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HR Generalist Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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An HR Generalist, or HR Officer, facilitates the hiring of employees for an organisation or company. They are responsible for managing employee benefits and welfare, helping employees with their career development, training and providing management with advice on laws and regulations affecting labour relations.

HR Generalist duties and responsibilities

HR Generalists provide a wide range of HR advice and support. Their typical duties and responsibilities include:

  • Guiding management on employee relations and performance management
  • Offering recruitment assistance to the company
  • Improving, implementing and administering human resources policies and procedures
  • Developing and maintaining relationships with employment agencies to ensure the selection of the best candidates
  • Implementing programs to improve the employee experience of the organisation as a workplace
  • Handling complaints and disciplinary procedures for the company
  • Arranging services for employees, such as counselling services
  • Assisting with salary negotiations and issues with employment laws

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HR Generalist Job Description Examples:

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
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What does an HR Generalist do?

HR Generalists perform a variety of functions for an organisation. Their duties range from providing support to employees and managers, overseeing the onboarding of new employees and training employees on the company’s procedures and policies. HR Generalists use their knowledge of labour laws and regulations relating to the hiring and firing of employees to protect the organisation.

HR Generalist skills and qualifications

A successful HR Generalist candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications to be successful in performing their duties and responsibilities. These typically include:

  • Proficiency in commonly used word processing software packages such as MS Office suite
  • Excellent judgment and problem-solving skills
  • Strong knowledge of the hiring process
  • Excellent verbal communication skills
  • Understanding of HR best practices and current regulations
  • A customer-focused outlook with a high level of discretion and professionalism
  • The ability to work well with team members and management
  • Cultural awareness and excellent interpersonal skills
  • Organisational skills for storing and accessing different types of information on a daily basis

HR Generalist experience requirements

Employers usually prefer candidates who have several years of hands-on experience on various areas of HR, including hiring, training and payroll. For junior positions, employers require candidates to have completed an HR internship or have at least one to two years of experience in an entry-level HR position. For senior positions, employers generally require at least five years of experience in an HR position.

HR Generalist education and training requirements

Employers usually require prospective HR Generalists to have a higher education college qualification or a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management or a related discipline. Some HR Generalist positions are better suited to candidates with a postgraduate qualification in human resource management. Some employers prefer candidates that are involved in ongoing professional development courses and qualifications offered by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Other employers consider candidates with work experience as a Business Administrator in the HR department for a promotion to an HR Generalist position.

HR Generalist salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an HR Generalist is £36,081 per year. This figure varies depending on factors, including the company, its location and the years of experience required.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the job description of an HR Generalist is not what you are looking for, here are sample job descriptions for similar positions:

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HR Generalist job description FAQs

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