human resources job profiles.

As an HR Administrator, your work combines administrative and human resources responsibilities. Technically, the role of an HR Administrator has less to do with employee services and more to do with administering company policies, data management and evaluating employee relations.

what does an HR administrator do?

Many people confuse an HR Administrator with an HR Generalist, but they are separate roles. For instance, a generalist manages all employee-related issues while an administrator assists the HR manager with daily tasks like processing new hires, HR data systems and documenting policies. In large organisations, the HR administrator role is broken down into different areas of specialisation like payroll administration or data entry. However, in smaller companies, your role as an HR Administrator covers all Human Resources functions, including recruiting, training and employee relations. That is why HR Administrators in small organisations get more exposure and broader experience.

As an HR Administrator, it is vital to understand the intricacies of data management. Since you play a crucial role in managing the information flow between employees and managers, it is important to have strong communication and people skills.

In Australia, an HR Administrator earns an average salary of $68,250 per year. Entry-level positions for HR Administrators attract a salary of $61,000 annually due to the minimal experience. When you have many years of experience, your annual salary is around $78,000 . Some employers include allowances and non-monetary benefits as part of the remuneration package.

how to increase your salary as an HR administrator

As an HR Administrator, your salary depends on your experience and academic qualifications. Your experience determines the complexity of your responsibilities and the transferable skills you possess. Most employers are willing to pay more for HR Administrators with additional years of experience. Your qualifications also affect your remuneration package. For instance, hr administrators with bachelor's degrees are likely to earn more compared to hr administrators with only VET qualifications.

The company size also influences the remuneration package. In a small company, an HR Administrator completes all the human resources tasks, but the earnings could be less due to the limited resources in the company. Large organisations generally have greater resources and can afford to pay higher remuneration to HR Administrators. Some business sectors also have higher salaries due to the complexity of the role. For instance, working as an HR Administrator in financial services attracts a different salary structure compared with construction or mining companies.

As an HR Administrator, you work on administrative duties like ensuring compliance with company employment policies and processing payroll. Some of the specialisms to consider in the role include:

• employee relations officer: as an HR Administrator, you can assist with employee relations tasks. For instance, you ensure the company has a harmonious work environment for staff. That includes solving conflicts, addressing behaviours in the workplace and updating employees' files.
• payroll administrator: as an HR Administrator, you assist with the administrative functions in payroll. For instance, you update employees' records and ensure the details are correct for payroll. You also help the payroll team with processing salaries for employees.

Working as an HR Administrator requires organisational skills and knowledge of human resource processes and policies. The role requires multitasking and time management skills to help you juggle your  tasks.
HR administrator job description
Each organisation has unique duties and responsibilities for an hr administrator, but the general roles include:

• keeping employee records: as an HR Administrator, you maintain statutory employee records. You document necessary details, ensure they are up to date and provide them when required. Aside from validating the records, you feed them into the company's Human Resources Information System (HRIS).
• organising interviews: HR Administrators work closely with recruiters to ensure they have the necessary resources to conduct interviews. That means you compile the shortlist of candidates and ensure the hiring manager has the necessary records. You also organise interview venues and communicate with shortlisted candidates. As the hr administrator, you maintain contact with potential candidates throughout the selection process. You should make the necessary phone calls and keep them informed of the interview schedule.
• maintaining company policies and procedures: whenever managers amend an organisation's human resources policies and procedures, they are passed on to the HR Administrator. Your job is to document the changes in the HRIS system and inform employees. Sometimes, you also organise training to ensure employees are conversant with the new procedures.
• preparing onboarding procedures: as an HR Administrator, you ensure new recruits feel welcome by organising onboarding processes. You may conduct office tours and IT registration, prepare their workspace and note any upskilling required by recruits.
• payroll data management: your job is to gather data necessary for payroll processing. For instance, you collect the addresses, banking details and other relevant information for payroll. It is crucial to check for accuracy and ensure the payroll team has the relevant information.
• handling employee queries: as an HR Administrator, you are the first point of contact between employees and management. Your job is to pass on employee requests and queries to the manager. You also clarify questions arising from company policies or procedures.

work environment

As an HR Administrator, your work is primarily office-based. You spend your day reviewing human resources data and preparing documents in the office. Sometimes, you travel to organise training or interviews if the company conducts them in offsite venues. Most HR Administrators work in-house, providing services to one employer. Hence, they can work for different industries, from construction and mining to financial services and retail companies. However, some HR Administrators are employed in human resources consultancy companies and provide services to various clients.
 

who are your colleagues?

Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include HR Coordinators, office managers and specialists. You might also be working in close proximity to employee relations officers and administrators, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, accountants, recruitment consultants, recruiters and talent acquisition specialists.

job outlook

The HR Administrator is the feeder role for HR Coordinator, Recruitment/Talent Acquisition, and/or consultant and HR Advisor.

All that knowledge of policy and how the company works is a perfect lead into a career progression higher up the decision making tree.

In large organisations, the HR Administrator role is an entry-level position in the Human Resources field. You can progress to a managerial position or specialise in the various specialisms in HR. Most HR Administrators improve their qualifications and become HR Managers, HR Srategists and then HR Directors. Alternatively, multiple specialisms are available for HR Administrators, such as payroll specialists, employee relations specialists or recruiters. You can advance into consultancy with expert knowledge and years of experience.

advantages of finding an HR administrator job through HR Partners

Finding your HR Administrator job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:

• access to an experienced team of specialist recruiters 
• 25 years of experience in the Australian market
• a range of opportunities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth 
• temporary and permanent contracts

Some of the qualifications of an HR Administrator include:

• qualifications: to become an HR Administrator, you require tertiary-level qualifications. Most HR Administrators have relevant VET qualifications like Certificate IV in human resource management or a diploma in human resources. To further broaden your career opportunities, consider getting a bachelor's degree in business or human resource management. 
• work experience: most employers require HR Administrators to have some industry experience before commencing work. Gain work experience through internships while studying or find entry-level positions in human resources to improve your skills. When you are ready to join top-level positions, consider upskilling with a postgraduate study programme like a master's in human resource management.
  skills and competencies

As an HR Administrator, you need a firm set of skills to succeed, including:

• computer skills: as an HR Administrator, basic computing skills are useful for data management and other hr functions like compiling data in the human resource management software. Knowledge of MS Office applications like Excel, PowerPoint and Word makes your job simpler since it improves your data entry process.
• organisational skills: your role involves juggling numerous tasks, and some will fall behind schedule without sound organisational skills. Administrative skills help you prioritise tasks and improve efficiency throughout the human resource processes.
• detail-oriented skills: as an HR Administrator, you juggle multiple tasks with minimal room for error. Hence, attention to details helps you maintain accurate records and avoid costly mistakes.
• communication skills: as an HR Administrator, good communication skills assist you in employee relations and responding to queries and requests from various stakeholders. Some of your duties involve communicating with job applicants, where communications skills are invaluable.
• integrity and approachability: it is important to be approachable and trustworthy to make employees feel safe and able to discuss sensitive issues with you. Make sure you also give workers good advice in response to their queries.
   

Human resource managers contribute to the success of a business by handling issues related to employees and maximising their value in a company. As an HR Manager, you will play an essential role in maximising the effectiveness of employees and ensuring that people issues are prioritised. You will be involved in Managing performance, pay, Learning and Development, headcount reporting and workforce planning.

It would be best if you focused on individual employee needs and the work environment to do an excellent job. For instance, ensuring workers have a conducive work environment to boost their productivity is vital. Aside from supporting the company's staff, your role entails dealing with uncomfortable aspects of employment. You will handle human resource questions or issues, laying off workers and disciplining employees.

Your specific responsibility varies depending on the size of the company. Small businesses usually have one HR manager to cover all the roles, while in a large company, you are likely to handle one aspect of employee management.

Would working as an HR manager suit your enterprising personality? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in an HR manager role.

The median annual wage for HR managers starting their careers is $130,000. However, your salaries and benefits vary based on the company's size, industry, and experience. As you increase your expertise and provide specialised services, your average salary can rise to $140,000 per year. The types of benefits also affect your remuneration package. For instance, some employers provide healthcare coverage, transport allowance and bonuses, while others only offer a basic salary.

As an HR manager, your salary is based on your experience and qualifications. Entry-level positions pay less, but you will gain invaluable experience that builds your career. With expert knowledge and specialised skills, your compensation package reflects your qualification levels. It is crucial to gradually grow your skills to scale the heights in human resources and increase your compensation package.  

In a small business, you will handle all HR tasks alone, but in large companies, an HR manager focuses on one of the following areas:

• Employee relations HR managers: the responsibility of a labour relations HR manager is to oversee employment policies and ensure the company complies with the legislation in union and non-union settings. You will coordinate grievances and handle labour complaints affecting the organisation. Labour relations also involve negotiating labour contracts, including wages and benefits.
• Job placement specialist: Influence the recruitment of talent into the organisation by managing and leading Talent acquisition activities and working with the leadership team to understand what skills are needed for the business to be successful now and in the future. You use performance management details during promotions to promote employees according to expertise.
• Compensation and benefits HR managers: as a compensation HR manager, your primary role is ensuring employees are compensated for their services. You also provide your employer keeps up with workers' health insurance payments and the vital benefits required by the law.

To become a successful HR manager, you should have a knack for recognising talent and expertise in organising personnel in a company. Some of the responsibilities and your daily tasks as an HR manager are explained below.

hr manager job description

As an HR manager, your responsibility revolves around the human capital in your company. You must match the company's workers to the task based on their skills and competency. The primary duties of an HR manager include the following:

•  handling compensation and administrative tasks. As an HR manager, your administrative tasks include scheduling employees, running payroll and storing employee records. When scheduling employees, allocate equal work hours based on job groups and ensure everyone gets time off and adequate breaks at regular intervals. Keeping documents and employees' files also ensures compliance with the regulations.
• HR Professionals interpret and advise on policy and workplace management issues and challenges. Managers seek advice from HR professionals to help manage issues such as equity and diversity harassment, recruitment and a whole range of people-related workplace matters to ensure risk mitigation and good practices are maintained
• Providing health and safety: HR managers ensure employees have all the safety equipment they need to complete their tasks. By complying with work environments' health and safety standards, HR managers minimise risks from workplace accidents. Ensuring workplace safety also reduces turnover and productivity problems.

Nowadays, HR managers perform minimal administrative tasks due to the human resource software and technologies available. For instance, payroll processing is now automated with payroll systems and HR managers can keep all records in one system and use it to perform all functions. Scheduling software has also automated employee scheduling, while performance management software streamlines performance appraisals and employee monitoring.

You have various employers to choose from as a human resource manager in your career. You can work in government offices, advising employees and managing employees for government institutions. HR manager opportunities are available in professional, scientific and technical consultancy firms. Most manufacturing firms also need HR managers to handle labour relations and safety issues. 

Regardless of your industry, most of your roles are office-based, with minimal off-site duties like conferences and training workshops. You can work from home or complete all your tasks remotely as an HR manager. Networking is made possible with the increased adoption of human resource management technologies.

As an HR manager, your typical workday begins at nine and ends at 5 with few overtime hours. If you have deadlines or some work to catch up on, consider extending your workday to include evenings and weekends. During company events and parties, you also have to attend events at night. Most HR manager positions are full-time, but getting a part-time job or a remote working opportunity is possible. Your job also involves some travelling, when you are organising training and development workshops or attending conferences. Overseas travel is minimal unless you are working for a multinational company.

Human resource managers have a significant influence at the leadership table due to their crucial contribution to achieving business goals. As an HR manager, you have a promising career path in higher managerial positions if you gain the skills and expertise needed. From an HR manager position, you can become the HR director supervising the implementation of human resource policies. You can also become the Vice President (VP) or chief human resource officer in an organisation, where you work alongside top-level executives in developing human resources plans that affect the company. An HR manager role also allows you to specialise and become a consultant in labour relations, payroll, talent acquisition, and diversity and inclusion.

skills and competencies 

Some of the qualities of an HR manager include the following: 

• decision-making skills: as an HR manager, you head the human resources department, which means you make decisions on various functions in your department. Decision-making skills help you weigh the strengths and weaknesses of situations to determine the best course of action.
• interpersonal skills: you require strong interpersonal skills since your job focuses on interacting with people. Collaboration helps you work well with various teams and develop positive working relationships.
• organisational skills: you should be an expert in prioritising tasks to meet deadlines. Since you manage several projects at once, you require organisational skills to keep track of all the details.
• speaking skills: as an HR manager, you make presentations and direct employees in various roles. You should communicate clearly and concisely to provide relevant and helpful instructions to your employees.

What do I need to become an HR manager in Australia?

In Australia, an HR manager requires tertiary qualifications. Complete a relevant degree such as Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business (Human Resources Management), or a Bachelor of Psychology. This will typically take three years. You also require extensive work experience to progress in the profession.

Is an HR manager a promising career in Australia?

Becoming an HR manager in Australia provides exciting career opportunities. The job outlook is promising, and you can progress to high-level roles like the HR director. The remuneration package is attractive and increases with experience.

How long does it take to become an HR manager?

While the tertiary qualifications for becoming an HR manager typically take three years in full-time study, you may take an additional three years to become an HR manager. Working in entry-level positions helps you gain experience and progress in your career.

How do I apply for an HR manager vacancy?

Applying for an HR manager job is straightforward: create a Randstad profile and search our HR manager job offers. Then send us your CV and cover letter.   

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