If you are looking to set foot into the world of Human Resources (HR) but find yourself completely lost with the different jobs available and the responsibilities that come with them, continue reading to get a fair idea about HR managers and HR coordinators.
Who are Human Resource Managers? And what do they do?
An HR manager is one of the entities in the HR hierarchy, which means that HR managers have a lot on their plate. An HR manager is expected to perform tasks as per the ever-changing needs of the company. You can expect to find the HR manager amidst several tasks, some of which are recruiting new hires, putting effective strategies in place along with the senior officials to enhance the performance and growth of the organization, and bridging the gap between the management of the company and the employees. HR managers have a plethora of responsibilities, which explains why the HR Manager Salary is high. Here are a few critical duties of HR managers:
- It is the job of the HR manager to ensure they have strategies ready to make sure that workforce requirements are taken care of. The HR manager is responsible for developing new ways to recruit new hires and retain them, although the employment manager oversees the hiring of new employees. HR managers tend to use strategies like cross-training and incentives to make sure the employees stay.
- The importance of setting up a supportive work environment is often overlooked. It is vitally important that employees work in an environment that is safe and supportive, and allows them to voice their opinions without compromise. Employees work at their best in such environments. HR managers are expected to set up such environments to ensure there is a boost in performance and growth.
- Finally, HR managers also have to oversee payroll management. The HR manager needs to make sure salaries, wages, benefits, and so on, are transferred to the employees on time. This entire process must be made transparent and done on time.
What skills do you need to become an HR manager?
At this point, you probably have a decent grip on the kind of responsibilities that come with the position of an HR manager. There are a bunch of skills you will need to get some leverage if you are gunning for this position. However, you need to make sure you have the following skills in check if you want to stand a chance:
- A competent HR manager is a problem solver, which means that you will need to be ready to make quick decisions and take calculated risks to solve problems. This is precisely why you need a considerable amount of experience in the HR field before you go for a position like this.
- Having empathy and listening to employees is crucial. Being empathetic can help you understand the problems the employees may be facing, and in turn, help you change policies and operations to enhance the company’s growth.
HR Coordinators
HR coordinators serve as representatives of the HR department and handle the HR functions and programs. HR coordinates work under the supervision of the HR director or manager. They are involved in organizing orientations, taking care of employees’ issues, and HR programs like employee training.
An HR coordinator is responsible for a variety of processes like employee health welfare, acting as a bridge between the employees and insurance providers, addressing employee issues, handling payroll management and benefits, benefits-related issues, employee recruitment and termination, and employee performance overview. The average HR coordinator salary is $18.33 per hour.
What constitutes a good HR coordinator?
Here are a few skills you ought to have in spades if you want to become a good HR coordinator.
Excellent Communication
As an HR professional, you need to be able to communicate effectively. It is vital to process the information you get and give effective feedback. You need to be able to do verbal presentations with crystal clear, detailed explanations. Finally, you need to be empathetic to be able to address your employees’ issues and concerns.
Flexibility
Given how HR has a bunch of processes in different areas, HR coordinators need to be able to adapt and switch from one activity to the next without issues. If you are used to completing one task and only then moving on to the next, this position is not for you. You will need to know how to prioritize your tasks and be flexible.
Different kinds of HR Coordinators
There are numerous kinds of HR coordinators. Here are three primary types: Training coordinators, employee benefits coordinators, and recruiting coordinators.
Training coordinators are in charge of analyzing training requirements. Based on this, they are expected to design a curriculum and training courses. Apart from this, these coordinators are tasked with training the current and new employees and gauging their performance after the training.
Employee benefits coordinators bear the responsibility of handling employee benefit programs and pensions. They also take care of the following: making sure employee files are up to date and accurate, holding orientations for benefits, keeping track of status reports and its changes, and changes in pay.
Recruiting coordinators bear the responsibility of coming up with useful recruitment strategies to achieve their staffing goals. These coordinators do the following tasks: attending career fairs to look for promising candidates, working with managers to put recruitment strategies in place, and concretizing relationships with placement offices in universities.
