The Full Spectrum of HR Functions: Which Role Fits You Best?

To know the full spectrum of the HR department’s functions, you should look at the job cycle of an employee. From the first contact between a company and jobseeker until the latter’s exit interview, human resources (HR) are there, implementing all the necessary procedures. 

HR is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding employees. They manage payroll and employee benefits. Every day, they see to it that office supplies—including company perks like free coffee and snacks—never run out. The HR staff presents employees with multiple training opportunities, as well. They organise team lunches and Friday night hangouts to ensure everyone can work well together. Many HR departments also run activities for their corporate social responsibility programmes. When employees want to report incidents, they head to the HR department for assistance. When an employee leaves a company, HR processes their exit papers. 

Without human resources management, a company cannot recruit and retain good employees. They will not be able to maintain a healthy and collaborative work environment. An efficient HR staff is the backbone of any successful organisation. This department exists to take care of employees so that they, the employees, can work to their full potential. An ill-equipped, understaffed human resources staff can significantly cripple a company.

As the needs of employees grow and evolve, so do HR roles and responsibilities. For instance, more than half of Singapore respondents in the second part of JobStreet’s Global Talent Survey say they now prefer a combination of fixed and flexible work setups. With a workforce adjusting to the economic effects of the pandemic, HR has to be on top of the situation. They must create roles to fit the present workplace climate. 

Below is a rundown of the various roles employees in HR can take, including a reveal of how much they’re paid based on JobStreet’s Salary Report. Each one requires different skills. Which role fits you best? 

The Roles And Responsibilities Of HR

Recruiter

• Job titles under this role include: chief talent manager, chief talent officer, recruitment specialist, recruitment manager.
• Median monthly salary: SGD2,500
• Apply for this position if you enjoy building relationships, have good marketing skills and exceptional listening skills. 

Since the recruiter initiates jobseekers’ application process, they are usually the first employees that applicants meet in a company. They may work as an in-house recruiter of a company or as someone who vets candidates for other companies. Once a jobseeker’s credentials pass the recruiter’s initial assessment, the recruiter usually conducts the first interview. They do this to get to know the applicant better and see if their work experiences fit the role. A recruiter’s tasks are paramount. Finding the right candidates is vital to the success of any company. 

Administrative HR

• Job titles under this role include: administrative services specialist, administrative clerk or specialist, compensation specialist, benefits analyst.
• Median monthly salary: SGD2,900
• Apply for this position if you have a keen eye for detail, have solid organisational skills, and have initiative. 

Generally, an employee working in an administrative HR position assists the HR manager with various HR tasks. They maintain personnel records, update employee databases, schedule meetings, arrange travel, and write correspondence. Additionally, they file workers’ leaves and process payroll and benefits. In other words, administrative HR employees perform all the clerical tasks necessary for a company to conform to labour laws. 

HR Coordinator

• Job titles under this role include: HR executive, recruiting coordinator, front office coordinator, HR benefits coordinator
• Median monthly salary: SGD3,000
• Apply for this position if you have managerial experience. In this role, you need to be able to see the big picture and then initiate activities for employees to achieve it. 

An HR coordinator works with the HR manager or director to implement HR policies and processes. They liaise between HR management, recruiting managers, and other staff to ensure all company practices are efficient. A small company may have one or two HR coordinators. Big multinational organisations, however, may hire several HR coordinators to handle specific areas. These include recruitment, employee benefits, training and upskilling, mental health, and team and culture building. 

Training Manager

• Job titles under this role include: Development and training manager, professional trainer, training specialist, technical training consultant, skills trainer and instructor.
• Median monthly salary: SGD5,100
• Apply for this position if you have good communication and interpersonal skills. This role requires intuition, patience, and a passion for teaching. 

The training manager’s job is to guarantee that employees have all the opportunities to improve their technical and soft skills. The manager recruits and trains other specialists to help achieve this goal. Together their team identifies the training needs of an organisation. They then design, develop, and implement programmes and strategies that address these needs. An effective training manager ensures that employees can consistently upskill throughout their careers. 

HR Advisor

• Job titles under this role include: recruitment officer, HR evaluator, HR consultant.
• Median monthly salary: SGD4,660
• Apply for this position if you understand Singapore’s Employment Laws. You will need to have a problem-solving attitude, as well as excellent communication skills. 

An HR advisor acts as the auditor of the HR department. They review job descriptions and update these if necessary. Additionally, they monitor recruitment patterns, metrics, and turnover rates. An HR advisor also conducts internal employee surveys to pinpoint areas of improvement. Guided by research, they suggest changes to company policies, technologies, and even employer branding initiatives. 

Employee Relations Manager

• Job titles under this role include employee relations specialist, employee relations advisor, workplace diversity officer, equality and inclusion officer, head of employee relations.
• Median monthly salary: SGD8,500
• Apply for this position if you like working with people, as you will create that cater to employees’ well-being. You must recognise the value of a diverse and dynamic workplace. 

One of the main tasks of an employee relations manager is to oversee an organisation’s employee policies. They need to make sure these are compliant with the law. An employee relations manager also liaises between the company and unions. They deal with disciplinary cases, as well as other appeals and grievances. There may be an overlap of responsibilities with an HR advisor as both roles prioritise employee engagement and well-being. 

HR Manager and Director

• Job titles under these roles include office manager, talent manager, chief HR officer
• Median monthly salary: SGD12,600
• Apply for this position if you have a significant amount of work experience in the HR field, as well as excellent managerial skills. 

An HR manager and/or director oversees the different HR departments. They uphold the company culture and direct everyone to work under the same policies. As the HR leader, they are the link between a company’s top management and its employees. An HR manager will most likely have experience working in various HR roles before becoming the department head. Therefore, they are well-versed in performing the various HR responsibilities. In recruitment, they often conduct the initial interview of jobseekers, vetting them for the department head or CEO. They supervise training, as well. 

As the workplace continuously evolves, so does the full spectrum of HR functions. With the pandemic necessitating hybrid work arrangements, HR has had to consistently create policies to cater to the different needs of employees today. People are an organisation’s top resources. HR makes sure it stays that way. As a potential HR employee, you must #SEEKBetter opportunities where you can apply your skills. Visit JobStreet’s Career Resources page to learn more about the importance of the human resources department. 

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