“Train people well enough so they can leave. Treat them well enough, so they don’t have to.”
Sir Richard Branson
The perception of employee-workplace relationships has witnessed a revolutionary change as the prevalence of technology becomes more and more apparent in the different workplaces across all sectors. Following the sentiment, specialists managing human resources in an organization have long moved from simply managing the paperwork and administrative roles to more intricate and strategic responsibilities. There is also a noticeably clear shift from the ladder-based career advancement to more open, active opportunities derived from the fancy ‘gig economy.’ In simple terms, the Human Resources Management team of a company has become a non-negotiable part of its success. With such an employee-centred approach, there is no surprise that a career in Human Resources is your ticket on the fastest ride to the professional zenith.
Acquiring human resource positions not only satisfies your monetary goals but also gives you a rather extensive understanding of the operations, priorities, and challenges of an organization, meaning you are directly at the forefront of the organization. However, you need a thorough direction on the journey to become an HR specialist and thereby to stand in a spot of influence.
What does a job in HR look like?
Human resources management is a broad term. Many people associate the profession mainly with recruitment, but an HR specialist can develop in different areas and has access to several career outcomes. However, it is essential to note that the real opportunities in this sector are more fluid, and the two classifications mentioned below are more prominent only in theory. HR can be divided into two role portfolios:
“HARD” HR
Working in hard HR means the workforce is merely a resource to the company. Meaning your role will be more corporate-centered. Job roles can include responsibilities like creating plans for recruitment, including the type of workforce, dynamics of carrying out the recruitment, and the cost of the process.
In this area, the HR specialist is simply identifying the needs of the organizations.
“SOFT” HR
Working in soft HR makes it necessary for the specialist to understand that this sector considers its employees as a significant resource of the company. The workforce becomes the primary source of maintaining the perfect competitiveness in the market.
Each employee is treated as an individual asset, meaning the planning for each member within the workforce is processed in an intricate manner. In theory, the main purpose of your role is to maintain an over-lasting workforce. You will be employing strategies such as two-way communication, incentives, reinforcements, and appreciation.
A soft HR specialist ensures that the workforce feels empowered and can take on responsibilities both as an individual and a whole.
There are a variety of positions in this field; you can easily find a work setting that fits your skills. HR specialists are, in brief, the ultimate link between employees and the hierarchy of employers.
As a graduate in Human Resource, you may do things such as processing employee paperwork, drafting job descriptions, and compiling staff statistics as well as to more strategic roles.
In a smaller company, as an HR professional, you can perform responsibility for all aspects of human resources.
In more prominent companies and corporations, as an HR Director or Vice President, you will be managing multiple departments led by managers who specialize in areas such as training and development, compensation and benefits, or labor relations.
How do you qualify for HR?
If you would like to work in HR– in terms of general qualifications, consider pursuing degrees, and qualifications in HR or a related subject, like business or industrial/organizational psychology. Earning appropriate certifications also would be beneficial both in terms of better career prospects and advancement. In the beginning, you can get experience working for some time within an operational role at a company, and then transition into HR.
The nature of requirements you will need for high-level human resource positions depends on the size and type of organization. Education and experience in human resources management are essential. Certifications by SHRM, Society for Human Resources Management, Master’s Degree, typically an MBA or MPA, Master of Business Administration or Master of Public Administration is highly suggested but not necessarily required.
What skills do I need to work on HR?
Here are the following skills that will help you achieve the desired career outcomes in Human Resource Management:
- Ability to Communicate
- Excellent judgment skills
- Sensible and honest work ethics
- Good negotiation skills
- Strong multitasking abilities
- Approachable & compassionate bearing
- Commitment towards self-development
- Leadership
- Critical thinking & Problem-solving skills
- Objectivity & tact
What is a CIPD qualification?
CIPD is the acronym for Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. CIPD is the primary body for professional in the Human Resources sector in the United Kingdom. The authority has been in existence since the early nineties- when it went by the name of the Welfare Workers Association or the WWA. It was in the year-2000 when the WWA received a Royal Charter to be called CIPD.
During its inception the authority was prevalent in the UK and Ireland. Today, however it is recognized across the world. The authority deals with conducting research and studies within various domains including the HR, development, and learning. They work closely with the government and the employers of various organizations to help create a better workplace environment.
As an HR professional, you have access to the CIPD by becoming a member. However, the membership is accessible only to those who can complete the set CIPD qualification which further helps determine the type of membership to be granted. Now that, we are clear about CIPD as an authority, it is natural that you are curious about the CIPD qualifications as an aspirant.
A CIPD qualification develops a standard in various domains of the best practises in HR. It trains you- the HR; aspirant in every stage of your career within the sector. CIPD qualifications have strong recognition in Australia. A reciprocal authority for the CIPD is the Australian Human Resources Institute or AHRI. When you visit the AHRI webpage you will be able to find the equivalent level of your CIPD qualification.
What are the 5 main areas of HR?
Human Resource activities can be represented with the following five core functions:
- Staffing – Planning the recruitment process, workforce management and successful retention strategies for successful employee-workplace relationships.
- Development – Providing training for new employees to prepare them for their role and to keep old employees up to date and giving feedback to employees and managers.
- Compensation – Identifying appropriate salary and benefits for employees based on role, performance, and legal requirements and negotiating group health insurance rates, retirement plans, and other benefits with third party providers and so on.
- Safety and Health – Ensuring that safety measures are met at a workplace
- Employee and Labor Relations – Acting as a bridge between the organization and its human resources, mediating disagreements, discussing employee rights with unions, management, and stakeholders
The following TAFE SA courses are highly relevant for Human Resources Manager:
- Diploma of Human Resources Management/ Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) – Flinders Uni Pathway
- Advanced Diploma of Management (Human Resources)/Bachelor of Business – Flinders Uni Pathway
- Advanced Diploma of Management (Human Resources)
The best Diplomas and Certificates for Human Resources in Australia:
- Diploma of Human Resources Management
- Certificate IV in Human Resources BSB41015
- Diploma of Human Resources Management BSB50618
- Double Diploma of Human Resources Management and Business BSB50615, BSB50215
- Double Diploma of Human Resources Management and Leadership & Management BSB50618, BSB51918
- Advanced Diploma of Management (Human Resources) BSB60915
5 Top Online Human Resource Management Courses:
- AIHR – People Analytics Courses
- Coursera – Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers
- HRCI – Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
- SHRM – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- Wharton Online: HR Management and Analytics.
The best online courses in Human Resources:
- The Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) at The University of South Australia (UniSA)
- Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management, Griffith University
- Master of Business Administration, (Human Resource Management) at The University of South Australia (UniSA)
You can also upgrade your qualifications by studying a single subject in human resources at:
- Griffith University
- Swinburne University of Technology
- Curtin University
- University of South Australia (UniSA)
Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Human Resources in Australia 2021
- UniSA Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) …
- ECU BCom (Human Resource Management)
- UNE Bachelor of Business.
- CA01 – Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management, CQUniversity Australia
- Bachelor of Business (Advanced Business Leadership) – Human Resource Management
- Western Sydney University
- Bachelor of Business – Human Resource Management
- Western Sydney University
- Bachelor Human Resource Management, Swinburne University of Technology
- Bachelor of Business – Human Resource Management, Charles Sturt University
- Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management), University of South Australia
- Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource Management), University of Wollongong Faculty of Business
- Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management, Avondale College of Higher Education
Best Master’s Degrees in Human Resources in Australia 2021
- Master of Human Resource Management, University of Technology Sydney
- Master of Human Resource Management, University of Wollongong Faculty of Business
- Master of Human Resource Management (Extension), University of Technology Sydney
- Master of Human Resource Management, RMIT
- Master of Human Resource Management, Deakin University
- Master of Commerce Specialization in Human Resource Management, University of New South Wales – UNSW
- Master of Human Resource Management, Western Sydney University
- Master of Strategic Organisational Development and Human Resource Management
- University of New England (UNE)
- Master of Commerce major in Human Resource Management, Charles Sturt University
- Master of Commerce major in Industrial Relations
- Charles Sturt University
- Master of Human Resource Management (with Specialisations)
- Master of Human Resource Management Major in Business Partnership
- Master of Human Resource Management Major in Conflict and Dispute Resolution
- Master of Human Resource Management Major in International Human Resource Management
- Master of Human Resource Management Major in Management of Organisational Change
Is HR a good career?
Working in HR can be extremely rewarding. You are like a good Samaritan who helps others find the best career path; you care about employees and their rights. You are the link between the employees and the management. The effectiveness of the HR department is proved by satisfied employees who like their work and the people they work with. They are also satisfied managers because their team works effectively and in a good atmosphere. But remember, it’s mostly administrative work in hiring and paying people, maintaining their benefits, ensuring compliance.
You need to have excellent communication skills; it requires listening, having empathy, guiding, and being an excellent negotiator. You need the ability to see things objectively and the willingness to find the best solution for both sides.
Having met these requirements, you can find the profession very satisfying on a regular basis. Also, earning can be extremely high in HR departments.
What is the scope of salaries of HR in Australia?
Based on payscale.com an early career Human Resources (HR) Manager with 1-4 years of experience makes an average total compensation of AU$75,011 based on 350 salaries. A mid-level Human Resources (HR) Manager carrying 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of AU$92,422 based on 370 salaries.
The national average salary for a Human Resources professional is $88,401 in Australia.
Average Salary of typical jobs in HR
- Resource Officer AU$74 276
- Management Consultant AU$98 204
- HR Manager AU$117 154
- Employment Advisor AU$79 484
- Senior Advisor AU$108 376