Human Resources Managers

What the job really is

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

At a glance

• Sector: Management
• O*NET-SOC code: 11-3121
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems.
• Plan, direct, supervise, and coordinate work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations, and employee relations.
• Perform difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures.
• Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations.
• Negotiate bargaining agreements and help interpret labor contracts.
• Advise managers on organizational policy matters, such as equal employment opportunity and sexual harassment, and recommend needed changes.
• Plan and conduct new employee orientation to foster positive attitude toward organizational objectives.
• Analyze and modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
• Identify staff vacancies and recruit, interview, and select applicants.
• Investigate and report on industrial accidents for insurance carriers.
• Analyze statistical data and reports to identify and determine causes of personnel problems and develop recommendations for improvement of organization's personnel policies and practices.
• Administer compensation, benefits, and performance management systems, and safety and recreation programs.

Tools and technology

Applicant tracking software, Facebook, IBM SPSS Statistics, Intuit QuickBooks, Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Human Resources Specialists
• Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
• Management Analysts
• Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
• Labor Relations Specialists
• Training and Development Managers
• Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
• Social and Community Service Managers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Human Resources Managers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.