Human Resources Management

Ireland used to be a cynical nation where the suggestion of team-building activities or morale boosting projects would be met with an uncomfortable stare. However now that Oprah is broadcast on TV3 we’re open to all sorts of things and recognise the importance of good relations in the workplace…

Human resource management exploits employees, but in a good way. It is founded on the assumption that the most valuable assets a company has is its employees and seeks to manage this workforce in as beneficial and productive a manner as possible.

A hugely important part of the process lies in recruitment; but there is much more involved. It is not simply about finding the best people for the job but also concerns itself with training, retaining and rewarding these employees.

The HR department uses resources provided by the management to put in place the best possible working environment for the staff. HR is closely linked to Industrial Relations, and negotiation and communication are vital elements of the HR role.

Education

At third-level, a HR course should provide students with a broad business education, combined with specialist HR expertise. There are two dedicated HR degree programmes available – at the National College of Ireland and Dublin Business School – but many business diplomas, certificates and degrees have HR options on the curriculum. CAO points required for business courses range from under 300 to over 500, depending on the course and the college.

HR subjects include People Management and Development, Irish and European Law, Designing and Delivering Training, Employee Relations, Recruitment Strategies, Health & Safety, Communication Skills and Business Research Methods. HR students also take classes in general business subjects such as Accounting, Economics, Marketing and IT.

There are a number of postgraduate qualifications available in HR, and many students with degrees in business or related areas can choose to specialise in HR at postgraduate level.

Options After Qualification

All medium-sized companies need an HR manager or department, so graduates with an HR qualification can work in a wide range of business sectors. Larger companies and organisations (from banks to pharmaceutical manufacturers and IT companies) offer graduate programmes that take people straight from their college courses and provide on-the-job training in preparation for a full-time HR role. Some people wanting to break into HR join a recruitment agency to gain experience. The civil service also hires people with HR qualifications.

HR experts often study for professional certifications throughout their careers. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for HR in Ireland, which runs many courses in personnel and training. The CIPD also validates a number of postgraduate-level certificates and MBA programmes.

The field of Human Resources offers plenty of scope for career advancement; many graduates move into areas such as industrial relations, employment law or training and development.

The Work

HR people are usually involved in every stage of an employee’s career, from hiring to firing/retiring. In a small company all personnel issues would be the responsibility of the HR person; however, larger companies might have an entire HR department, with different people assigned to various tasks, such as employee development or recruitment. Some companies outsource their HR tasks to a specialised HR agency.

HR managers are heavily involved in recruitment and try to find the best candidate for each role. This involves advertising vacancies, compiling a shortlist of possibilities and conducting interviews and/or selection tests. They agree salaries, draw up contracts and conduct training and orientation.

Employee training, performance assessments, pay negotiations and employee grievances or discrimination charges may also fall under the remit of the HR department.

A career in human resources is rewarding as you are often directly assisting people in getting the most out of their jobs. It can also be financially and professionally rewarding, as successful HR managers earn high salaries and often move into senior management roles.

Personal Qualities & Working Environment

Being well organised and communicative is a must in becoming a capable human resource manager. An approachable manner is also beneficial, along with experience with computers and figures.

HR departments tend to consist of people who have a head for business along with good organisational skills and who have a good head for problem solving.

The work environment tends to be formal, with regular office hours kept and a neat appearance expected.

The Money

An HR administrator or recruitment consultant with a degree might start out on €26,000, which rises quickly with experience. A general HR manager with five years’ experience can expect around €50,000, while an HR director with ten or more years’ experience might command over €100,000 a year.

The Jargon

Multi-Skilling: Is the increase of the skills base of the workforce, usually bringing in new technology

Added Value: The cost and contribution made by employees involved at each stage in the process of producing a product or providing a service

Outsourcing: When a company pays an outside agency to carry out a business task on its behalf

Benchmarking: Measures standards of performance against others doing similar work

Job Titles

HR Administrator
Recruitment Consultant
HR Manager/Director
Training & Development Manager

Further Resources

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in Ireland (CIPD)
7/8 Upper Mount Street
Dublin 2
Phone: 01 676 6655
Web: www.cipd.co.uk/branch/ireland
Email: wendy.sullivan@cipd.ie 

Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (IBEC)
Head Office
Confederation House
84/86 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2
Phone: 01 605 1500
Web: www.ibec.ie
Email: info@ibec.ie 

CorporateTraining.ie
Learning Ireland
1st Floor
Marino House
Clarence Street
Dun Laoghaire
Web: www.corporatetraining.ie
Email: info@corporatetraining.ie