Guide To An HR Generalist Career Path

What exactly is the career path of an HR generalist?

HR generalists make up an important part of any organisation. They are tasked with a broad range of responsibilities that fall under human resource (HR) functions — from handling employment, employee relations, and training and development to overseeing organisational policies and programmes. 

What does an HR generalist do?

As HR generalists cover several employee-related functions, their duties may cover the following:

• Recruiting, interviewing and hiring new employees
• Identifying areas in the organisation that could be improved and helping develop employee and organisational policies
• Creating and implementing training programmes for new employees
• Helping supervisors evaluate employee performances, especially those of new hires
• Educating staff about new processes and policies
• Training employees on occupational safety and welfare
• Handling and administering employee wages and benefits
• Issuing internal and company-wide communications, including employee memos, e-mails, and announcements

Salary Range

HR generalists can expect to earn an average total compensation of RM 39,861. 

However, the pay will likely depend on one’s level of experience. Those in entry-level positions with less than 1-year experience may earn an average of RM 31,500, including bonuses and overtime pay. Meanwhile, an HR generalist with 1 to 4 years of experience may receive an average of RM 37,086.

HR generalists in the middle of their career, with 5 to 9 years of experience may earn an average of RM 47,009. A seasoned HR generalist with at least 10 years of experience may receive an average total compensation within the range of RM 58,958 to RM 90,690. 

What is the career path of an HR generalist?

Junior Level (1-3 years experience)

• HR Generalist
• HR Executive
• Human Resource Officer
• HR Coordinator

Mid Level (4-8 years experience) 

• HR Generalist
• HR Administrator
• Human Resource Manager
• Human Resource Executive
• Senior HR Generalist

Senior level (8 years or more) 

• HR Business Partner – Manager
• Human Resources Lead

What requirements do you need to become an HR generalist?

Required skills

• Communication and interpersonal skills

There is a reason why communication and interpersonal skills are often highlighted in job listings for HR professionals. As a human resource professional, you constantly deal with people; so, it is essential that you are able to communicate with them clearly, consistently, and compassionately.

As a member of the HR division, employees must see you as trustworthy and reliable. You need to present yourself as someone who can understand their needs and concerns. With good communication and interpersonal skills, you can continuously help create a positive and stimulating work environment for all.

• Administrative skills

A large portion of human resource work, especially general HR duties, is devoted to administrative tasks. This includes being able to handle data and filing of employee leaves, absences, payroll, and others.

• Hiring and recruitment skills

HR professionals often deal with hiring and recruiting new talent to fill in #JobsThatMatter within the company. Many of these roles are important to the organisation and may even involve headhunting key talents who may contribute positively to the growth of the business. 

Those who want to build an HR generalist career path must have an eye for professionals who have the right skill set, experience, and personality to suit the workplace culture.

HR professionals also ensure that the company’s hiring practices comply with legal and ethical standards. They see to it that an organisation performs a fair and balanced process and affords equal opportunities for jobseekers.

Other skills

• Problem solving skills

Problems and internal issues that arise within the workplace are inevitable. HR generalists must be quick to address these challenges quickly and maintain a smooth working dynamic for everyone.

• Organisational skills

Human resource work entails several administrative tasks, data entry, and management of several divisions. Hence, a great HR generalist, who deals with a broad scope of human resource work, must have organisational skills to ensure that a department runs smoothly.

• Cultural sensitivity

In today’s diverse world, HR generalists may deal with different departments and individuals of various backgrounds, nationalities, and walks of life. HR generalists know that there is no one-size-fits-all method to deal with various employees. They must be able to adapt and communicate smoothly with each employee to ensure that their thoughts and ideas are expressed clearly. An HR generalist with cultural sensitivity avoids the risk of offending an employee because of cultural differences.

Educational background

Certain employers may prefer human resource professionals who have graduated with related degrees. These may include degrees or diplomas in Human Resource Management, Psychology, or Business Administration.

Ultimately, human resources is a people profession. So, degrees that equip individuals with interpersonal skills work well in the career path of an HR generalist.

Certification and training

Human resource professionals who are serious about pursuing the HR generalist’s career path may also look into becoming a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), a worldwide association of human resource management professionals that accredits and awards qualifications in HR.

There are two ways to seek membership. You can either study your qualification through a CIPD centre or have your professional experience assessed. Studying for a qualification, which includes completing coursework and possibly taking an exam, is recommended for those who are beginning their careers in HR. Meanwhile, experienced HR professionals may choose to have their work experience assessed and accredited as an Associate Member, Chartered Member, or Chartered Fellow, depending on their credentials.

Studying for a qualification may take between 9 to 12 months. On the other hand, experience assessment may be completed as quickly as 4 months.

Opportunities for Continuous Education

Want to further your HR generalist career path? Pursue further studies and advance your knowledge in this field by taking relevant graduate degrees such as Masters in Human Resource Development or Human Resource Management, or Masters of Science in Management Psychology.

How to write an HR generalist resume?

Download the HR Generalist resume template here

Get more Career Insights from Jobstreet

Ready to build your career path as an HR generalist? Update your Jobstreet profile and start looking for #JobsThatMatter. For more expert insights on how to carve a career path in Human Resources, visit our Career Resources page.

Want to find out more about what jobseekers like you look for in a job? Download the 2021 Decoding Global Talent report today.