A human resource manager is a important functionary in an organization who manages the organization’s most valued assets: the people working there who collectively as well as individually contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the organization. As such, it is a much sought after career which is amply rewarding in terms of both money and job satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities
In the simplest terms, an HR Manager recruiting people, develops their capacities, utilizes, maintains and compensates their services in tune with the policies and requirements of the organization. The job encompasses a number of areas such as organizational management, workforce planning and recruitment, training and development of the workforce, skills management, personnel administration, compensation and payroll, employee benefits administration, performance appraisal, personnel cost of planning and labor relations.

Specifically, the Human Resoruces Manager organizes and monitors the whole recruitment process of the company. First they decide whether the job at hand can be accomplished on a contractual basis or requires recruitment. In the latter case, the HR Manager will post advertisements for the position, conduct recruitment tests and interviews and ultimately recruit the necessary candidates. Next, they typically organize training for the newly recruited employees. This includes a number of factors like induction, orientation lectures and icebreaker sessions. The HR Manager skills used to connect your employees and they gel as a team.. Further, they motivate employees through regular interaction sessions, monitors their performance and rewards the exceptional achievers. HR Managers work in collaboration with the accounts department to decide the salary and payroll issues of the workforce. The HR Manager also takes feedback from employees and uses it to help management be more effective. Finally, HR Managers intervene in labor or industrial disputes and helps settle them to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Level of Education Required
Unlike many other positions, an Human Resource Manager’s job requires specific educational qualifications. For entry-level positions, a bachelor’s degree in human resources, social sciences, labor laws or industrial laws is considered necessary. Even courses related to humanities like public administration, psychology, sociology, political science, economics or statistics are considered advantages by many firms. Often a fair amount of work experience is sought before hiring HR Mangers. So, a candidate with requisite educational qualifications would be well advised to spend a few years taking a professional experience and then look for higher entry jobs.

Career Path
Usually large companies recruit fresh HR people as trainees. With experience, they climb the ladder through the positions of Executive HR Manager, Senior Executive HR Manager, Assistant Manager HR, Deputy Manager HR, Manager of HR and eventually to the level of General Manager of HR.

HR workers can advance there career through outlets such as The American Society for Training and Development Certification Institute who offers classes and certification intended to enhance the skills of their members. Joining these classes and acquiring the certifications may facilitate the rise up the ladder for HR Managers. Exceptional achievers may be made Director of Human Resources or industrial relations, which can eventually lead to a top managerial or executive position. Some may join a consultancy or outsourcing firm or open their own business.