What Is Human Resources (HR)? Description, Duties and Jobs

January 2, 2024

Curious about a career in HR (human resources)? This fast-paced and varied career path is the ideal role for those who love working with people. If you can quickly build rapport with others and know how to get the best out of people, you could have a lucrative future in HR.

Most large companies require an HR department to enable them to handle an extensive workforce. And smaller companies will often outsource their human resources requirements to agencies to enable them to offer the same support to their employees.

A career in HR will allow you to work in a range of industries which will enable you to tap into your personal interests. To succeed in this sector, you will need to have excellent communication and organisation skills and the ability to multitask. Read on to learn more about the job role, duties and the type of jobs available in this sector.

What is human resources?

The human resources department is concerned with hiring employees and ensuring employees have everything they need to be effective and successful in their roles. This department will also deal with employee complaints and grievance procedures.

The HR department is also responsible for keeping track of documentation, including carrying out right to work checks.

When a company is restructuring and needs to let employees go, it will be the HR department that manages this process to ensure the company remains compliant.

Human resources job description

The job description for an HR professional will all depend on the size of the company and the staffing requirements. Every company is unique, so every HR department will do things a little differently.

In general, an HR professional will be responsible for:

• Advertising roles and overseeing the recruitment process.
• Onboarding new employees to make sure they have everything they need.
• Managing salary payments, pension contributions and other salary sacrifice schemes
• Dealing with staff grievances and disciplinary procedures
• Managing layoffs and redundancies
• Implementing employee wellness programmes
• Researching training and employee development opportunities

On a day-to-day basis, this role could include a wide range of tasks, including:

• Creating job descriptions for new roles in collaboration with specific departments
• Advertising roles and reviewing applications
• Contacting applicants to arrange interviews
• Onboarding new employees and ensuring they have reviewed your staff handbook
• Handling and escalating complaints from employees

What qualities do you need as an HR professional?

To be successful in an HR department, you will need the following skills:

• Communication. You will need to be able to speak, listen, read and write with confidence. You will be communicating with individuals and whole teams, so being able to adjust your tone and messaging accordingly will be essential.
• Organisation. When you are responsible for making sure procedures are followed and everyone gets paid on time, you need to be organised. You will need to be able to handle multiple conflicting tasks and ensure everything is completed on time.
• Self starter. As an HR professional, you will often be working without supervision. You need to be able to prioritise your own workload to ensure everything gets done.
• Problem solving. You will face many challenges on a day-to-day basis and you need to be able to solve problems as they arise. 
• Empathy. Employees will come to you with sensitive grievances and you need to be able to respond appropriately. You may also be in a situation where you have to let employees go and you need to be able to do this with sensitivity and empathy.
• Leadership. If you are good at leading a team, you could find yourself in a management role in your HR department. This could involve managing a team of junior HR assistants and shaping policy for the whole company. You could also be involved in implementing wellness policies to improve the day to day life of your employees.

What roles are available in HR?

HR professionals will typically start their career in an HR administrator or assistant role. This will enable them to get a broad range of experience in the HR department and learn about the different components of the role. 

For those with a degree or qualification in human resources, they might start their career as an HR manager. This will be a more senior role which will allow more autonomy.

Other specialist roles within an HR department include recruiters and training specialists. These individuals are involved in hiring and training respectively.

HR professionals can also specialise in roles such as employee relationship managers. These help to bridge the gap between employees and management to ensure team members are happy in their roles and have everything they need to complete their work.

Finally, there are also technical roles, such as HR systems managers. They are responsible for implementing and maintaining HR management systems and technology.

What qualifications do you need for an HR role?

There are many routes into HR departments, including work experience and training. You could study for a degree in human resources management. This will give you a comprehensive understanding of the entire sector and the skills required for the role. You will learn best practice procedures, but you also need to be prepared to be adaptable to your employer’s unique procedures

You could also complete on the job training and work your way into a management role by starting out in an administrative role. This route may take longer, and your employer may ask you to complete a short course in human resources to get ensure you are up to speed on the latest HR practices.

Another route into HR is through another career choice, such as recruitment or teaching. If you have been involved in employee training, you could be an ideal training coordinator in an HR department.

Closing thoughts

The world of human resources is constantly changing and evolving. While AI and automation might force the role of the HR manager to evolve, there will still be a need for people to take on the responsibility of managing the life cycle of employees.