Curious about the HR profession and what the role entails? Here’s a quick HR FAQ to go over some of the most pressing questions regarding the nature of a career in Human Resources.
What is HR? The Human Resources profession is a complex mix of tasks and responsibilities that extend from the start to the end of an employee’s work cycle at an organization. Creating an HR FAQ sheet is a challenging task, as the field of human resources is extensive and adaptable, often evolving to meet the needs of an organization. From hiring to firing, an HR professional is often responsible for the entirety of an employee’s career, including the evaluation of their individual performance.
In larger organizations, HR specialists handle niche tasks and specific responsibilities rather than the entire spectrum of HR work, but in smaller organizations, a few HR employees are charged with the entirety of the HR role. Whether you’re building an organization or looking to get hired, an HR guide could be useful in understanding just what you’re dealing with when it comes to HR.
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HR FAQ Sheet—Understanding The Ins and Outs of the HR Role
Often avoided and regularly berated, HR workers are among the most misunderstood professionals in the modern world. Due to their role in deciding and communicating harsh decisions to workers, many fear a call from HR, despite the original purpose of the department being one of connecting the employees with the rest of the organization.
A job in HR can be highly fulfilling, all things considered, and there are many ways to make an impression on an organization via this role. If this is something you’re interested in, it’s important to set yourself on the right track in terms of acquiring the right education and qualifications, so we’re all set to answer some common HR questions for you. Even if you aren’t looking to build a career in HR and are merely curious about the purpose of the department, our HR FAQ might be of some use to you.
What Is the Function of HR?
HR, or the Human Resources department, manages the workforce of any given organization, assisting an employer with maintaining employee records, payroll transactions, promotions, and ensuring the employee numbers match the needs of the organization.
An HR professional is expected to regularly interact with employees and understand their concerns, while also integrating their feedback into the organization. Conversely, HR reps have a responsibility to communicate the decisions of employers and managers to the employee to ensure everyone is on the same page.
The role of HR includes the task of:
- Determining the workplace guidelines and code of conduct to ensure professional standards are met
- Executing the entire cycle of hiring employees, from soliciting applications and interviewing them to completing the onboarding process once hired
- Maintaining employee records and updating them regularly to ensure everything is up-to-date
- Managing employee payroll and ensuring pay is sent out at the right time
- Organizing training for departments or individual employees when performance improvement plans need to be enforced
- Handling employee benefits to ensure employees are sufficiently motivated to perform
- Organizing and tracking employee leave and approving PTO days when needed
- Maintaining employee relations to ensure healthy relations are built and conflicts do not escalate
- Aiding in succession planning and preparing employees for upcoming leadership roles
- Collecting employee feedback and enforcing changes to improve the workplace
- Handling voluntary and involuntary employee exits to ensure an easy transition out of the organization
- Ensure regulatory compliance with state and federal employment laws
What Skills Do HR Professionals Need?
One of the most common HR questions we see is this—what skills of HR workers need? Considering the diverse nature of HR responsibilities, there are quite a few skills necessary to succeed in the field, particularly in the HR manager role.
- Communication skills: HR workers need to be able to interact with employers and employees in a calm manner with great regularity
- Decision-making: HR professional needs to be able to think on their feet while understanding the workforce and how best to approach them
- Conflict resolution: Bringing down tempers and resolving issues between coworkers is a central HR function
- Strategic thinking: HR managers and leaders are tasked with making business-critical decisions that can shift the course of the organization
- Training skills: While an HR professional may only have a training role during onboarding, they also need to have a keen eye for understanding the skill training needs of employees
- Familiarity with technology: HR workers handle a lot of data on a day-to-day basis and need to be able to use HRIS systems and new-age AI tools in order to perform their jobs well
- Sensitivity and empathy: A job in HR demands an awareness of cultural norms and identity markers as well as an empathetic approach to the concerns of workers
What Educational Qualifications Do You Need to Work in HR?
In many cases, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or an HR-related field may be sufficient to get started with working in HR, but a master’s degree or an MBA can double your chances of getting hired at a more competitive organization. To specialize in a specific area of HR, there are various courses that can be explored, however, starting in a generalist role and taking on more specialized responsibilities can also help build a career towards a specific HR segment.
Most HR roles require candidates to build up experience working in generalist HR positions before branching off into more specific categories. Whether you want to take on the HR manager role or become a DEI expert, it is important to gain enough experience working in human resources to support your resume with evidence of your understanding.
What is the Average Salary of an HR Worker?
The salary available to HR workers will differ from organization to organization and increase with more senior roles. For a general estimate, according to Payscale, the average HR Generalist salary is around $62,114 per year. Glassdoor further indicates that the base pay can vary between $55,000 and $82,000 per year.
Do HR Professionals Conduct Background Checks?
Depending on the organization’s preferences, HR professionals often conduct background checks before hiring a candidate. Some organizations may want a better understanding of criminal records, for example, to identify a history of financial crimes. Additionally, HR professionals may also be required to look at other aspects of a candidate’s background, such as verifying their employment history or scouring social media to understand the candidate’s presence online and the nature of their interactions with people outside of work.
How Is HR Evolving Right Now?
There are many HR-related questions that come up regarding the trends in the industry. Just as most other industries are realizing, 2025 is the year of AI, and HR roles are also being affected by the change. HR experts who have a familiarity with the technology can stand to find better employment opportunities if they are able to showcase an intimate understanding of such technology.
With the ongoing talent shortage, particularly with AI experts, HR professionals need to be able to improve recruitment strategies or improvise and train workers to meet the needs of the organization. Some businesses, such as IBM, are replacing HR with AI tools, but there is still a considerable demand for HR workers who remain central to operations.
Previously popular HR concepts of diversity and inclusivity have been largely shunned in 2025; however, experts predict that inclusivity will continue to remain a keystone consideration for most organizations that want to build a relationship with employees. The strained employer-employee relationship due to frequent layoffs and return-to-work policies also needs fixing, and only HR can help smooth out the issues.
There are also new legislations being introduced, from the utilization of AI in recruitment to shifts in taxes on tips and overtime, so HR professionals need to be aware of the changes and update their guidelines accordingly.
A Career In HR Can Be Rewarding In the Long Run
Are you a people-person who enjoys interacting with a diverse crowd? Do you like putting your problem-solving and decision-making skills to the test? If your answer is yes to both questions, a career in HR might be perfect for you. The HR manager role can be extremely challenging considering the many pressures and responsibilities that fall to their shoulders, but managing a workforce correctly and seeing the workplace culture thrive can feel very rewarding.
Over the years, the reputation of HR might have shifted, but the ultimate goal is to ensure that an organization can work at its harmonious best, with every employee choosing to be there and participate in the company’s growth rather than show up due to a lack of alternatives. The evolving nature of HR and the workforce ensures there is also something new to learn, explore, and implement in the field, making it one of the most dynamic industries you can participate in today.
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