The human resources wing has been divided into various heads based on the roles and responsibilities duly assigned by the organization. There is a clear distinction between managerial posts and the ones headed as the HRs.
It is essential to understand the subcategorization as well because generalists and managers are equally important for any top-tier organization. They can be considered similar based on the leadership skills required.
Key Takeaways
- An HR Generalist is responsible for various HR tasks, such as recruitment, onboarding, and employee relations, while an HR Manager oversees the HR department and sets HR strategies.
- HR Generalists have a broader scope of responsibilities, while HR Managers have a more specialized focus.
- HR Generalists are more common in small to medium-sized organizations, while HR Managers are more common in larger organizations.
HR Generalist vs HR Manager
An HR Generalist is responsible for managing a variety of HR activities across an organization. They handle a wide range of HR functions. An HR Manager is a more senior role within an organization’s HR department. They are responsible for overseeing the strategic and operational aspects of the HR function.
A human resources generalist is the head of different HR departments in small organizations. He or she has to look after a variety of tasks and work with new people with each successive batch.
One human resource generalist is enough to support employees right from day one till they are directly or indirectly handling the resignation letter.
A human resources manager is the leader of all substituted HRs working in a large organization. The managers need to tackle these substitutions only for the tasks they have specialized in.
A single manager is not enough as large workplaces have different areas to be streamlined towards a common goal. There might be instances when managers are assisted by fellow managers too.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | HR Generalist | HR Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A human resources generalist is someone who is supposed to handle daily tasks of all the departments under the human resources wing | A human resources manager is someone who has to head all lower HR posts (including HR generalists) on an occasional basis |
| Specialization | No specialization is required for HRGs | HRMs specialize in various fields like recruiting, training, enrolling, etc |
| Roles | A single person has to conduct all job checks on a large group of people | Some separate people evaluate the same group through a series of checks at each subsequent step |
| Type of Company | Small companies are headed by a human resources generalist | Much bigger companies have to be managed by a human resources manager |
| Exclusivity of Job | Works with separate departments tackling various issues | The manager is a specialized head supposed to tackle the same range of tasks for a longer period |
What is HR Generalist?
The post of HR Generalist in all organizations is fixed for a single recruiter. The sole eligibility criteria for handling the post of HRG are a bachelor’s degree and some knowledge regarding the post.
For the business field, the subjects might vary, but the parameters remain the same. No undergraduates can intern as human resources generalists due to strict rules.
The rights and duties of HRG are dependent on the day-to-day activities that are supposed to be completed before a specific deadline. Implementation of orders timely reflects the exceptional leadership skills of the generalists.
As the post requires due perseverance, generalists tend to hold the post for a longer period compared to managers under the same organizational setup.
Some perks of handling the responsibilities of HRG include experience in handling a large group of people, excelling in maintaining public relations, building a comprehensive portfolio, and becoming recognized in the workspace for the multitasking activities catered to.
They also get occasional leaves.
What is HR Manager?
The post of HR Manager in all organizations is divided based on the respective functions assigned. One cannot climb the corporate ladder up to this highest rung of manager without ample experience.
In some organizations, a lot more is desired since the competency parameters are updated with each passing year.
The rights and duties of HRM are dependent on the area of specialization as there are numerous managers in multinational companies. This specialization is further subcategorized into duties regarding enrollment, maintenance, quality assurance, and detailing.
All sales pitches need to pass through the managers before being finalized. They cannot work independently since every task requires full-fledged cooperation.
Heading the post of HRM has a lot of benefits, including high pay, a good reputation in the office, various perks related to incentives, etc. The workload is high due to the large team recruited under managers.
They hardly find any time for themselves, and thus, sticking to a work-life balance is seemingly difficult.
Main Differences Between HR Generalist And HR Manager
- HR Generalist is akin to a manager of small organizations, while HR Manager can be regarded as part of the inspection department in much larger organizations.
- While an HR Generalist specializes in all-around activities, the Manager can only manage a single specialized stream, irrespective of the workload on fellow managers working for the same motive.
- The role of HR Generalists revolves around conducting multi-level checks, while HR Managers focus on improving the same set of people for years at a stretch.
- In most cases, a small company is headed by an HR Generalist, while HR Managers only head top-tier companies’ top posts.
- The job of an HR Generalist is limited to departments, while an HR Manager works with everyone in an organization.
- https://journals.asm.org/doi/abs/10.1128/aac.47.6.1824-1831.2003
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5716609/
Last Updated : 26 July, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
The detailed breakdown of the roles, qualifications, and responsibilities of HR Generalists and HR Managers in this article offers valuable insights into the contrasting nature of these HR positions.
I completely agree, the article’s comprehensive comparison of HR Generalists and HR Managers sheds light on their respective roles and the types of organizations where they are prevalent.
The article provides a thorough examination of the roles and responsibilities of HR Generalists and HR Managers, offering a clear understanding of the distinctions between these two HR positions.
The comparison table is particularly useful in summarizing the differences between HR Generalists and HR Managers. It highlights key parameters of comparison and makes it easy to grasp the disparities between the roles.
The article offers a comprehensive comparison of the roles and responsibilities of HR Generalists and HR Managers, shedding light on their respective duties and the types of organizations where they are commonly found.
I completely agree, the article presents a detailed breakdown of the responsibilities and qualifications associated with HR Generalists and HR Managers, offering an insightful comparison between the two roles.
The specific delineation of the roles and responsibilities of HR Generalists and HR Managers in different organizational settings is highly informative. It helps to clarify the essential differences between these HR positions.
I found the article’s focus on the distinct duties and types of companies where HR Generalists and HR Managers are prevalent to be very enlightening. It offers a comprehensive understanding of these HR roles.
The article’s detailed description of the roles and responsibilities of HR Generalists and HR Managers provides a comprehensive understanding of the key differences and the specific focus of each role within an organization.
I agree, the article’s thorough comparison of HR Generalists and HR Managers effectively delineates their respective duties and specializations, offering a valuable resource for anyone interested in HR.
The detailed explanation provided for both HR Generalists and HR Managers is quite informative. It articulates the specific responsibilities and qualifications required for each role, aiding in a clear understanding of their differences.
I agree, the article effectively highlights the significance of the roles and responsibilities of both HR Generalists and HR Managers, providing valuable insights into the distinct nature of these HR positions.
The article’s thorough examination of the roles of HR Generalists and HR Managers offers valuable insights into their respective responsibilities within an organization. It’s a highly informative piece.
The article provides a comprehensive breakdown of the roles, specializations, and types of companies where HR Generalists and HR Managers are prevalent. It’s a valuable resource for understanding the intricacies of these HR positions.
I completely agree, the article offers a detailed comparison of the roles and requirements of HR Generalists and HR Managers, helping readers comprehend the distinct responsibilities associated with each role.
The comparison table effectively captures the differences between HR Generalists and HR Managers, providing a succinct overview of their respective roles and specialization requirements.
The article effectively distinguishes the roles of HR Generalists and HR Managers, providing a comprehensive understanding of their distinct responsibilities within an organization. It’s an insightful piece for anyone interested in HR.
This article provides a thorough comparison between HR Generalists and HR Managers, covering their roles, responsibilities, and the types of organizations they are commonly found in. It also offers detailed descriptions of the qualifications and duties of each role. Overall, a very informative read.
I completely agree. The article gives a comprehensive overview of the key differences between HR Generalists and HR Managers, as well as the significance of their leadership skills and specialization.
The breakdown of the roles and responsibilities of HR Generalists and HR Managers is extremely helpful. It provides a clear understanding of the distinction between the two positions within an organization.
The article delineates the eligibility criteria, rights, and duties of HR Generalists and HR Managers in a precise manner. It’s beneficial for anyone seeking to understand the distinct responsibilities of these HR roles.
Absolutely, the article presents a well-defined explanation of the qualifications and job responsibilities of HR Generalists and HR Managers, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of each role.
I found the detailed descriptions of the roles of HR Generalists and HR Managers very insightful. The article effectively distinguishes between the two positions and highlights their respective contributions to an organization.