An Honest Look into Working in an HR Department

Picture this: you’re meeting someone for the first time. You’re asking the typical ‘get to know you’ questions, such as:

“What do you do for work?”

They answer with: “I work in HR!“

This answer often unconsciously forms a picture of an office worker, fielding complaint after complaint from employees – a “people person,” trained to deal with employee conflict.

Is this completely incorrect? No. Is it the whole picture? Most definitely not. 

In this article, we’ll be discussing what it really means to be an HR professional. We will debunk some myths, delve into some of the more complex realities of this role and help build a character profile of someone who would thrive in this profession. Whether you’re looking to upskill into a human resources management role, or you’re looking to change your career path altogether to step into HR, reading this article will help prepare you for the exciting, but challenging reality of an HR job.

The majority of larger corporations will have some variation of the Human Resources Department. Depending on the size of the company (i.e. the number of employees) and the business structure, some companies only have a small number of HR specialists. In contrast, others have an extensive network of people responsible for all things employee performance-management related.

In recent years, the typical HR department has shifted to be regarded as a more strategic entity – most noticeably in progressives industries. The voices of HR directors or managers are becoming increasingly important during organisation-wide negotiations, policy changes and business decisions. Hence, thorough knowledge in employment law and labour relations is important when working in HR management.

The roles available within an HR department vary from company to company; however, in larger corporations, typical job titles include:

A company’s largest asset is its human capital. Hence, the representative body of the HR department increasingly functions as pseudo business partners who specialise in HR, rather than HR-trained individuals working for a business. 

Many people still consider HR as just a nurturing, people-person, ‘soft skills’ career. Although interpersonal communication, people management skills and general empathy are essential attributes to possess as an HR specialist – they are not the whole role.

Read more about the 5 essential skills you need to overcome common HR challenges.

Myth: Working in HR means fielding and dealing with employee complaints all day.

Reality: Typical HR departments do not field complaints of small disagreements or miscommunication in the office. However, HR is highly involved in cultivating a positive work culture. Hence, reports of workplace misconduct, abuse or harassment must be taken very seriously. Proper procedures and strategies are put in place to effectively investigate such instances to ensure a safer and fair work environment, as well as an equal employment opportunity.

Myth: Working in HR is a purely people-orientated role.

Reality: Yes, working in HR means your work directly affects the people of the company, but this doesn’t mean HR is all about and only about the people. HR works to ensure the company achieves its goals through its human capital. Human resources management often weigh in on strategic business decisions and hence, need analytical data to back up their claims and suggestions.

Myth: Working in HR means you’re isolated from the rest of the company.

Reality: As a human resources professional, you are a business person too. Your work directly affects all employees of the company from the C-suite (CEO, CFO, COO) down to the bottom of the corporate ladder. Although a lot of HR work is kept confidential, open communication and mutual understanding between HR and other departments are critical to establishing effective work procedures and changes.

Myth: HR workers just suggest – they do not do.

Reality: Often an overlooked reality, working in HR comes with some tough decisions, awkward encounters and difficult conversations. HR not only provides strategic suggestions to help build company profitability via their employees – but you also have to implement them if approved by the executives. This means explaining salary cuts, terminations, redundancies and rejection of leave to relevant employees.

Myth: HR only cares about the company’s bottom line.

Reality: HR is a highly strategised and procedure-driven department that does exist to help achieve business goals. However, you’re also a part of the department capable of implementing real, beneficial change for its employees! Above all else, HR employees are human and you want to see your fellow employees thrive and enjoy their work environment. So, if approached correctly, by working in HR you could become their biggest ally.

As you can already tell, working within HR involves a plethora of skills, experience and resilience. Let’s now give you an idea of the type of person who would thrive while working in HR.

Are you interested in making the jump into HR? Good career choice! Strong industry growth is projected for Human Resource professionals in Australia, with over 80% of workers in this industry securing full-time employment.

Although numerous education pathways lead to HR, most people looking to enter this field hold a Diploma qualification or above. Over 35% of workers in this field go on to complete a Bachelor’s degree, particularly if they want to progress to an HR management role or senior HR positions.

Whether you’re looking to jump straight into a generalist Human Resources role, or you want to improve your management skills, a course focusing on the development of Human Resources skills is a valuable asset.

Think HR is the Right Fit for You?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a career path, whether it’s your first or fifth. One of the most crucial things to understand is how your skill set will help you succeed in the industry.