How to Become an HR Manager

Before getting into official human resources manager requirements, you should take a hard look at yourself and assess whether you have the soft skills needed to succeed as an HR manager. 

While HR managers have to learn and implement different regulations, laws, and HR policies within an organization, they also need to have quite a few soft skills. 

How do you deal with people? HR managers must be compassionate and empathetic to connect with their staff and gain trust during hard conversations. They must also have an open mind and not be quick to judge people. 

Here are some other soft skills you need before becoming a human resources manager:

• Multitasking: HR managers wear many hats, and might work on multiple projects at one time. 
• Empathy: Employees may come to an HR manager for something personal and vulnerable, so it’s important to be compassionate and practice empathy. 
• Management Skills: Management skills will help you see the bigger picture related to one person or a team’s work and overall role in a business. 
• Discretion: HR managers may face legal ramifications if they breach any confidentiality requirements regarding the business they work for or a specific employee. 
• Decision-Making Skills: HR decisions aren’t always easy. HR managers are tasked with using their common sense, judgment, and experience to make tough decisions for the best interests of a company.

Most HR managers must have years of experience, as well as a few HR certifications under their belt. However, to get all that, you usually need a bachelor’s degree in a related field. But what degree is needed to become a human resource manager?

The closest thing to a human resource manager degree would be the Bachelor of Human Resources Management. But, if you have a different bachelor’s degree, don’t fret. 

Here are some related bachelor’s degrees that could help you become an HR manager:

• Bachelors in Humanities (Art history, English, Philosophy, etc.)
• Bachelor’s in Business Administration
• Bachelor’s in Education
• Bachelor’s in Psychology
• Bachelor’s in Marketing
• Bachelor’s in Organizational Management
• Bachelor’s in Communication

Within your bachelor’s degree, you might cover some of the following topics:

• Organizational Leadership and Management
• Ethics and Responsibility
• Internet Marketing
• Project Management

HR managers aren’t hired right out of college. Employers like to see some experience on an aspiring HR manager’s resume. That means you need to find an entry-level job related to HR first. 

Some HR-related roles that you can find after graduating from college might include:

• Human Resources Assistant
• Human Resources Coordinator
• Recruiter
• Human Resources Administrator

Your school might also offer an internship program that you can complete during your studies. As you gain experience, make sure you continue to update and polish your resume.

HR certifications aren’t required for entry-level positions, but they’re certainly resume points of interest if you’re looking at advanced roles. Most HR certifications require completion of a bachelor’s degree and a few years of HR experience. 

The most common HR credentials are the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

A master’s degree is a great way to help your resume stand out from the rest. While it’s not required for every HR manager role, some employers might prefer it. And, HR managers with master’s degrees often have more competitive salaries. You might want to take a specific master’s degree, such as one in human resources management, to demonstrate your expertise. 

You can open many doors to executive HR roles like HR Director, Chief Learning Officer, Compensation Specialist, Labor relations Director, Organizational Development Director, and many more with a master’s degree. 

Some more advanced learning topics that you might cover in your master’s education include:

• Data Analysis 
• Statistics
• Organization and Management Theory
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Now that you have all this education, certification, and experience, it’s time to take the plunge and pursue the HR manager role! Use the network that you’ve built over the years to find opportunities, and check job boards like Indeed for recent postings. LinkedIn is also a great place to find job leads.

While there are many jobs titled “HR manager,” you might find similar fulfillment in a closely related role, such as:

• Learning and Development Manager
• Director of Operations
• Labor Relations Consultant
• HR Director

Graduates with a partner's degree in HR administration fit the bill for passage level positions, for example, essential HR generalists. HR partner's degree holderss frequently likewise go into particular HR parts in private, open and philanthropic associations; human asset agents, HR collaborators and aide spotters are the absolute most prevalent employment.

A four-year bachelors degree is the base level of training required for section into the larger part of HR positions. Bachelor degree projects, for example, the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Human Resources or B.S. in Human Resources Management, can give preparing in business law, HR administration, and authoritative theory.

As per the BLS, bosses employing for HR administration positions they favor candidates with a master's degree in HR, for example, the Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management. The graduate-level examination gives experienced HR experts the chance to center around themes of particular premium.

The curriculum in this program deals primarily with advanced management techniques. After completing the required coursework, students undergo an examination process assessing their skills, then research and write a dissertation on an aspect of human resources. In addition, students attend seminars on subjects like leadership and consulting.