Human resource coordinators design, implement and administer programs to attract and retain appropriate employees in both government offices and private companies. They recruit new employees by developing lists of potential candidates and then they coordinate and participate in groups to evaluate applicants and select the best person for the job.
There is more to this job than just hiring new employees. You advise management on the human resource policies. You help to develop appropriate staffing procedures and job evaluation mechanisms. You also identify current and prospective job vacancies.
You advise management on how to interpret labour contracts, administer disciplinary procedures or deal with grievances. You resolve staff problems in areas such as employee performance or absenteeism. You also participate in labour-management negotiations or arbitration.
In terms of influencing working conditions, you develop suitable health and safety management programs and provide advice on compensation, benefits and pensions. You help employees solve personal problems or work-related difficulties. You may also be involved in special projects concerning pay equity, savings bond programs, day-care and employee awards. In some cases, you might find yourself creating a modified work program for disabled employees.
Finally, you analyze your organization's training needs and arrange programs that meet those needs. An important part of this task is to suggest additional training that will enable employees to qualify for better jobs and develop satisfying careers.
Many companies now realize that the treatment and motivation of their employees affect their profits. This gives human resource coordinators more prestige within an organization. In larger corporations and in the government, however, the sheer size of the personnel operations means that you will have to specialize. Normally you are paid a salary, sometimes with bonuses.
There is a considerable amount of administrative work involved in this position. An important part of your administrative duties involves preparing budgets for your section and then sticking to them. You are responsible for personnel records and may supervise clerks who perform filing, typing and record-keeping duties. Increasingly, however, these functions are being handled by human resource coordinators themselves who are helped by assistants .In the normal course of their career, these assistants will also become human resource coordinators.
The most rewarding part of this job is working with the employees and management to make the most of the company. You help management structure human resource policies and practices so they can achieve the highest productivity for the organization as a whole. At the same time, you work with the employees, satisfying their needs and creating a pleasant and productive work environment.
You will do well in this job if you have the ability to understand people and see things through their eyes. Strong interpersonal skills are a definite asset.
Human resource coordinators have to be able to bring order to highly complex corporate situations, so they need to be analytical, detail-oriented and comfortable with computers. You will do well if you can use your understanding of human nature and organizations to find creative solutions to traditional problems. The work is mentally challenging, varied and fast paced.
At present, Ontario is the only province where human resource management has become a regulated profession. Most provinces, however, will soon require human resource coordinators to have college or university courses in human resource issues as well as related-work experience.