What does a Human Resources Generalist do?
Published 4 min read
A human resources generalist is responsible for a wide range of functions within an organization. They may be involved in recruitment, training, employee relations, and benefits administration. Human resources generalists play a vital role in ensuring that an organization's workforce is productive and engaged.
Human Resources Generalist job duties include:
- Serve as point of contact with employees and managers for all HR-related inquiries
- Administer employee benefits programs
- Coordinate and facilitate new employee orientation
- Maintain employee records in compliance with applicable legal requirements
- Conduct exit interviews and analyze data to identify trends
- Assist in the development and implementation of HR policies and procedures
- Participate in the investigation of workplace complaints, accidents, and incidents
- Assist with performance management processes
- Support employees in the use of HRIS systems
- Perform data entry and maintenance tasks in HRIS
Human Resources Generalist Job Requirements
The job requirements for a Human Resources Generalist are a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or a related field, and certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). They should have at least three years of experience working in human resources, and knowledge of employment law.
Human Resources Generalist Skills
- Recruiting
- Onboarding
- Training
- Employee Relations
- Performance Management
- Benefits Administration
- Compensation
- Policy Development
- Compliance
- Investigations
- Succession Planning
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How to become a Human Resources Generalist
A human resources generalist is a professional who performs a variety of duties in the field of HR. As a generalist, you will be responsible for many different aspects of HR, including recruitment, employee relations, benefits, and training. While the specific duties of a human resources generalist will vary depending on the size and type of organization, there are some essential skills and knowledge that all HR generalists should possess.
If you’re interested in becoming a human resources generalist, here are a few things you need to know:
1. Understand the basics of HR
Before you can start working as an HR generalist, it’s important that you have a strong understanding of the basics of HR. This includes topics like employment law, employee benefits, and compensation. You should also be familiar with HR best practices and trends.
2. Develop strong people skills
As an HR generalist, you will be working closely with people on a daily basis. It’s important that you have strong people skills and are able to effectively communicate with others. You should also be able to build relationships easily and handle difficult conversations when necessary.
3. Be detail-oriented
In the world of HR, attention to detail is critical. From tracking employee vacation days to ensuring that benefits are correctly calculated, there are many details that need to be managed on a daily basis. If you’re not detail-oriented, it will be difficult to succeed in this field.
4. Be organized and efficient
With so many different tasks to juggle, being organized and efficient is key for an HR generalist. You should be able to prioritize your workload and manage your time effectively in order to meet deadlines and keep everything running smoothly.
5. Have strong problem-solving skills
From dealing with conflict between employees to addressing performance issues, an HR generalist often needs to find creative solutions to challenging problems. If you’re not good at thinking on your feet and coming up with innovative solutions, this may not be the right career for you.
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