The Wall Street Journal’s recent report ranks Human Resource (HR) among the most promising careers of the forthcoming decade. Additionally, another survey report stated that there would be substantial growth in the jobs offered by the HR industry in India. Therefore, job prospects for Human Resource (HR) professionals are looking stronger than in the last decade.
The ever-growing industry has its origins in administration. However, with time, HR became a people-oriented industry that works for the betterment of employees.
An HR professional’s day-to-day activities include many tasks and duties like recruiting, training, compensation, employee management, HR law, and others. So, if you are interested in knowing how to become an HR manager, here is all you need to know.
Eligibility Criteria to Become an HR Manager
An HR manager is someone who heads the HR department of an organization. They are responsible for recruitment, training, career development, employee relations, employee laws, and other business functions. You need to score at least 60% or more in graduation or any equivalent course to become an HR manager. You can also undertake certificate courses in human resource management to get in-depth knowledge about the industry and its operation.
How To Become an HR Manager?
After ascertaining that you have the educational qualification to become an HR manager, the next step is to follow the below-mentioned steps. Below is a step-by-step guide to becoming an HR manager.
1. Degree
According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a human resource manager needs a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree to enter the field. Furthermore, an HR manager can also undertake several certificate and short-term courses specializing in different aspects of the industry.
2. Internship
“The position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification,” that’s how the Oxford dictionary defines Internship. Some of the successful human resource managers started their careers as trainees. But interestingly, they learned many managerial skills at the ground level.
3. Experience and Expertise
You need a significant amount of experience before applying for the position of HR manager. So, work as an HR trainee, HR associate, Junior HR manager, and others to gain work experience related to the occupation. Many successful industry leaders started their careers as a trainee and climbed up the ladder of success. Similarly, starting from as a trainee, you’ll gain expertise in all HR-related business functions. This is how you can become an HR manager in a couple of years.
4. Apply for the position of manager
The next step is to apply for the position of manager. Since you have the required experience, it is the right time to move on to the next chapter of your career.
5. Getting certified
As an HR manager, you need to be evolving and learning constantly. And doing a certificate course in Leadership or human resource management is the best way to do that. Certification courses can help you gain in-depth knowledge about the industry.
What Are the Skills Required for Becoming an HR Manager?
HR managers have a wide range of responsibilities – from recruitment to compensation. Therefore, HR managers need to have a variety of skills. Here are some of the skills required for becoming an HR manager .
1. Agility
As an HR manager, you might run into difficult scenarios often; therefore, you must be adaptive to changes. For instance, an employee decides to quit the company, or another employee asks for a raise. Whatever the issue is, you need to be prepared and flexible to the constant changes.
2. Analytics
HR Analytics – In recent years, technology has seeped into organizations replacing manual work. Today, everything is digitized, from employee records to leave applications. Therefore, an HR manager must embrace technology and grasp analytics to increase efficiency and productivity. With the help of technology and analytics, an HR manager can complete complex works like employee records, compensations, and others in a jiffy.
3. Empathy
The role of an HR manager includes handling employees and their grievances. They are supposed to have empathy and compassion to solve the problems of employees and boost their confidence. Furthermore, a good HR manager is a good listener. Interestingly, many HR managers have an open-door policy, which means employees can come to meet them anytime with prior appointments or notifications.
4. Ethics
The HR manager has access to some of the most sensitive information of an employee. Hence, they must follow high standards of discretion and work ethics to not sabotage an employee’s career by unveiling their personal information to the wrong person.
5. Communication
HR managers need to have good interpersonal skills because they need to communicate with diverse individuals daily. Therefore, it is beneficial if an HR manager has strong written and verbal communication skills as it avoids miscommunication.
What Are the Benefits of Pursuing a Career in HR?
The need for HR professionals is expected to amplify in the forthcoming years, and India may spearhead it. So, if you are keen on learning how and when to become an HR manager, now is the time. Here are some benefits of becoming an HR manager in recent times.
- The average income of HR professionals is comparatively higher than in other fields.
- HR is evolving, so a professional working in this field will always be up to date about the trends and updates in all industries.
- HR is an omnipotent industry. Therefore, an HR professional can get a lucrative job opportunity in any part of the world.
