What Does an HR Coordinator Do?

The human resources (HR) coordinator oversees and ensures efficient human resources processes across the entire company. Although a certified HR professional has numerous job responsibilities, an HR coordinator focuses on administrative tasks such as health, and welfare, and maintains clear procedures between employees and possible 3rd-party insurance providers.

Furthermore, the HR coordinator job description entails monitoring federal and state regulatory changes and administrative support across the human resources department.

Unlike HR managers, HR coordinators do not have any supervisory or HR management responsibilities. The primary HR coordinator’s duties involve performing administrative tasks and facilitating HR tasks across the organization.

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What Does a Human Resources (HR) Coordinator Do?

The larger the company, the more significant the need for an HR coordinator is. Since their primary duty is to provide administrative support, HR coordinators do not work on a single project. Instead, they assist hiring managers, directors, and employees with any possible HR-related tasks.

Although the HR coordinator role isn’t as high as an HR manager, an human resources coordinator needs a broad knowledge of different human resources operations. To get a better understanding, below are provided detailed HR coordinator duties.

1. Assist with Internal & External HR-Related Inquiries

An HR manager oversees several HR projects related to employees and external HR inquiries. HR managers often get several ad hoc HR projects at once, giving them little time to prepare. Therefore they need administrative support that the HR coordinators provide to them. HR coordinators coordinate with HR managers in the following tasks:

  • Organizing employee training sessions & training programs
  • Managing employee files, employee benefits, & employees records
  • Submit reports & employment contracts
  • Payroll processing
  • Overseeing company policies
  • Updating HRIS systems & other HR software
  • Answering employee requests
  • Benefits administration

Although a typical HR coordinator role doesn’t involve making crucial company decisions, still they are a reliable backbone inside the HR department.

2. Maintain Employee Records

Besides general support, one of the most typical HR coordinator duties is maintaining HRIS and employee records such as salary, personal information, turnover rates, etc.

Documentation is crucial to any business administration for legal and functional reasons. Keeping track of the records ensures meeting goals and delivering on employee requirements, which results in better employee engagement and relations both inside and outside the HR department.

An HR coordinator needs to keep records both in digital and paper form, but with automation and better HR software, the need for paper forms diminishes.

Fundamental HR Coordinator Skills

According to PwC’s Human Resources Technology Survey, the top three needs for technical assistance inside human resources are talent acquisition tools (49%), employee experience management (48%), and skills mapping and career pathing (46%).

An HR coordinator must exhibit technical skills to maintain a clear overview of employee data.

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3. Recruitment Process Support

Just as HR coordinators assist HR managers, they also help to hire managers. They support candidate sourcing, background checks, shortlisting, and issuing employment contracts.

An HR coordinator does not interview candidates or do screenings. Instead, they assist with HR events inside the recruitment process, such as labor relations.

While HR coordinators don’t have to master the art of talent acquisition, they still need strong communication skills due to constant communication with the manager. An HR coordinator might still review and filter resumes for qualified candidates. But they have direct contact with candidates until later hiring stages.

Moreover, an HR coordinator updates job requirements and job descriptions for the necessary positions.

4. Oversee Labor Laws

Overseeing and adhering to labor laws is crucial for any company and HR professionals help ensure compliance with the law. Most companies communicate with external agencies to get the latest updates. But every company needs someone who’ll check these third-party sites.

The business needs an appropriate person capable of reacting and assuring compliance. Failing to do so can result in fines, audits, and lawsuits.

According to SHRM, human error is the most common reason for security breaches and other failures (52%). Meaning that although a semi-active duty, it’s essential that the HR coordinator stays diligent and proactive.

Moreover, HR coordinators also work with other HR professionals, such as HR generalists, to enforce new policies and practices.

5. Submit HR Reports

Since human resources management boils down to data, it’s paramount to organize the records and use them. Outstanding communication with decision-makers and other departments relies on quality HR reports. Without it, the data becomes overwhelming and too exhausting for HR professionals to extract anything helpful.

HR coordinators must exhibit excellent reporting skills to create simple yet effective reports and presentations. An organization’s human resources department is only good as its data. That goes for HR projects and HR events as well.

6. Administer Performance Management Procedures

Performance management procedures are communication processes between managers and employees to ascertain and review current employee goals and contributions.

Similar to other duties, the HR coordinator does not directly communicate with employees. But due to the HR coordinator’s role in the company and the nature of performance management, the HR coordinator must take part.

HR managers gather a lot of data during performance management procedures. If left unattended, the data overwhelms the entire process before it’s even over. An HR coordinator collects and sorts that data for future usage. Not having an appropriate person for the job means that all the hard work is for nothing. Last, an HR coordinator also assists with designing performance appraisals.

HR Coordinator Employment Requirements

Since a human resources coordinator helps with all significant HR tasks, it seems challenging to understand the requirements. But as you check a general HR coordinator job description, you will discover that it isn’t as demanding.

That doesn’t mean that you should take the requirements in a light way. Here are the standard requirements that you’ll find in an HR coordinator job description.

1. Experience with General HR Functions

Although HR coordinators don’t have the level of responsibility as hiring managers, they still need to understand everything inside the HR department.

Organizations prefer a reliable HR professional who looks after administrative tasks and exhibits a basic understanding of general HR functions. In short, the six main HR functions are:

  • Recruitment
  • Workplace safety
  • Employee relations
  • Salary planning
  • Labor law compliance
  • Training

Depending on the requirements, companies can ask the HR coordinator to know more about one function than the other.

2. Strong Knowledge of HR Software

HR Coordinator must exhibit a solid technical background. But the knowledge goes beyond any specialized human resources software. You must exhibit an understanding of digital solutions such as the MS Office suite and the alternatives. Sometimes hiring organizations provide training sessions to bring the candidate to the required skill level. But the ideal candidate must still hold the necessary knowledge.

3. Solid Communication Skills & Time Management

When it comes to soft skills, communication skills and time management are part of any HR coordinator job description. The capability to communicate data between departments and react to ad hoc HR projects is a must.

Interpersonal skills aren’t as vital as for an HR manager, but the coordinator still needs to know how to communicate results.

4. Education Requirements & Experience

Besides a bachelor’s degree in human resources, finance, business management, or other similar fields, it’s also good to have a human resources certification (PHR or SPHR).

Furthermore, some companies might have specific experience requirements such as:

  • 4+ years of working in the human resources field
  • 2+ years in labor relations
  • 2+ years managing compensation and benefits

While an HR coordinator job description demands similar experience requirements, make sure to apply to gain more experience. Keep in mind that having the required skills and practical experience is far more important than formal job positions. As long as you feel capable of doing the job, you should apply.

While not necessary, some higher positions might ask for a master’s degree in human resources.

HR Coordinator Salary

According to Glassdoor, the median annual salary is $50,842. The average salary for the HR coordinator job includes the base pay of $48,244 and $2,598 as additional pay.

The median salary means the midpoint between total salaries ranging from the lowest to the highest for the position.

Conclusion

The HR coordinator role is an excellent choice for anyone looking to start a career in HR. The HR coordinator job description ensures that individuals hold experience in different HR fields. If you want to become an HR coordinator but feel like you lack experience, you can check HR courses that will help you get the knowledge and skills you need.

FAQs

Here you can find the most common questions and answers about human resources.

What is the difference HR coordinator and an HR generalist?

While both positions have a broad range of responsibilities, an HR generalist takes supervisory roles. While an HR coordinator takes on administrative duties that ensure each process is fast and effective. Coordinators also serve as the middle person between employees and insurance providers.

How do I prepare for an HR Coordinator interview?

Like any other interview, you need to become confident in your skills. For an HR coordinator interview, you should make it clear that you’re aware of the broad scope of duties that the job entails. Don’t ignore the job description since it can provide valuable information about what to focus on during the interview preparation.

What level is an HR coordinator?

Alternate question: Is HR coordinator higher than HR assistant?

HR coordinator is an entry-level position, although there are cases where the position gravitates more toward the mid-level. It’s a perfect position for anyone who wants to learn about human resources through practice.


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