Human Resource Management (HRM) is a process of managing people within an organisation to achieve business goals. This involves various tasks ranging from employing and training people to developing policies and strategies to retain them.

Think back to your secondary school life. You may have seen the application of HRM without even realising it. Consider for a moment how the prefects, librarians, and club committee members in your school are selected. They start off by attending interviews conducted by the teachers. Once selected, the new recruits are exposed to on-the-job training and workshops to enhance their skills. When issues arise, they receive guidance from teachers and senior members, helping them to learn from their mistakes and improve themselves.

Each aspect described above is directly linked to the key functions of HRM. In the professional world, the work of HRM becomes complex—but that also makes it more exciting.

Let’s look at the common functions of HRM described in the following sections:

• Recruitment
This involves attracting, selecting and hiring the right people to fill open positions. HR professionals conduct interviews and negotiate salary packages with the candidates. They also carry out orientations to help new employees familiarise themselves with their new work environment.


• Training and Development
Training is a key factor in motivation because employees who grow new skills tend to feel happier at their jobs. HR professionals contribute to that by organising programmes in many areas such as:
• Job skills training (e.g. how to develop sales skills)
• Soft skills training (e.g. how to communicate effectively)
• Team training (e.g. how to motivate a team)
• Safety training (e.g. how to perform first aid)


• Development of Workplace Policies
HR professionals establish workplace policies to create a fair and positive work environment. These policies cover many areas, including employee code of conduct, dress code, leave and time-off, internet usage, and disciplinary processes.


• Handling Performance Issues
Not everyone gives their best performance at work. You may encounter employees who always come in late, have conflicts with their managers, or behave inappropriately at work. As an HR professional, it is your responsibility to investigate the issue, talk to the parties involved, and take disciplinary action (as a last resort) while following the policies and procedures in place.


• Compensation and Benefits
Offering compensation and benefits helps to retain talented employees in the organisation. Examples of benefits provided to employees are annual leave, hospitalisation leave, sick leave, maternity leave, and severance packages.

1. Learn More About Human Behaviour
Financial accounting is about recording and summarising financial transactions accurately in financial reports while following strict guidelines. This also involves external reporting, which provides financial information to parties outside the organisation such as investors, creditors and regulators.


2. Enjoy Interacting With People
A course in HRM may suit you if you love meeting new people and have good communication skills. From interviews to conflict resolution, you have many opportunities to put your people skills to good use.


3. Job Satisfaction
Many people who join HRM gain satisfaction from making a positive impact in the company. Whether you are helping employees grow professionally, offering strategies to improve staff retention, or overseeing policies, your tasks are vital in fostering a better workplace.

1. Diploma in Business
If you want to pursue a Diploma in Business, take note of the following general entry requirements:
• SPM / O-Levels: Min. 3 credits including Mathematics and a pass in English
• UEC: 3Bs

*SPM Holders must have a pass in Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah.

A Diploma in Business takes roughly 2 years to complete, and you can enter the workforce after graduation. If you choose to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management after Diploma, you can start from Year 2 of the Degree programme.


2. Bachelor of Human Resource Management
A Bachelor of Human Resource Management programme is 3 years long.

SPM / O-Level students need to complete Pre-U before enrolling in the programme. The entry requirements you need to fulfil are as follows:
• A-Levels: Min. 2Ds
• STPM: Min. 2C+s
• Foundation in Arts/Business: Min. CGPA of 2.50
• Diploma in Business: Min. CGPA of 2.50

UEC students are generally required to obtain a minimum of 5Bs.

As entry requirements may vary between universities, reach out to us for clarification before you apply!

These are some of the skills you need to do well in your HRM course:

1. Analytical Skills
Having analytical skills will help you go a long way in your course. You will be able to study and comprehend subjects like Employment Law and Business Research Methods.


2. Communication Skills
Taking a HRM course is the perfect opportunity to hone your speaking skills. Aside from group projects and presentations, you can take this chance to network with your peers from all sorts of backgrounds.


3. Emotional Intelligence
Being emotionally intelligent helps understand and empathise with the needs of others. You’ll be able to have difficult conversations, resolve conflicts, and create a supporting environment for everyone.

Here is a list of careers within the field of Human Resource Management:

• HR Executive
• HR Analyst
• Compensation & Benefits Specialist
• Recruitment Manager
• Training & Development Manager
• HR Manager

Now that you’ve read this post, you have a better idea about the pathway to study Human Resouce Management. The next step is figuring out the right university to pursue your studies while taking other factors into consideration (e.g. budget, scholarships, accommodation).

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