Introduction
Increased globalization has enhanced competition level across industries and organizations are resorting to various methods to retain their key resources. Likewise, employees need to continuously hone their skills to meet career goals.
This essay presents elaborated job description of a Human Resource Manager. The profile of HR managers is challenging enough because they are the channels between employees and the management. Different aspects related to their profile have been outlined and discussed to present a holistic overview.
Job Description and Analysis: Human Resource Manager
Human resource manager takes care of employees' concern in an organization. He/she is responsible for charting out different plans and procedures that may help employees in meeting short-term and long-term organization goals. Recruitment, interviews, staffing, training and maintaining the human resources of the company are some of the main responsibilities associated with this profile. In short, right from the recruitment till an employee leaves the company, HR is responsible for everything including orientation, deciding the salary structure, organizing training and development programs, appraisals and promotions. They are responsible to maintain a healthy and encouraging ambience at workplace.
However, the job is tougher than it seems. As an HR manager, one needs to make a balance between individuals' objectives and organizational objectives. As they facilitate the communication between the management and the employees, it's their task to redress grievances and maintain the decorum of the work place. The plans and procedures should be beneficial for both, employees and the organization. This is why the scope of human resources has increased manifold since last decade.
Workplace diversity has given rise to conflicts thereby increasing the difficulties for HR managers. For them, it is must to think beyond the narrow confines of caste, gender and creed and take best possible decisions. Complexities in projects have given way to groups and team works and tasks of HR professionals have become challenging because of that. Making employees feel 'at one' with teams and the organization is one of the most challenging aspects of present day job profile.
This is why they chart out policies to keep the workforce motivated and happy. Of course, energetic and motivated workforce is the pre-requisite of organizational growth and it's the responsibility of HR manager to exploit the potential in the best possible way. HR represents the organization and it is necessary to fill the post with qualified talent.
Just a degree in HR or personnel management doesn't guarantee the suitability of an applicant for the post. The profile is demanding than ever and only a person with good insight and vision can manage it well. Following qualities are required for the profile of an HR manager:
- Good planning and organization
- Multitasking
- Business ethics
- Employees' trust
- Dual Focus: Employees and management
- Fairness
- Dedication to improvement
- Strategic orientation
- Team orientation
- Team handling and conflict management
- Training in adopting multiculturalism
- Seminars and discussions to keep employees' motivated
- Maintaining transparency while appraisals and promotions
This list is not exclusive and there can be several areas in job profile of an HR manager that may require further consideration. These aspects should be addressed thoroughly to make the position filled with qualified talent.
Good compensation and growth opportunities not only retain key employees but also attract new talents for the job. Amidst cut-throat competition, everybody is looking for ways to enhance skills and an organization must cater to this requirement.
Conclusion
The job profile of HR manager has become challenging with time. Now, in addition to basic responsibilities of staffing, recruitment and appraisals, he/she must address employees' concerns and make a healthy ambience at workplace. The most difficult aspect on part of HR managers is to keep the balance between employees' concerns at one hand and organizational goals at other hand. The more efficiently a person handles this trade-off, the more effective manager he/she can prove.
Statistics say that HR managers are drawing handsome salary across the world these days; there are variations based on several factors though. An organization should offer lucrative pay scale and provide growth opportunities as well to fetch the suitable and competent candidate for the post.
References
Armstrong, M. (2008). Management: Tenth Edition. New York: Cengage Learning.
Gonzalez, L. E. (2011). How to Become an Extraordinary Manager. Bloomington: AuthorHouse.
Jelinek, S. (2010). The Impact of Management Practices and Organizational Stucture of Firm Performance. Germany: GRIN Verlag.
Lundy, O., & Cowling, A. (1996). Strategic Human Resource Managemet. Routledge.
Raju, S., & Parthasarathy. (2010). Management Text And Cases (2nd ed.). New Delhi: PHI Learning.
