How to Become an HR Manager

Human resources is an essential area for an organization's overall functionality. It is involved in various business aspects, from recruiting, hiring, and training to overseeing compensation and benefits and more. Human resources is a multifaceted field with plenty of opportunities. 

An HR manager typically oversees the human resources department. The role requires education, experience, and training. As a human resources manager, you could work in various industries, such as tech, banking, and construction, with each having specific needs that will determine your duties. 

Learn more about how to become an HR manager and education and certification options that may benefit your career trajectory. 

What is an HR manager?

As an HR manager, you'll lead your organization's human resources department, overseeing its operations. What you do will depend largely on where you work. Still, you'll likely perform traditional human resources duties alongside leadership responsibilities, like overseeing department staff and liaising between the department and your organization's management. You'll also help implement new HR policies.  

Duties and responsibilities

HR managers have many duties within human resources departments. Some everyday responsibilities include the following: 

• Oversee and develop plans for recruiting, hiring, and training new employees and terminating them in necessary cases.

• Develop employee compensation and benefits plans, including structuring compensation, determining raises, and negotiating salary.

• Manage disciplinary issues, as well as handle disputes and any employer-employee relation problems.

• Ensure organizational compliance with different government regulations related to workplace safety and labor laws, whether local, state, or federal. 

• Supervise human resources staff, delegate responsibilities, and coordinate HR tasks.

HR manager skills

HR managers have a wide range of responsibilities, so you also will need a diverse skill set to work in this role. However, skill development is a familiar area for human resources managers since they equip staff members with the tools needed to succeed. Some of the critical HR manager skills to focus on developing include: 

• Culture development: Help develop workplace culture by establishing company values.

• Ethics: Establishing confidentiality and strong ethics is essential, particularly when handling difficult situations that include sensitive information.

• Decision-making: Some common decisions may involve hiring, benefits packages, and company policies.  

• Communication: You may have to mitigate conflict between staff members, communicate with various departments, and give presentations.

• Budgeting: This relates primarily to compensation and benefits, but you also may need to delegate the budget for training and social activities.

• Organization: You may frequently work on multiple projects simultaneously and around employee schedules. 

• Leadership and management: This may involve addressing the entire organization, coaching employees, managing personnel issues, and more. 

How to become an HR manager

Before becoming a human resources manager, you must meet specific education and experience requirements. While the exact responsibilities you will have can vary from position to position depending on the company you work for and the size of the HR department, some qualifications are typically universal.

Earn a degree.

The standard human resources manager education requirement is at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources. Other potential areas of study might include business administration, business, communication, or psychology. However, for management positions, some companies may prefer candidates who have a master’s degree in human resources management or a similar field. 

Get relevant work experience.

Before becoming an HR manager, you will likely need three to five years of relevant work experience. Entry-level positions and internships are opportunities to learn more about the different areas of human resources. They may lead you to find an HR specialist position if a particular space interests you. After gaining multiple years of experience as an HR generalist or specialist, you can seek to progress to an HR manager.

Develop your management skills.

Management skills can come through work experience, or you can actively focus on developing them. Managers need to be excellent communicators with robust and active listening skills. Delegation is another critical aspect of being a manager. Learning the individual strengths of your team members helps you assign tasks optimally.

Consider a certification.

Although not required, human resources management certifications can help you develop the specific skills you need for the job. Some reputable certifications you could consider include the following: 

• Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) 

• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) 

• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) 

• Certifications from the HR Certification Institute, including Associate Professional in Human Resources and Global Professional in Human Resources 

HR manager salary and outlook

According to Lightcast ™, human resources managers earn an average yearly salary of $139,411 [1]. Some of the highest-paying industries for HR managers include technology, finance, manufacturing, and retail. Along with industry, other factors impacting an HR manager's salary include education, certifications, and previous experience. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that human resources manager positions will grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, equating to approximately 15,500 openings annually [2]. 

Next steps with Coursera

As a human resources manager, you might oversee hiring and recruiting, ensure employees receive their benefits and serve as a liaison between management and other staff. In addition to the human skills typically needed to work in HR, you'll also need strong leadership skills. 

You can find courses to help further your human resources career and learn valuable skills to help you along your journey to become a human resources manager. Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers Specialization from the University of Minnesota on Coursera teaches you about optimal hiring practices and how to manage employee performance. You'll also want to develop your leadership skills. You can take the University of Michigan’s Leading People and Teams Specialization, where you can learn how to motivate individuals and manage talent.