Human Resource Manager of the New Era

Human Resource Manager of the New Era

As we speak, the United States of America population lies at 331 million, of which 13% accounts for the youth of the country. This might look like a handful, but this handful percentage holds about 41,852,838 people- all of them aged 10 to 19. This the biggest asset that America has to hone, and then, there’s no stopping for the USA. We will discuss the Human Resource Manager of this new era in the early 21st Century.

Every year millions of people join the work front of the country, hoping to launch their careers. And obviously, the firms that hire them to play a very pivotal role. For a firm, its employees are the bricks that build the structure. Better the quality; stronger the structure. However, a building made of bricks alone is bound to fall. That is where the human resources department breaks through. They are the cement that holds the cement together- providing support at all times. A human resource manager must be a master of his skill. Human resource management is taking in the new, maintaining the young, and providing for the existent. Sounds too knotty? Simply put, this only means hiring the best and providing for the rest.

Human Resource Manager

A human resources manager has a vital role in any company. His perspective on the company’s hired hand largely decides the fate of the firm’s foreplay. They meet different people with a palette of emotions and personalities. The human resources manager must be a people person and be able to deal with everybody efficiently. This is not a very difficult thing to achieve, because as humans, it is our innate nature to interact with those around us. So, as you’re not toby from “The Office,” this career choice might be one just for you!

While this position might seem rosy and desirable, which of course it is, it’s got some stiff competition. Every year, approximately 6850 people pass out with a degree in human resources. Now, to make it more of a challenge, firms accept even those candidates who haven’t purely majored in human resources. For instance, if you are someone with a major in business analytics with a minor in human resources, or some cases, if you are an economics major with an open minor, you are still welcome to launch your career in a human resources wing. All this adds up to form stark competition, and it all comes down to, as Charles Dicken once quoted, “the survival of the fittest.” While the skills required by a human resource manager are those that one already needs to apply in his life, they sure do need quite a period of time to hone by be a pro at it. While technical skills have their place, one must have firm core skills and mind in the right place. Even simple things like communication- a skill that some may have already mastered- might hit the curb when dealing in a stressful and spontaneous environment. In such situations, the position holder must be able to visualize him in the same situation in a multifaceted manner alongside his team. By this, everybody can safely agree that developing a perspective in any given situation is the most important skill a human resources manager must have 

This position calls for diligence and an industrious mindset, but all this grind is rather handsomely rewarded. The payment takes off from about $45,300 per annum for a fresh employee and shoots up to $74,400 for a mid-career employee. These are both quite impressive figures compared to the average salary of the United States of America, which stands at around $56,516. But obviously, salary is not the only parameter which inspires one to take up a job. Firstly, the job is a fast-growing one- its demand has an average growth of 6% every decade, which is faster than the usual.

Moreover, the chances of human resources facing the advent of technology and being automated lie shallow at 0.6%. This means that keeping your job might be a tad bit easier for someone in the human resource industry than for someone working in accounting or finance. But the most important aspect of choosing a profession has to be “meaning.” “Meaning” here does not refer to the definition of something. Rather it refers to the positive impact one has on the world as an individual through his employment. This rate is as high as 54% for someone involved with the human resources sector, which is definitely a green flag!

Now, as discussed earlier, the human resource sector is a very fluid one. Of course, human resource management majors stand to have a solid go at the job, but they are not the only ones. Many times, people with a degree in sociology or even liberal arts try their luck with this position. Here, the candidates also have the liberty to have a go at this position. In some cases, people with an undergraduate degree in various disciplines focus on human resources in their graduate school and are still eligible for the position. The world of human resources is quite overwhelming, and without adequate training, one might succumb to the pressure. Climbing up the corporate ladder is going to need enormous effort and phenomenal grit. The sweet success, in the end, is going to be worth the show that one puts up.

As mentioned earlier, decent training is an absolute must. So, one enrolls in a business school without question. Now, the question arises which school to enroll in. Without a doubt, Ivy leagues offer premium courses. Still, everybody’s needs, goals, and budgets are different to which different institutions have the capacity to cater- hence giving out a list of colleges specifically for Human Resources would be rather pointless. What would make more sense is to take upon a few parameters that will provide assistance to narrow down on the college. While everybody obviously looks at a college’s academic quality, reputation, and affordability, one must always remember to look out for the infrastructure and equipment that the school holds as they play an important part in imbibing multiple skills that would build your career. Another thing to keep an eye out for is the quality of the institution’s online program. In the wake of the pandemic, on-site learning might not be viable, and one must be ready to learn remotely and at the same time not compromise on the quality of education. 

After graduate school, when one might think he has achieved “technical expertise,” there is yet a lot to unfold so, let’s get some insight into things one must always have at the back of their mind.

  1. You would be the go-to person for everything.

When you work in the human resources department, you also take upon hundreds of unspoken responsibilities. People might come to you with IT and technological issues. You might have to mentor people, take on trainees across various departments. Ultimately you have to push people in the right direction alongside your job as you will probably be the most trusted person around. People will come to you with multiple problems, and you must know the right people for them to consult at the right time.

  1. You must speak up.

This goes without even saying. Let alone as a human resource manager, even as an employee in any other department, if something is bothering you, you must speak up. As a human resources manager, you would be more vulnerable as you would constantly be dealing with a lot of stark contrast in their intentions and personalities. When working in such a varied and demanding atmosphere, one must learn to call out unethical workmanship and other unacceptable behavior. This largely determines the future of the firm you work for. 

  1. Human resources can be political.

Constant dealing with people would mean constant dealing with their affairs- these might be professional or private. Obviously, sticking to a professional attitude and verbatim would be the reasonable thing to do, but it is necessary to do so even when it gets tough. Of course, this doesn’t mean you don’t take any action when unethical actions are being planned or done or something is going against your core values. You might be the person to call them out, but always remember to keep your calm and maintain your composure.

  1. Don’t expect personal support for your education.

While multiple firms offer a range of policies to those employees who are still working on getting certified, do not expect this from every firm. This is because every firm has employees who treat each other as competition or even a threat at some level. Hence, the ever-active corporate wall. This does not mean you have to do so too. All you need is a solid plan, perfect planning which is not too tight, and of course, some mind space.

  1. Get a mentor.

Experts in the industry have not emphasized this enough but GET A MENTOR. Everybody is bound to get stuck at one point or the other, and consulting an expert is the way to go. Now a mentor does not have to be a therapist- as a matter of fact, a therapist or someone you consult regularly may not be the best person for the job since they might be clueless about the professional aspect of your life. It would be more feasible if you’re a senior at work or an excellent colleague with whom you feel safe and speculate that interactions with them would actually help you grow.

  1. Always be networking.

This goes without saying. When you are working with people, it becomes obvious that you need to know people. These people may be your employees, your employer, your colleagues, or even someone outside of work who is a professional, as a matter of fact. This ensures that you have some connection to the human resource world even if your careers happen to be on a break, which is a great fallback to have.

  1. Know your labor laws.

You are likely going to encounter various situations where you might have to be the one who has to speak up to better the company. As the saying goes, “To break the rules, know the rules.” To call out something that you think is wrong, you must know the rules. , When going into such a people-intensive job, you must know your laws- your rights and those around you. Knowing your laws doesn’t imply that you have to slog over the big law book. A general overview of the legal happenings in the firm is a good grasp.

  1. Get to know your employees.

This is one of the most important ones because this is what adds meaning to what you contribute to the form. Since you will be constantly surrounded by people and will be working with them, you might as well get to know them. This will work wonders for you as you are now adding a human element to a position that otherwise would be very wry and monotonic. By getting to know them, you get a frame to work with by understanding their satisfaction parameters and producing efficient services and products with healthier efforts.

  1. Know your tech bugs.

Not only would people be coming to you with technical issues, you yourself might have to deal with your computer tantrums. In an age, which is undergoing a technological advent, this becomes very pivotal because calling up your technical team for every small interference is a mighty waste of time- which defeats the purpose of using technology in the first place.

  1. Make your mental health a priority.

One must help themselves to be able to help someone else. If you can deal with your inner self, your whole stays at peace, and you can nudge or maybe sometimes shove people in the right direction. Dealing with people who would also involve a few energy vampires can be very exhausting, and knowing the correct way to deal with everybody politely every day is important. So, it can be safely be concluded- healthier your mind, wealthier your work.

All in all, the human resources management sector is painting a beautiful picture of itself for the coming generations of the workforce. But time is key. If you really want to hit it off in the human resources starting honing your mind right now. After all, you find people everywhere- so make them your job- make them your resource. Happy prepping! 

Also read Vice President of Sales Job Description – Duties and Salary

Human Resource Manager of the New Era

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to top