What is Human Resources?

The success of a company depends on its workforce. Human resources (HR) is a department that handles workforce staffing and workplace operations. The HR profession requires someone comfortable in working with people, improving processes, solving problems, measuring achievements, and handling an organization's culture. 

If you are planning to start a career in the field of human resources and are willing to know how it operates and the skills needed to succeed in this area or if you are someone who simply wants to understand what human resources means, here’s everything you need to know about human resources. 

What is Human Resources (HR)?

Human Resources refers to the department within an organization or business that is responsible for all employee-related operations. It includes attracting, screening, selecting, recruiting, training, promoting, paying, and letting go of employees.

The HR department ensures that a business has the right employees, at the right time, at an affordable cost. It helps organizations in handling the fast-changing business environment and manage the demand for quality employees. It also supports the development of those employees, so that they can acquire new skills and help businesses in gaining competitive advantage.

To learn more about Human Resources, explore the popular Human Resources courses and certifications . 

What is Human Resources Management (HRM)?

While Human resources (HR) is a department within a business, Human resource management (HRM) is the strategic approach to manage people effectively. 

Human refers to the workforce in an organization.

Resource refers to limited availability.

Management is the proper utilization of a limited workforce.

Thus, Human Resource Management is the practice of managing people to achieve better performance.

Human Resources – Brief History

1893	The term "Human Resource" was first coined by an American institutional economist – John R. Commons in his book "The Distribution of Wealth," published in 1893.
1920s	Human resource management used to be referred to as "personnel administration”.
19th century	HR departments were formed to address misunderstandings between employees and their employers.
20th century	Relationship between employees and employers changed - driven by and reflected in HR departments.

Why is Human Resources (HR) Important?

The HR department is an important component of any organization, regardless of its size. It is responsible for providing the company with an appreciating human asset, maximizing employee productivity, and protecting the organization from any issues that may arise within the workforce. 

It is important to note that the HR department significantly contributes to a company’s culture. If the HR department cares about the well-being of employees, the culture will be growth. If it does not, then employees will be discouraged, leading to low productivity. 

What does a Human Resource professional do?

The human resource professionals are tasked with the recruitment, interview, and hiring of new employees. They also serve as a link between an organization’s management and employees.

They create a healthy work environment that attracts and retains the company's most valuable asset – its employees. As one grows in the hierarchy the senior HR leaders work on the strategic aspects from compensation benchmarking and design to long term talent development strategies.

Responsibilities of a Human Resource Professional

Early stage Human resource professionals typically do the following:

• Manage staffing issues
• Identify current and future hiring needs
• Attract, interview, recruit and retain talent
• Conduct orientation programs for new hires
• Manage employee compensation 
• Plan and oversee employee benefit programs
• Offer guidance regarding disciplinary actions
• Ensure effective employee relations 
• Manage training, learning, and development 
• Manage administrative tasks, such as payroll and taxes 
• Keep track of quarterly or annual performance reviews
• Work on people analytics and feedback

Typically, in small firms, HR Generalists perform all HR-related takes. However, in larger companies, HR professionals can specialize in particular areas, like sourcing and hiring and compensation and benefits.

Responsibilities of an HR Generalist

HR Generalist

Manage the daily operations of HR departments	Plan resource planning and recruitment
Executing HR policies	Maintain interdepartmental communication
Manage payroll and benefits	Assist the training department in planning and implementing training programs
Analyze and maintain the attrition rate	Conduct employee evaluation and appraisals
Handle employee complaints and grievances	Handle employee relations and exit procedures

 

Jobs and Responsibilities of HR Specialists 

Depending on the specialization, here are some different roles and responsibilities for an HR professional.

Recruiting Specialists

Determine staffing needs	Write job descriptions
Screen Resumes	Reference and background checks
Conduct in-person and phone interviews	Contact references
Negotiate salaries	Make job offers
Staying current on the company’s structure and personnel policy	Conducting exit interviews

 

 

Training & Development Specialist

Interview management and staff	Identify training and development needs through surveys, interviews, and communication with managers
Develop training programs	Plan and organize onboarding, orientation, and skills training
Initiate mentorship programs	Assesses training materials prepared by instructors
Create training procedure manuals, guides, and course materials	Evaluates program effectiveness
Stay current with the latest trends in training and development	Prepares and implements training budget

 

 

Organizational Development Specialist

Design plans to measure performance	Identify and fix organizational problems
Develop team-building workshops	Align productivity with the organization’s goals
Review current business processes	Create and implement programs that align employees with business goals
Create competency models	Resolve conflict within groups

 

 

Compensation and Benefits Specialist

Develop a compensation plan based on business goals and strategy	Conduct salary and labor market research to define benchmarks
Identify employees needs by conducting organizational surveys	Stay current with the new trend and best practice in the field
Create benefits package	Explain benefit options to employees

 

 

Dispute Resolution Specialist

Counsel employees and management to prevent conflicts	Create a healthy environment
Effectively deal with conflicts	Work with disputing parties to come to a contractual agreement

 

Want to start a career in the field of HR? This Human Resources expert interview will help you understand the career path of an HR business head, the skills required, and how a day in the life of a Business HR Head looks like.  

Steps to become an HR Professional

1. Get the right education

HR professionals come from a variety of educational backgrounds. Many HR positions require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. To start a career as an HR professional, it is recommended that you pursue a relevant degree/diploma in Human Resources. 

Diploma Programs

You can opt for a diploma course in human resource management. To apply for a diploma course, you must have completed 10+2. The duration of a diploma course is usually 1 year. Most of the students prefer to go for higher studies in the HR field before entering the job market.

Bachelor's Degree

A Bachelor's degree can get you ready for an entry-level HR job, provide opportunities for career advancement, or lay the groundwork to pursue an advanced degree. Bachelor’s degree like B.B.A. (Human Resource Management) and B.A. (Human Resource Management) will prepare you to manage employees at different kinds of organizations and companies. 

Dual-Degree/Integrated Programs

Candidate must have minimum 60% marks in class 12 board exams for dual-degree programs, such as BBA-MBA Integrated program and B.Tech-MBA Integrated program. Typically, the duration for a dual-degree/integrated program is 5 years. 

Postgraduate Programs

Many universities in India provide education in the field of HR at the postgraduate level. For pursuing a master’s degree in Human Resource Management, you should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university.

2. Gain Professional Experience

Professional work experience helps HR to advance into managerial positions. Most high-level positions require several years of on-the-job experience. Professional experience helps people improve their organizational skills and apply what they have learned in the real world. 

You can start with an Internship, which will offer you hands-on experience as well as exposure to prospective employers. Internships also help candidates in figuring out which type of Human Resources position will interest them.

3. Stay Current & Keep Learning

To succeed in this rapidly growing field, HR professionals must grab every learning opportunity and get insights from every available source. Here are some resources:

Pursue Online HR Course or Certification 

Online courses and certifications are a great way to gain the required skills and knowledge in HR. They can greatly enhance your chances of landing the position you seek. They can also help you quickly move up the career ladder and earn a greater salary. 

Here are some of the popular course providers for Human Resources online courses:

• Coursera
• Udemy
• Alison
• FutureLearn

Books recommendations

• Human Resource Management by Gary Dessler
• HR from the Outside In: Six Competencies for the Future of Human Resources by Dave Ulrich, Jon Younger, Wayne Brockbank, Mike Ulrich
• The HR Scorecard by Brian Becker, Mark Huselid, Dave Ulrich

Skills Required to Become an HR Professional

HR professionals must balance the company’s goals with the well-being of the employees. To ensure the same, they need to have the following skills: 

Technical Skills

1. Knowledge and expertise in Human Resource Management (HRM)
2. Understanding of Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS)
3. Knowledge of Employment and Labor Laws
4. HR Reporting skills 
5. Basic knowledge of business skills
6. Finance skills
7. Adept at data analysis and projections
8. Proficient in Microsoft Office

Soft Skills 

1. Emotional Intelligence
2. Assertiveness
3. Strong communication skills
4. Strong interpersonal skills
5. Analytical and strategic thinking
6. Patience
7. Resilience
8. Flexibility
9. Negotiation Skills 
10. Intercultural sensitivity

The skills required also depend on the role that you are interested in. For example, the skills required for the Training and Development Specialist role will include excellent presentation skills, ability to evaluate and research training options, proficiency in different multimedia training methods, and ability to design and implement effective training and development.

Similarly, each specialist role will require some specialized skills, besides the skills mentioned above.

Popular Job Profiles for Early stage HR Professionals

1. HR Executive 
2. HR Generalist
3. HR Specialist
4. HR Associate
5. HR Admin
6. HR Manager
7. HR Director
8. HRIS
9. HR Analyst
10. HR Business Partner
11. HR Consultant

Top Recruiting Companies for Human Resource Professionals 

1. KPMG
2. Deutsche Bank
3. Wipro
4. Larsen & Toubro
5. Infosys
6. Aon Hewitt
7. IBM
8. HCL
9. Axis Bank
10. Flipkart
11. Infosys
12. Genpact
13. HDFC Bank
14. Oracle
15. Accenture 
16. Sopra Steria
17. Deloitte 

Pay Scale/Salary of Human Resource Professionals

The demand for qualified professionals in the field of HR is high, so the earning potential is also above typical averages. 

As per PayScale, the starting annual salary of an entry-level HR Generalist with less than 1-year of experience is around ₹3 Lakhs.

The average salary of an experienced HR Generalist with over 15 years of experience is ₹25 lakhs

Top Industries Hiring Human Resource Professionals

• Corporate businesses
• Public sector organizations
• Consulting Firms
• Education & Training
• Government 
• Telecommunications 
• Information Technology
• Building & Construction
• Digital Media
• Energy, Mining & Resources
• Engineering
• Hospitality & Tourism
• Media
• Banking & Finance
• Medical & Healthcare