Human resources officer jobs

Officers in charge of human resources (HR) devise, advise on, and put into action policies that pertain to an organization's efficient use of its workforce.

As a human resources officer, one of your primary responsibilities is to ensure that the company for which you work employs a workforce that has the appropriate mix of skills and experience, and that colleagues have access to training and development opportunities that will help them improve their performance and contribute to the accomplishment of the company's overall business objectives.

No of the size or nature of the company, every department's human resources officer is responsible for a variety of tasks. These include things like the following:

employment terms and circumstances

Equality while preserving variety

bargaining with work-related organizations located outside the company

remuneration and benefits

recruiting and retaining existing talent

procedures for doing work

It is possible to operate in the field of human resources (HR) either as a generalist who is responsible for a wide variety of tasks or as a specialist who focuses on one specific area.

Responsibilities

If you want to be successful in this capacity, you need to have a comprehensive awareness of the business goals that your company strives to achieve and the ability to establish and execute policies that recruit, develop, and keep the appropriate people to reach these goals.

You will not only be responsible for the welfare of employees and activities centered on administration, but also for strategy and planning.

It is expected of HR departments that they will bring value to the organizations that they assist. The specifics of the task may vary depending on the organization, but in general, you will be required to do the following:

work closely with a variety of departments, increasingly in a consulting position, to help line managers in comprehending and putting into practice different policies and procedures.

Foster an environment in which equality and diversity are valued as integral parts of the organization's culture.

maintain communication with a diverse group of individuals interested in policy areas such as employee performance and health and safety.

Recruit personnel, which include generating job descriptions and person requirements, producing job advertisements, screening application forms, shortlisting prospects, interviewing them, and choosing the best ones.

Check to see that any potential new employees have the authorization to work at the organization.

Develop and put into effect policies addressing concerns such as working conditions, performance management, equal opportunities, disciplinary processes, and absence management.

develop employee handbooks

provide advice on matters pertaining to salary and other forms of payment, including promotion and perks

conduct frequent salary reviews

handle programs for employee layoffs.

bargain with employees and their representatives (such as representatives from trade unions) over problems of compensation and working conditions, employment contracts, and voluntary separation packages.

Managing the payroll and keeping the personnel data up to date

provide interpretation of employment legislation and advice

handling complaints and carrying out disciplinary actions are also required.

Create methods for human resource planning that take into account both short-term and long-term staffing needs.

design and sometimes carry out training, including orientations for newly hired employees.

examine the requirements for training in collaboration with the managers of the various departments.

Salary

Beginning salary for human resource managers vary anywhere from £18,000 to $23,000.

The range of salary for HR officers and advisors is from $24,000 to $35,000.

The salary range for HR managers is typically between £35,000 and £55,000.

The salaries of HR directors often vary anywhere from around £55,000 to more than £80,000 per year.

Your experience, skills, and qualifications, as well as your location, industry, and the type of employer you work for, as well as your level of responsibility, seniority, and particular function, can all have an impact on the salary you receive in the human resources (HR) field. Salaries can vary significantly between employers in this field. The local government and charitable organizations, for instance, are likely to have salaries that are lower than other industries such as banking and financial services. Having credentials that are approved by the CIPD as well as chartered membership might be beneficial to one's job prospects.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and the Reed Human Resources 2020 Salary Guide provided the following income data: The numbers are simply meant to serve as a guide.

Time spent working

You may expect to put in a typical 37-hour workweek, Monday through Friday, although your schedule may sometimes involve work on the weekends or during shifts. Additionally, in order to achieve deadlines, you could be required to put in additional hours of labor.

There is a possibility that roles may be filled on a part-time or job-share basis, in addition to providing chances for flexible working arrangements.

What may be anticipated

The job is performed in an office setting, but depending on the nature and organizational structure of the company, it may also need travel to other locations such as factories, hotels, government agencies, or retail stores. An organization may be segmented into a variety of unique units based on their location or the functions that they perform. A big retailer, for instance, would have a centralized office that handles overarching personnel policy, while at the retail outlets and warehouses, a generalist human resources officer would be in charge of day-to-day HR responsibilities.

Working as a sole proprietor or as a freelancer is an option that sometimes presents itself as a result of the growing trend among businesses to outsource specialized knowledge temporarily in cases when it is not accessible in-house. The growing trend of outsourcing HR procedures has led to an increase in the demand for HR consulting services. These positions are often reserved for those who have prior experience in the industry (a certification from the CIPD is required), maybe with a background in management or HR consulting.

There are opportunities accessible in every region of the UK, with the bulk of occupations being located in the country's largest cities and towns. It is more probable that some specialized positions will be located at the headquarters of an organization, which is often located in a big city.

The prospects for travel both inside the UK and to other countries are determined by the sort of organization you work for, the structure of the HR department, and the field in which you specialize. Even at the entry level of a career, there are opportunities to travel internationally.

Qualifications

Even while this field of employment is available to people with a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, a postgraduate certificate, or a foundation degree, the following areas of study may be especially pertinent:

dealings with various tongues

either commercial or managerial

human resource management

psychology.

You can also consider earning a dual degree in subjects such as business management and human resources, for instance. Check to see whether the degree you are pursuing in human resource management is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Graduate training programs in general management or human resources may be offered by some of the bigger companies. After gaining expertise in a variety of positions throughout an organization, including HR, it is feasible to transition into the HR department if you are participating in a general management training program.

If you do not have a degree, you may begin your career in the human resources department in an administrative job. After gaining experience, further training, and CIPD-accredited credentials, you may advance to a position as an HR officer and subsequently to a management post.

You may also enter the human resources field by way of an apprenticeship, which combines paid labor with education done on the side. Apprenticeship at the Level 3 level that focuses on human resource support offers a path into the field. It is also possible to participate in the higher-level apprenticeship program known as the HR Consultant/Partner Level 5 Apprenticeship. This program is designed for those who are currently working in the HR field but want to further their careers. Please go to CIPD Apprenticeship Routes for more information.

A postgraduate degree is not required to become a human resources officer; nevertheless, having one might be beneficial, and there are a variety of master's degrees available in human resources and people management. Conduct research to find graduate-level programs in managing human resources.

Even though it is possible to work in human resources (HR) without having a professional qualification, certain companies, especially those hiring for middle and senior management positions, will prefer that you have a degree that has been certified by the CIPD.

Skills

You'll need to make sure you have:

a savvy understanding of business and strong management abilities

qualities in interpersonal communication that allow for the formation of productive professional connections with individuals of various levels

talents in information technology and mathematics, with a major emphasis on IT being necessary if computerized payroll and benefits systems are to be managed or operated.

organization and planning skills

the capacity for in-depth analysis, interpretation, and explanation of employment legislation

honesty and approachability are essential qualities, since supervisors and employees need to feel comfortable talking about private and sensitive matters with you.

a sense of wonder and a readiness to question established norms inside the organization when appropriate

the capacity to work successfully in a group setting and interact effectively with others

the capacity to generate statistical data, analyze that data, and present that interpretation in a way that is both professional and intelligible

talents in persuading others and negotiating in order to put personnel policies into effect

the capacity to maintain one's performance despite adverse conditions

the skill of multitasking while also being able to organize and prioritize one's work load

capability of assuming a position of leadership responsibility.

Because you may be working with people from other nations if you are employed by a bigger company, it is beneficial to have cultural awareness as well as some knowledge of the challenges that workers face in other countries.

Practice in the workplace

There is a lot of competition for positions, and having experience that is applicable to working in an HR department may considerably boost your chances of being hired. You may get experience by participating in a course requirement known as a "industrial placement year," by completing a summer internship, by working during your vacation time, or by working part-time. Experience working in a general office setting or in an administrative capacity would also be beneficial.

You may also be able to build relevant skills throughout your time at university by accepting positions of responsibility, whether in a paid or unpaid capacity, or by participating in student organizations and clubs. This experience could involve things like training or coaching, collaboration, managing a budget, or any number of other things.

You will be better able to make well-informed applications if you talk to employees who are currently working in HR or if you work shadow an HR professional. Building a network of connections inside an industry is essential, and networking may help you do just that. Student participation in the CIPD gives access to a variety of helpful tools as well as chances to network with other students.

Find out more information on the many types of work experience and internships that are currently offered.

Employers

As a result of the fact that HR officers work for companies that employ personnel, employment opportunities are accessible in every industry. Employers who fall within this category include:

private businesses of varying sizes and scopes operating in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, banking and finance, retail, information and communication technology, and healthcare.

the public sector, such as the Civil Service and departments of local government, as well as the National Health Service

nonprofit organizations, such as charities, often make use of both paid employees and volunteers in their operations.

It is vital to give some thought to the industry in which you would want to work since various industries have a variety of distinct human resource difficulties.

There is a huge amount of variety in the organizational structure of these companies. There are some employers that just have one or two persons handling the whole of the human resources function. Larger companies could organize their human resources departments according to a variety of specialized responsibilities, or the duties might be distributed among a number of generic human resources officers based on the location or possibly the department they work in.

There are some extremely big companies that have a staff of human resources (HR) experts working in a head office. These HR specialists give assistance to general HR officers who are working out of different departments or locations. There are other options to get employment in other countries.

You also have the option of working for specialized consultancies, which may be as small as one person or as large as a partnership of many small businesses. One example of this kind of employment is an outplacement service, which is when a company hires a specialized consultant to assist its employees in coping with the effects of redundancy. A significant number of well-known management consulting companies are also building HR practices and providing services in a variety of domains, including pay and benefits.

Try looking for employment opportunities at:

People Management

Personnel Today

Additionally, you may seek in the local newspaper for administrative jobs in HR, while the national press is a better resource for senior-level positions. Larger organizations often publicize their graduate training programs on their own websites.

It's normal practice for employment opportunities to be handled via recruitment agencies and internet job portals. LinkedIn is also used to promote available positions.

Improvement of one's profession

The length of time spent in a graduate plan can anywhere from nineteen months to three years, depending on the business. If you are participating in a general graduate course, you will most likely move between a number of assignments in order to get experience working in a variety of departments, one of which is human resources (HR).

Graduate programs that are focused on human resources (HR) often consist of a series of placements in various HR-related fields, such as reward management, recruiting, employee relations, learning and development, and so on. During your time on one of these programs, you could get assistance in obtaining a CIPD-accredited certification at a higher level.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offers HR degrees that will help you further your career in the field. Depending on your degree of experience and the goals you have for your professional life, multiple levels of qualifications may be available to you. Visit the CIPD's Qualifications and Training page for any more information.

In order to be able to apply for chartered membership of the CIPD, you will need to first get an Advanced Diploma and then accumulate appropriate job experience.

There are additional shorter courses, webinars, seminars, and conferences available on topics like the following:

evaluating both performance and knowledge gained

The practices of coaching and mentoring

diversity and inclusion

employee engagement

employment law

performance management

rewards and advantages both.

In certain companies, you may be given the opportunity to participate in internal or external training programs that are relevant to the duties of your position. For instance:

qualifies you to carry out psychometric examinations

Acquire specialized abilities, such as those in consulting.

Increase your understanding of certain aspects of employment law, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or contract law.

Prospects for one's career

In most cases, fresh college grads will begin their careers in human resources by filling one of the more generic types of HR positions. You might decide that you like the variety of this job and want to keep working in this setting, or you could decide that you'd rather go into a more specialized HR career in one of the following areas:

equality of opportunity and participation

employee engagement

ties with staff and workers

employment law

the processes of education, training, and growth

organisation development

responsibilities and remuneration

recruiting and talent planning.

Because these specialized positions are more likely to be located in the headquarters of big organizations, you may need to switch jobs in order to find a position that is suitable for both your skills and the goals you have for your career.

Ability is the determining factor in promotion. You may advance into an HR management post with responsibility for a number of HR officers if you have a mix of experience and CIPD certifications. These certificates are offered by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). It's possible that you'll be in charge of areas like recruiting and training, or that you'll be counseling managers on a wide variety of HR-related topics.

Over the course of a longer period of time, HR managers could advance into more senior jobs, such as being promoted to the position of HR director, or even board level. You would be engaged in the HR strategy and have some influence on the organization's larger business goals if you were a director.

For experienced HR employees, the opportunity to work independently or on a freelance basis as a consultant to other HR departments may sometimes present itself.