Forums
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
Life in Workforce Management
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
Share your stories of workforce-management success in contributing to your business' bottom line, as well as your tales of business bloopers and blunders.
Online editor Robert Scally writes: “Last week we had an unprecedented response to our poll question, ‘Is being an HR manager really one of the greatest jobs?’ More than 1,100 people
1
Cat:Topic ForumsForum:ForumId55
Cat:Topic ForumsForum:ForumId55Discussion:DiscussionId31419
Forums » Topic Forums » Life in Workforce Management » Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
Forums
»
Topic Forums
»
Life in Workforce Management
»
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 2:53 AM EDT
|
Posts: 5
First: 3/24/2004 Last: 4/25/2006 |
My husband and I had a good laugh about that poll. It forced me to focus on the positive aspects of my job and realize how lucky I am to work in such a prestigious field. I agree with many of folks who've posted. HR Division is the red-headed step child! As the bearer of bad news, some managers just dont want to hear what HR has to say. I get frustrated at times and don't always feel I'm valued like other professionals in my agency. For that reason, I feel HR folks have to work hard keep a balance between work and real life. A Compensation and Benefits Manager taught me a valuable lesson early in my career. She took regular mini-vacations: her so-called mental health days. It makes a world of difference. |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 3:00 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 4/25/2006 Last: 4/25/2006 |
I love the creativity and the diversity. I love that HR touches every aspect of the business. I hate that I have to prove I should be part of the strategic planning process and that I am not just a police person. I hate that I have to set the deadlines for projects and there are always lots of projects. I love digging into a problem to find the true issue behind an employee complaint or suggestion. I love watching an employee put into place an idea that I gave them. But most of all I love that they pay me to plan parties and to make people smile. |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 3:28 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 7
First: 3/5/2003 Last: 7/10/2007 |
I love the HR field but anyone in HR must have the ability to flex with the changing face of HR. I started in "Personnel" and have made the changes to a more strategic role. However, I am one of those who does not agree that it is one of the "best" careers based on the article. If you read the reasons why HR is considered one of the best it's actually quite insulting to those of us who are serious professionals in HR. We are not in it in order to avoid stress, have it easier than other professions and so the article was quite offensive to me. I believe the role I am in IS one of the best, but not for the reasons in the article. Again, it's people not understanding what HR is really all about. |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 4:19 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 2
First: 4/25/2006 Last: 6/14/2006 |
The comment above about not "liking people" as a prerequisite to HR work brought a smile to my face. After I got into "personnel work" (back then it was personnel, not HR) I wondered why all the staffers in that function didn't seem to like people. I soon found, as did the person who posted above, that "people" in the abstract were fine but that "people" in the flesh-and-blood present could be a real pain. The coddling, hand-holding and parental activities can be a real turn-off the HR. The challenge is to get the organization and its members to see past the "day care" blinkers to the real part that HR plays in so many facets of an organization. We touch planning, recruiting, training, compensation, employee/labor relations, and so on. WE know what we can do, it's our challenge to get the organizationi to know it too!
G. Mautner, SPHR |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 4:34 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 4/25/2006 Last: 4/25/2006 |
I recently attended a trianing where the key note speaker said it was the people who get assigned HR positions with no schooling and no real experience who ultimately hurt HRs image. He wasn't blaming them, but simply asking them to get the training/schooling they need in order to do their jobs effectively as well as provide those around them (CEOs, employees, middle management) with the real image of HR is, does and will do. Its CEOs or future senior management who get burned by bad HR early on in their career who think HR is a necessary evil. It is HR Professionals responsibility to make sure they attain the training and continually improve their knowledge in order to change the tide of perception.
I love my job, I get a kick out of waking up every morning knowing I get to come to work and do good things. Sometimes those things aren't so very good on the surface (and some beyond the surface), but this is why I come to work. Stress is what you make of it, there are certainly situations that will leave me sleepless, but they are also opportunities for growth that will make the next situation a little easier to deal with. I won't call it low stress, but I will say stress comes with every job, but its whether or not you enjoy your job that decides if the stress is healhty or hurtful. |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 4:39 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 4/25/2006 Last: 4/25/2006 |
As with all professions, what makes a job wonderful (or not) has as much to do with the environment and culture of the organization as the profession itself. I have been in HR for over 8 years, prior to that 10 years in the staffing industry. There is very little I do not like about my job but I work for a small, entrepreneurial organization, I report to the CEO, I am a member of the executive management team and I have strategic input in to the company. There are aspects of my job I find tedious, such as benefits administration but overall it's exciting, fun, and challenging and I work with a wonderful group of people! |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 4:54 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 3
First: 3/14/2001 Last: 4/25/2006 |
Being an HR Manager is, for the most part, a very rewarding job. I enjoy the diversity and challenges it brings. It's a tremendous feeling when I make a difference in an employee's life by empowering them to do things they thought I had to do for them. I have learned that I can either be a babysitter or I can be an educator. The down side of HR is I do feel like I present a police force...sometimes to the degree that people don't want to come to my office because they feel like it's going to be negative. However, I am lucky because I have a positive balance in my work life as I an also the chairperson for our recognition program. It's only with a balance that I can keep my sanity in the changing HR world. Most days, I wouldn't trade my job for anything! |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 5:04 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 4/25/2006 Last: 4/25/2006 |
In my opinion what makes this job great is the challenges and variety of the work. Everytime I think I've heard it all, someone comes up with something new. Most of the time, I get to use all of my brain -- analytical, creative, empathetic, etc.
However, although this work is very rewarding, it can be exhausting. And I would certainly NOT say it is low stress. |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 6:08 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 2
First: 4/25/2006 Last: 5/16/2006 |
Is HR the best job? I first was thrown into HR back in 2004 and I had to learn everything and work my tail off and still didn't get the respect from the CEO even though I had reduced turnover, reduced WC injuries, created new trainings and ran the entire HR department without any help! But like most people said, you just don't get respect. Management doesn't see us as important strategic partners we are simply paper pushers who tell employees about benefits and thier 401k. We don't help managers not get into trouble by asking the wrong questions in interviews or assess how the cost of recruiting can be reduced...no we just sit around and chit chat with the others girls in our department and create the company newsletter.
I loved my old job- I want it back- no respect and all- I was able to make a difference there for the staff and that is what makes HR great! |
|
|
Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
posted at 4/25/2006 8:26 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 2
First: 11/6/2004 Last: 4/25/2006 |
Having been in HR for 26 years (beginning in the old "Personnel Dept. days), I have seen te profession grow and have had the opportunity to grow with it. I do believe that there is greater respect shown by senior/executive management toward HR, especially when the HR function is knowledgeable of the business and recognizes the bottom line. In the past, I think HR was hurt by the idea that it was there to enforce regulations rather than support the success of the organization and its people.
Personally I enjoy the challenges that each day brings, since it seems that most functions that cannot be slotted neatly somewhere else default to HR. And we often have the opportunity to provide solutions that represent a "win" for all stakeholders in the organization. I hope to remain active in the field for the rest of my career as long as I have the drive and ability to make a difference. |
Forums » Topic Forums » Life in Workforce Management » Why is being a HR manager one of the greatest jobs?
