Do you have exceptional people skills? Do you put others at ease? Are you diplomatic, understanding and empathetic? Do you have strong management and organisational skills? If so, then consider putting your talents to good use by working in Human Resources (HR).

The HR role is crucial to an organisation’s internal well-being and forms the backbone of employee communications. As the HR Manager your responsibilities will be to oversee a company’s most important commodity - their staff - ensuring their needs are met, opinions voiced and suggestions heard. You will diffuse internal stress and manage other’s issues while remaining objective and professional, and your understanding temperament and accessible personality will play a key role in your career’s success.

Quinton Meiring, INTEC College’s guidance counsellor says if you answer yes to five or more questions then working as a human resource manager could be the right career fit for you.

1. Are you a real people’s person?
2. Are you tactful and discrete when dealing with others?
3. Do people naturally trust you?
4. Do you have excellent organisational, analytical and decision-making skills?
5. Are you interested in equal rights and justice in the workplace?
6. Are you committed to growing the careers of minority groups within a company structure?
7. Are you able to enforce company policies within an organisation?
8. Do you have excellent written and verbal communication skills?
9. Do you enjoy a certain amount of admin in your job?

Where is the best place to study?
INTEC College is one of the recommended South African institutions where you can study human resource management. INTEC offers students three accreditation levels: Certificate in Human Resource Development, Certificate in Human Resource Management and a Diploma in Human Resource Management.

The flexible and affordable distance learning course will allow you to study while you work, giving you the option of staying economically active while you develop your HR skills.

What skills will you develop?
During your training, key study areas will include learning how to diffuse internal issues such as discrimination, racism and gender inequalities, organisational behaviour, labour relations, communication, business law, accounting and finance and economics. You will learn how to assist in the hiring process and create job descriptions and manage wage disputes.

Training will also be a prime area of your responsibility and you will oversee employees’ career developments.