Career as an HR manager: Education, top colleges, skills, responsibilities and more

A workforce is what makes a company successful. The (HR) Human resources are the department that looks after the people who work for the company and its operations. An ideal HR professional has to adapt themselves to a working environment where they are required to solve problems, coordinate, and assess achievements along with handling the company’s culture.

With the changes in the way of working and employee-employer relations, the role of a Human resource manager or an HR manager is beyond just performing administrative tasks and headhunting. They are responsible for bridging the gap between management and employees. In other words, Human resource management (HRM) is the strategic approach to managing people in an organisation effectively.

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Educational requirements for beginning a career in HRM

Pursuing a career in HRM starts by you meeting the basic eligibility criteria. HRM courses are usually provided at the postgraduate level in India, particularly with an MBA. However, there are multiple options available for someone who wants to prepare for this career right after their 10 +12 or during their graduation.

However, remember that it is not necessary to come from a non-technical or technical background. Possessing specific skills and having relevant industry experience is now being given more importance than degrees. There are also several online websites that offer courses in HRM, which provide the relevant knowledge and experience required for pursuing a career as a human resource manager.

Top Indian colleges providing courses in HRM

In India, graduates commonly opt for an MBA with a specialisation in HR. The course usually lasts two years and includes a mandatory internship, often followed by campus placements. Graduates looking to become HR managers can check out colleges or institutes that offer this programme.

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Here are the top ten MBA colleges in India that offer specialisation programmes in HR :

1. Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur
2. Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon
3. SVKMs NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies) Mumbai
4. Tata Institute of Social Sciences Mumbai
5. International Management Institute (IMI) Delhi
6. Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ranchi
7. University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, Chandigarh
8. Xavier Institute of Social Service Ranchi
9. Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata
10. International School of Business and Media, Pune
    

Skills required for HR professionals

To succeed in a career like Human Resource Management a person has to have the knack for understanding human relations. They should excel in moulding their operational style according to different people as and when necessary. Additionally, an HR professional should focus on people development and come up with strategic planning for the same.

Following are some key soft skills that are required from a human resource manager:

• Organisation skills
• Time management
• Adaptability
• Problem Solving
• Leadership
• Teamwork
• Communication

Major responsibilities of HR professionals

An experienced HR professional provides leadership and direction to ensure the company operates efficiently. Apart from interviewing and hiring new employees, they create training and development programs and supervise the operation of the other departments as well.

Here are some of the major responsibilities of a human resources manager:

• Improve the organisation's human resources by planning, implementing and assessing human resource programs and policies
• Bridge gaps in the relationship between the employees and the management by addressing complaints
• Look after the recruitment and selection procedure
• Conduct training programs for new and current employees
• Liaise with different departments to understand staff shortage and create a job vacancy portal
• Make sure there is a positive and safe work environment for everyone to work
• Manage workplace grievances, disciplinary and termination procedures
• Provide training to junior HRs.

HR Manager salaries

The remuneration for an HR manager depends on factors such as years of experience, certifications, skill sets, education and location. The pay scale varies from company to company but in India, on an average, an HR manager makes nearly 3.6 LPA per year.

A human resources manager or HR manager is an important person in any organisation, one who is responsible for creating a holistic work environment and fostering a healthy employer-employee relationship. Often, they form the framework that keeps the rest of the set up work smoothly.