YOUR CAREER IN HUMAN RESOURCES

What is Human Resources?

Human Resources (HR) is the department of an organisation or group of professionals that look after the organisation’s employees in hiring, training, wellbeing, workplace functioning and operations, termination and more. The HR department is the backbone of any organisation and is incredibly important in ensuring the stability of the company through effective people management.

Without HR, a business is not likely to perform as successfully as it could with the right HR professionals and processes in place to guide the organisation in many areas. For employees, human resources is a crucial support structure, to voice thoughts, suggestions and concerns about anything within the workplace. HR is involved in each employee’s hiring or termination decision made by the business, as well as managing any training for employees.

What are you looking for?

Skills that employers are looking for

Employers value future-focused and leadership-oriented individuals in HR roles, as this is important for training professionals and contributing to building the organisation’s strategic direction. HR professionals need to be able to understand business cycles and identify resources required in specific workplace situations. They must know how to support a growing company and understand how to innovate when building or changing workplace culture. HR professionals should be on top of workplace legislation at all times and have a keen eye for spotting any workplace issues that need to be addressed to create effective solutions.

HARD SKILLS

  • Administrative skills
  • People and performance management
  • Understanding of HR software

SOFT SKILLS

  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Conflict resolution
  • Active listening
  • Interviewing skills

TRAITS

  • Ethical integrity
  • Trustworthiness
  • Approachable
  • Patient

What does the average day look like for a HR Manager?

Being a manager means having responsibility for a team of HR professionals within a larger organisation. Alternatively, you may be working alongside other departments and managers within a smaller organisation to ensure all employees are being looked after from a legal and well-being perspective. Being a very people-oriented role, a human resources manager might have several meetings in a day with different employees, departments or managers to discuss conflict issues, hiring professionals, inducting new employees, conducting interviews with job interview candidates or performance evaluation interviews with employees.

HR managers will also often work on documentation and processes surrounding workplace processes, including work health and safety, fire drills, reporting harassment and other workplace issues to ensure the best processes are in place for employees to understand and follow. You might find an HR manager spending time developing training seminars or software programs for employees to make sure all employees have the right training and knowledge for their respective roles.

Job Roles

Human Resources Assistant

Average Salary
$49,000

This is the ideal entry level role for someone looking to kickstart their career in HR. With administrative responsibilities and the opportunity to provide HR support in a variety of areas, you can be sure to develop a wide range of skills, setting you up for a successful HR career.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) Certificate in Human Resources (BSB41015)

Human Resources Administrator

Average Salary
$63,000

Looking after a variety of HR administrative responsibilities including payroll, recruitment and organisational development, this role is excellent for someone looking to take a step up from an assistant role into the administration side of HR.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) Certificate in Human Resources (BSB41015)

PAYROLL SUPERVISOR

Average Salary
$73,000

Stepping into the finance side of HR, professionals in this role are responsible for coordinating, administering and managing payroll and employee wages.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) Certificate in Human Resources (BSB41015)

Human Resources Coordinator

Average Salary
$73,000

With a wide variety of responsibilities, working in this role is ideal for someone looking to step up from an assistant role. HR Coordinators usually look after staff orientation and employment processes, as well as data reporting and administrative duties.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) Certificate in Human Resources (BSB41015)

human resources manager

Average Salary
$90,000

With management responsibilities, HR Managers oversee the entire HR department and functions of the business. Dependant on the company size, most HR Managers plan, direct and manage the employee management and administrative functions of the entire organisation, whilst also being involved in more strategic business decisions.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618)

human resources generalist

Average Salary
$90,000

This role has a broad range of responsibilities, and usually has works in a variety of functions rather than specialising in one area of HR. These areas include hiring, training, termination, administration and organisational development.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618)

Human Resources Assistant

Average Salary
$49,000

This is the ideal entry level role for someone looking to kickstart their career in HR. With administrative responsibilities and the opportunity to provide HR support in a variety of areas, you can be sure to develop a wide range of skills, setting you up for a successful HR career.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) Certificate in Human Resources (BSB41015)

Human Resources Administrator

Average Salary
$63,000

Looking after a variety of HR administrative responsibilities including payroll, recruitment and organisational development, this role is excellent for someone looking to take a step up from an assistant role into the administration side of HR.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) Certificate in Human Resources (BSB41015)

PAYROLL SUPERVISOR

Average Salary
$73,000

Stepping into the finance side of HR, professionals in this role are responsible for coordinating, administering and managing payroll and employee wages.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) Certificate in Human Resources (BSB41015)

Human Resources Coordinator

Average Salary
$73,000

With a wide variety of responsibilities, working in this role is ideal for someone looking to step up from an assistant role. HR Coordinators usually look after staff orientation and employment processes, as well as data reporting and administrative duties.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) Certificate in Human Resources (BSB41015)

human resources manager

Average Salary
$90,000

With management responsibilities, HR Managers oversee the entire HR department and functions of the business. Dependant on the company size, most HR Managers plan, direct and manage the employee management and administrative functions of the entire organisation, whilst also being involved in more strategic business decisions.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618)

human resources generalist

Average Salary
$90,000

This role has a broad range of responsibilities, and usually has works in a variety of functions rather than specialising in one area of HR. These areas include hiring, training, termination, administration and organisational development.

Qualification needed

Recommended

Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618)
Emerging HR job roles in 2021

As more value is increasingly placed on employee wellness, we will see emerging HR roles such as:

  • Chief Happiness Officer
  • Head of Employee Relations
  • HR Technology Officer
  • HRIS Specialist

80% of HR practitioners surveyed in the AHRI Pulse Report1

Top 5 skills for 2021 HR workforces and post-pandemic recovery1

Change Management

Leadership

Adaptability and Flexibility

Resilience

Communication

Retention of talent remains a challenge – 90% of respondents in a survey2 have been in their role 4 years or less.

HR technology and automation will allow HR professionals to have more strategic responsibilities within organisations in 2021 and beyond.3

1AHRI Pulse Report, 20202 Frazer Jones 20203 Employment Hero, 2020

Industry Insights

How do I start a career in human resources?

Having the right qualification and skillsets are the keys to a successful career in human resources. To begin a career in HR, having the right qualification is the key to success. Ensuring you are up to date with the latest HR trends both within HR as a whole and your respective industry is crucial, and aligning yourself with industry bodies is highly beneficial. The Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) is the leading industry body for human resources and accredits HR qualifications and courses they feel represent the best up-to-date technical knowledge and skills needed by each HR professional. College for Adult Learning is the only RTO to have the Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) accredited by AHRI for 2020 to 2022.

Undertaking the Certificate IV. in Human Resources (BSB41015) is the ideal qualification for teaching all of the essential skills and knowledge needed to land on your feet in an HR role. This qualification will allow you to begin any entry-level or mid-level HR role with confidence. For those looking to progress in their existing HR career, the AHRI-accredited Diploma of Human Resources Management (BSB50618) is the perfect qualification to develop HR management-level skills whilst building on current experience and knowledge.

Online HR Courses

Certificate IV in Human Resources

(BSB41015)

GO TO COURSE PAGE

This qualification is suitable for those looking to begin an HR career and professionals moving from other roles into an HR role.

Develop skills in report preparation, HR services coordination, performance management, industrial relations, WHS, workplace relations development and more.

Potential Career Outcomes

Human Resources Assistant $49k

Human Resources Coordinator $60k

Payroll Supervisor $73k

 

Diploma of Human Resources Management

(BSB50618)

GO TO COURSE PAGE

This qualification is suitable for current HR professionals or those with HR responsibilities and experience, looking to move into their next role. It is also suitable for current HR managers wanting to formalise their experience or further develop their management skills.

You’ll develop skills in managing recruitment, selection and induction, industrial relations, people and performance management, negotiation and conflict management, change management and more.

Potential Career Outcomes

Human Resources Coordinator $49k

Human Resources Manager $60k

Human Resources Generalist $73k

Why should I study human resources management?

Job growth and stability are strong in HR, with a 15.5% projected job growth in the next five years for human resources managers. Studying human resources management will allow you to be qualified with the latest industry-relevant skills and knowledge, allowing you to land a rewarding HR role and progress in your HR career. HR Managers and higher-level HR professionals have a significant amount of responsibility and can expect to be rewarded for their work. Annual salaries can range from anywhere between $90,000 to upwards of $200,000.

Ask most HR professionals and they will tell you they love their role because they have a chance to make a difference within an organisation for every employee, to make their working lives better and improve workplace relations. Working in HR also opens opportunities to travel around the world, particularly if you work for international organisations. By studying a qualification in human resources management, you can develop these essential skills in people performance and management, managing recruitment, hiring, termination and mediation processes, leading and managing organisational change, project management and much more.

WHY STUDY WITH CAL?

Real Outcomes Guarantee (Ribbon)

Real Outcomes. Guaranteed.

Our Real Outcomes Guarantee is our commitment to you and your career goals, ensuring that your studies will give you real-world benefits.

Our team, assessments and feedback are all focused on helping you in your career, not just completing your course. As the only RTO offering this, our guarantee is part of our ongoing work to go beyond just a piece of paper.

I needed to have that diploma in order to move up ... even though I’d semi been doing the job anyway.

Because I’m a single mum, I was doing it while my kids were growing up ... I could go [at] my own pace, and do it in the timeframe I wanted.

I definitely wouldn’t be where I was if I hadn’t done that course.

tell me more


Karen S. / HR Manager

CAL Careers Hub and Career Counselling

We support you beyond achieving your qualifications - we want to help you be as prepared as possible for taking the next step in your career. Our Careers Hub gives you complimentary and exclusive access to resources and personalised advice from our in-house Career Coach.

My experience with Jenni the career counsellor was exceptional...The feedback was so helpful. She was encouraging too, and made me feel more sure about how to 'sell myself' to the target employers. I am very impressed with CAL's careers hub - many resources that I will use. Thank you very much for your help.

- Samantha M.

Every member of our team is here to support you beyond achieving your qualifications. We want you to be as prepared as possible for taking the next step in your career. As a CAL student you'll gain access to our Careers Hub through our online learning hub ‘Spark'.

Learn more about the cal career hub

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