How to Become a Human Resources Manager

In the highly competitive field of human resource management, you will want to include in your journey having a solid educational background, experience in the field via securing an internship, and putting yourself into the mainstream of the field through purposeful networking.

Education For Human Resource Manager

Having a solid educational background and degree from a reputable institution is the first step to becoming a successful human resource manager. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, but desire to fortify your BA with field-related courses, look into professional certification courses in HR management at reputable institutions. Many revered institutions of higher education offer online certifications for those with their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Having various certifications from respected universities can only help you in becoming an in-demand human resources manager.

If you have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree, begin immediately to find a college to meet your needs. Make sure to research the institutions thoroughly to ascertain their reputations in the college community, whether they are accredited, and read reviews as to their suitability for your goals. Online programs are available from some of the most respected colleges and universities, and of course, there are traditional on-campus options. If you cannot financially afford to attend a four-year program initially, consider attending a junior or community college to satisfy your general education requirements. One important thing to remember—make sure your credits from the junior or community college will transfer to the 4-year college you are interested in eventually attending. Here are the various types of bachelor’s degrees will need to be looking for:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management

Obviously, a BA in HR Management would be the ideal. Topics you will master will be along the lines of recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits, organizational behavior, labor laws, and strategic HR management.

    2. Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in HR

Most universities which offer a BA in Business Administration will have a program which will allow you to concentrate your studies in HR related courses. These programs prepare you in the key points of HR management, while building on broader based business foundations.

    3. Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

While not as ideal as the business and human resource BA degrees, the psychology degree prepares you for the field by providing an education in the sources of human behavior, motivation and interpersonal dynamics, which all are essential constructs for succeeding as a human resource manager.

   4. Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology

This is an interdisciplinary field which offers the benefits of a foundation in both business and psychology. Topics include workplace dynamics, organizational dynamics, employee selection, training, development, performance management and organizational development.

    5.  Bachelor’s Degree in Labor Relations 

A BA in Labor Relations is especially useful in that these programs focus on understanding the psychological implications of relationships between employees and employers, labor laws, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and employee representation, to name a few.

    6. Bachelor’s Degree in Management or Organizational Leadership

These degrees offer a firm foundation in business management and how to align HR goals and strategies with that of the corporation, agency or company’s organizational goals and objectives.

Enter the World of Internships

If you have not become acquainted with the amazing opportunities available to gain invaluable experience within the field of HR management by securing and completing an internship, now is the time to begin your research. Most all major corporations in every aspect of life offer high quality internships while you are still studying for your bachelor’s degree. They usually are offered in the summer and range from about 6-10 weeks. Some lead into immediate job consideration upon the completion of your degree. Here’s a sampling of companies which have a large variety of human resource management internships:

1. Large Corporations: Multinational corporations offer structured HR internship programs. Some examples are: Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, IBM, Facebook, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Johnson & Johnson, General Electric (GE), Walmart, 
2. Financial Institutions: Banks, investment firms, and insurance companies have HR internship opportunities. Some examples include: JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, American Express, Prudential Financial, MetLife
3. Consulting Firms: Consulting firms offer HR internships, especially those with HR consulting divisions. Examples include: McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG
4. Technology Companies: Tech companies also have HR internship opportunities, particularly in areas such as talent acquisition, employee relations, and HR analytics. Some of the companies include: Salesforce, Adobe, Cisco, Intel, LinkedIn, Twitter, Uber, Airbnb, Netflix
5. Retail and Consumer Goods Companies: Retailers and consumer goods companies offer HR internships in areas such as recruitment, training, and employee engagement. Examples of some of these companies include: The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Unilever, Nestlé, Target, Walmart, Nike, L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble (P&G)
6. Nonprofit Organizations: Nonprofit organizations also offer HR internships to support their human resources and talent management functions. Examples include: United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO), Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Save the Children, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders

Network Through Trade Associations and Organizations

One of the best things you can do right now, today, is to become familiar with the various human resource trade associations and organizations. Membership is typically available to anyone who aspires to enter the field and the benefits are remarkable. These organizations are the lifeblood of the industry and the sooner you become involved, the faster you will become a successful human resource manager. Here are the top four, and what they say about themselves:

1. Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

“SHRM is one of the largest HR associations globally, offering resources, certification programs, conferences, and networking opportunities for HR professionals at all career levels.”  SHRM

2. WorldatWork

“WorldatWork focuses on compensation, benefits, and total rewards management. We offer certification programs, publications, research, and events for HR professionals specializing in compensation and benefits.” WorldatWork

3. International Association for Human Resource Information Management (IHRIM)

“IHRIM is dedicated to HR technology and information management. We provide education, networking, and resources for HR professionals involved in HR technology and data analytics.”  IHRIM

4.  National Human Resources Association (NHRA)

“NHRA offers networking events, professional development programs, webinars, and resources for HR professionals to enhance their skills and advance their careers.” NHRA

Job Outlook For Human Resource Managers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov/), Human Resource Managers have promising opportunities for the time period spanning 2022-2032. The field is growing by 5% per year, which is the average growth rate. Government experts predict that each year over 15,500 openings will become available (between 2022-2032), due to replacing workers who leave the profession, leave the work force and/or retire. Over the ten-year time span (2022-2032) it is projected that a total of 10,000 new positions will be created. In 2022 there were 191,600 individuals working as human resource managers. The median pay per year was $130,00, while the median hourly wage was $62.50. (As a reminder, the “median” amount is not an average, it is the middle value of a dataset. For the U.S. BLS definition go to: https://www.bls.gov/cps/definitions.htm#medianearnings).

By pursuing your education, participating in an internship with a major corporation, agency, or non-profit, and networking with others in the field, you will be on your way to becoming a happy and successful human resource manager.