Ten or twenty years ago, Human Resources personnel worked behind the scenes to ensure personnel records were in order and employee benefits were being properly administered. Today's Human Resources personnel don't only handle small administrative tasks, but is responsible for crucial staffing matters in major corporations.
New information and discoveries from researches and studies in the field of human resource management shift the traditional administrative role of HR to a more sensitive and human-centred one which tries to determine what really works with employees. One of the major aspects of HR maintenance involves employee recruitment, training and development as a function of human capital management.
The nurturing of employees ensure optimal contribution from them. This is done via training and development, which are key aspects of human resources. The department also scouts the job market for the best talent available to add to the organisation's value. Besides these, HR is also concerned with labour relations between employers and their employees, monitoring of office interactions to find ways to improve on employee management, matters concerning employee benefits as well as other concerns relating to the workforce of the company.
Most HR personnels work in an office, working 35-40 hours per week unless involved with contract negotiations where extra hours are to be expected. Some may travel quite a bit, such as recruiters who have to travel to campuses and meetings for interviews or trainers who would be giving courses outside the office in conference venues.
To pursue a career path in Human Resources, one doesn't necessarily need to have a degree in Human Resources. Majoring in Business Administration, Psychology, Labor Relations and Personnel Administration, as well as degrees in Social and Behavioral Sciences, can also be beneficial. Experience is a key element in progressing up the ranks in the HR sector.
One's career path may begin from a basic level of being an HR Assistant earning between RM1,500-2,000 progressing to the lucrative position of Senior HR Manager yielding a potential RM12,000 per month.
A career in this field would be ideal for someone who is a "people's person", possessing integrity to handle crisis in a smooth, discreet manner. Perhaps more importantly, a person keen on HR must be a person with empathy to promote the comfort and satisfaction of an organisation's workforce in maintaining harmony.
