualitiesDecisionmaking skills. Human resources managers must be able to balance the strengths and weaknesses of different options and decide the best course of action. Many of their decisions have a significant impact on workers or operations, such as deciding whether to hire an employee.
Interpersonal skills. Human resources managers need strong interpersonal skills because they regularly interact with people. They often collaborate on teams and must develop positive working relationships with their colleagues.
Leadership skills. Human resources managers must be able to direct a staff and oversee the operations of their department. They must coordinate work activities and ensure that workers in the department complete their duties and fulfill their responsibilities.
Organizational skills. Organizational skills are essential for human resources managers. They must be able to prioritize tasks and manage several projects at once.
Speaking skills. Human resources managers rely on strong speaking skills to give presentations and direct their staff. They must clearly communicate information and instructions to their staff and other employees.
Human Resources Manager Career Paths
As you move along in your career, you may start taking on more responsibilities or notice that you've taken on a leadership role. Using our career map, a human resources manager can determine their career goals through the career progression. For example, they could start out with a role such as regional human resources manager, progress to a title such as regional human resources manager and then eventually end up with the title regional human resources manager.
Average Salary for a Human Resources Manager
What Am I Worth?
Top Colleges for Human Resources Managers
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
2. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
3. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
6. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN • Private
8. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
9. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
10. SUNY College at Oswego
Oswego, NY • Private
Top Skills For a Human Resources Manager
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 7.4% of human resources managers listed performance management on their resume, but soft skills such as interpersonal skills and leadership skills are important as well.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Human Resources Manager Resume templates
Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Human Resources Manager templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Human Resources Manager resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.
Human Resources Manager Demographics
Human Resources Manager Gender Distribution
After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- Among human resources managers, 70.3% of them are women, while 29.7% are men.
- The most common race/ethnicity among human resources managers is White, which makes up 64.9% of all human resources managers.
- The most common foreign language among human resources managers is Spanish at 62.7%.
Online Courses For Human Resources Manager That You May Like
Effective Human Resource Administration...
Curriculum commensurate to Top B Schools Management Program: with downloadable resources, quiz, assessments & exercise...
Introduction to Human Resource Concepts...
Best States For a Human Resources Manager
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as a human resources manager. The best states for people in this position are Washington, California, New York, and New Jersey. Human resources managers make the most in Washington with an average salary of $105,683. Whereas in California and New York, they would average $97,339 and $90,690, respectively. While human resources managers would only make an average of $88,215 in New Jersey, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Washington
$105,683
Avg. Salary
2. California
$97,339
Avg. Salary
3. New York
$90,690
Avg. Salary
How Do Human Resources Manager Rate Their Jobs?
5.0
5.0
Human Resources Manager • June 2019What do you like the most about working as Human Resources Manager?
Successful career placement and advancement for both employee and company Show MoreWhat do you NOT like?
The turnover that comes in the retail industry Show MoreTop Human Resources Manager Employers
We've made finding a great employer to work for easy by doing the hard work for you. We looked into employers that employ human resources managers and discovered their number of human resources manager opportunities and average salary. Through our research, we concluded that Lowe's Companies was the best, especially with an average salary of $70,578. The Home Depot follows up with an average salary of $73,982, and then comes Walmart with an average of $80,213. In addition, we know most people would rather work from home. So instead of having to change careers, we identified the best employers for remote work as a human resources manager. The employers include UBS, Black & Veatch, and Bentley Systems
Most Common Employers For Human Resources Manager
| Rank | Company | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft | $133,368 | $64.12 | 155 |
| 2 | Accenture | $114,633 | $55.11 | 199 |
| 3 | General Electric | $112,849 | $54.25 | 167 |
| 4 | AT&T | $105,512 | $50.73 | 185 |
| 5 | Nordstrom | $101,590 | $48.84 | 148 |
| 6 | JCPenney | $96,533 | $46.41 | 229 |
| 7 | Toys"R"Us | $96,348 | $46.32 | 251 |
| 8 | Kohl's | $95,778 | $46.05 | 171 |
| 9 | Sears Holdings | $91,492 | $43.99 | 434 |
| 10 | Macy's | $90,369 | $43.45 | 261 |
What are the best companies to work for a Human Resources Manager?
Sarah Kovalesky
Career Coach, University of Utah
I wish there was a folder I could pull out for students when they start the job search that had a list of places and jobs that are available to them. However, that is just not the reality of the world of work. I encourage students as they start their job search to do an inve,ntory and take a look at themselves and who they are as an individual. One part of this inventory can be taking a look at one's values what individual values can inform them of the companies that are the best fit for them, whether that may be location, finances/wealth, growth, etc.Show more
Becoming a Human Resources Manager FAQs
How long does it take to become a Human Resources Manager?
It takes 7 years of professional experience to become a human resources manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific human resources manager skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 10 to 12 years years to become a human resources manager.
How hard is it to become an HR manager?
It is not hard to become an HR manager. The easiest way to become a human resources manager is by holding a bachelor's degree in human resources (HR) and having at least a few years of experience working in human resources.
Is it hard to become a human resource manager?
No, it is not hard to become a human resources manager. Though it is not hard to become a human resources manager, it requires a certain level of experience and education and an abundance of soft skills.
What are the five main tasks of a human resource manager?
The five main tasks of a human resources manager are: recruiting, hiring, onboarding, safety and compliance, and training and development. These five core functions of a human resources manager encompass most of what the role does.
What is the difference between an HR manager and an HR business partner?
The difference between an HR manager and an HR business partner is that the HR manager focuses on administrative support while an HR business partner focuses on strategic resource support.
What is the difference between an HR manager and an HR director?
The difference between an HR manager and HR directors is their levels of responsibility within the organization and their daily tasks. Human resources directors establish a company's goals, policies, and strategies, while managers concentrate on a specific branch of human resources, such as hiring or training staff.