What is Human Resource Management?
Human resources (HR) involves everything to do with the management of people in a workplace. As a human resource manager, your days will be diverse and fulfilling.
HR managers may lead role planning, recruitment and selection; performance management; workplace health and safety; staff accountability; and workplace diversity initiatives, among many other responsibilities.
A strong human resource management division delivers a convincing competitive advantage for an organisation.
Much more than reviewing resumes and conducting job interviews, strategic human resource management focuses on helping individuals to reach their potential and ensuring organisations develop the capability and skills they need to achieve their goals.
In today’s digitally connected and increasingly flexible work environment, human resource management also plays a key role in transforming workplaces for the future.
HR managers may have the opportunity to deliver meaningful change in areas including virtual workplaces, off-shoring/outsourcing, work-life balance, organisational learning and workplace psychology.
As technology breaks down barriers between international teams, human resource management must also assist organisations to navigate global labour markets and facilitate multicultural exchange.
What does a human resource manager do?
As a human resource manager, you will likely be a people person who enjoys helping others to get the most out of their job and their work environment.
HR managers must be organised, proactive and discreet, developing trusted partnerships to support people at every level of an organisation. You will work directly with executive leaders, frontline staff and everyone in between. You may be privy to pay details, personal issues and professional tensions.
You must be a good written and oral communicator who knows how to motivate others and create a collaborative and positive workplace culture. An HR manager may work with other managers across the business to set key performance indicators and advise on incentives and bonus structures, pay scales, and equity and diversity targets.
A generalist HR practitioner may provide a range of human resource services, covering both practical people management and strategic human resource management areas.
Or, you may choose to develop skills and experience in HR specialist areas including change management, organisational psychology and behaviour, employee and leadership coaching, workforce economics and analytics, employment relations and more.
Explore your study options in Human Resources Management
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Combine the best of business and arts to build a critical perspective on the sociocultural contexts of the Tropics. Gain hands-on experience through JCU’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and develop advanced skills in communication and research that will prepare you for a diverse and exciting career.
Download Brochure- Townsville: February, May, September
- Cairns: February, May, September
- Online: February, May, September
Give your career a far-reaching, competitive start with the Bachelor of Business-Bachelor of Laws. Pair your business insight in accounting, economics, management, marketing or tourism with a strong understanding of the law to bring unparalleled expertise to future roles. This course is an approved qualification to practise law in Queensland.
Download Brochure- Townsville: February, July
- Cairns: February, July
- Online: February, July
Maximise your employability with a joint degree in Business and Psychological Science. You will develop business operations and decision-making skills alongside critical thinking underpinned by an advanced understanding of human behaviour to set you apart in the global workforce.
Download Brochure- Townsville: February, July
Develop specialised business skills and benefit from targeted professional development. You will enter the business sphere equipped with real-world industry experience and access to industry networks.
Download Brochure- Townsville: February, May, September
- Cairns: February, May, September
- Brisbane: February, May, September
- Online: February, May, September
What jobs can you do by studying Human Resources Management?
Human resource managers are needed in nearly every industry globally. Studying human resource management equips you with a versatile skill set that can be applied to sectors including energy and resources, hospitality and tourism, healthcare, education, construction, retail and more.
Human resource management jobs will take you from big companies to family businesses, from innovative start-ups to global mega firms like Google, Facebook, Apple or Amazon. State and federal government agencies, local councils, not-for-profits, charities, sporting clubs and music events – all of these organisations (and many more) typically require in-house HR support.
In regional centres and more remote areas, HR jobs tend to be generalist. An HR manager will find their role filled with different tasks and deliverables from one day to the next.
When you complete a Major in Human Resources Management at JCU, you also gain exposure to range of more specialist HR areas, where you may choose to undertake further study or professional development.
The kinds of jobs you could hold with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Human Resource Management from JCU include:
- In-house or external recruiter
- People manager and performance reviewer
- Employment relations specialist
- Internal staff complaints handler
- HR economic analyst
- HR policy developer
- Change manager
- Internal business negotiator
- Leadership coach.
Why study Human Resources Management at JCU?
Cultivate a competitive edge in business by studying human resources management at JCU.
JCU students combine theoretical learning with practical application, gaining hands-on human resource management experience through HR work placements.
When you study human resource management at JCU, you can also attend field trips, apply for HR internships and complete our professional development program to prepare you for your HR career.
JCU students may also deepen their knowledge by completing an HR project sourced from industry.
At JCU, you will study human resource management with a global context and a local focus. Learn about HR challenges and opportunities specific to the Tropics, while joining a globally connected group of peers at our campuses in Queensland, Singapore or online.
Whether you’re studying an undergraduate degree, a diploma or a Master’s, a Human Resources Management Major can propel you into the workforce and open up a world of opportunity.
Alison McLeod
Alumni
Bachelor of Business, majoring in Human Resources Management
"A degree in business allows someone to gain strong foundations and knowledge that can be used across several different roles in many different industries. The organised field trips were invaluable as I was able to visualise the theory of the course being implemented into real life scenarios and business operations."