Human Resources Manager
What the work is
Plans, organises, directs, controls and coordinates the human resource and workplace relations activities within an organisation.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Determines, implements, monitors, reviews and evaluates human resource management strategies, policies and plans
- Advises and assists other managers in applying sound recruitment and selection practices, and appropriate induction, training and development programs
- Develops and implements performance management systems to appraise and improve individual and team performance
- Represents the organisation in negotiations with unions and employees to determine remuneration and other conditions of employment
- Develops equal employment opportunity programs, and ensures compliance with related statutory requirements
- Oversees the application of redundancy and other employee retrenchment policies
- Monitors employment costs and productivity levels
- May train and advise other managers in personnel and workplace relations matters
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in the people and culture team of a fictional manufacturing and distribution company. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- You help a manager find the right words for a hard conversation and it goes well
- A new starter finishes their first month settled, supported and clearly part of the team
- A dispute is sorted out fairly and both people leave still willing to work together
Hard days
- Running a restructure where you know some good people will lose their jobs
- A complaint where both people honestly believe they are in the right
- Being the person managers avoid because they assume you are bringing a problem
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 111331, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.