What Does An HR Coordinator Do?

Human Resources (HR) coordinators play a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of an organisation’s HR department. Their responsibilities encompass a wide and varied array of tasks, all aimed at supporting the company’s employees and maintaining compliance with HR policies and procedures. Let’s delve into what exactly an HR coordinator does, how it differs from other roles in the department and why their role is essential for the success of any organisation.

Companies that offer effective HR software include:

  1. Rippling
  2. Deel
  3. BrightHR
  4. Factorial

What Does An HR Coordinator Do?

 
First things first, what does an HR coordinator do? This role can be described as a kind of HR generalist, being someone who oversees various department responsibilities.

The responsibilities of an HR coordinator can vary based on the organization’s needs, as HR departments are inherently adaptable. As the custodian of an organisation’s workforce – the core of its operations – different organisations may adopt unique approaches to HR management. Nonetheless, some typical daily tasks may include:

  • Recruitment – HR coordinators will likely play a big role in recruiting new hires. This will involve posting job openings, reviewing CVs, conducting interviews, completing background checks or vetting, and so on.
  • Onboarding Process & Support – Once an employee is brought on board, the job of an HR coordinator won’t stop there. They will probably go on to manage the onboarding process, supporting the new hires throughout this exciting, but daunting, journey. This may involve coordinating orientation sessions to answer any employee questions, ensuring they are ready to embark on their professional journey with the company.
  • Employee Development & Training – The primary job of HR is not only to manage employees but to ensure their personal and professional journey. This may involve coordinating workshops or seminars or having one-to-one sessions with employees to optimise their training and development.
  • Employee Records – An HR department will need to keep rigorous employee records. HR coordinators may be responsible for maintaining employee databases, updating personal information, tracking attendance and any sick leave, and so on.
  • Compliance – Ensuring compliance with laws and regulations is an important responsibility of HR. As such, HR coordinators may need to run seminars or training sessions to keep employees informed on updated procedures and find ways to implement policies on diversity and inclusion, safety protocols, and so on.
  • Employee Relations As HR coordinators manage employees company-wide, this will mean ensuring a positive and collaborative work environment. This may involve mediating employee disputes, addressing complaints, and answering queries employees may have concerning their employment.

What Is The Difference Between An HR Coordinator And Other HR Roles?

 
There are so many roles in the HR department. From HR coordinators to HR managers to HR specialists, it’s understandable that differentiating these roles can get confusing. So, let’s clear this up.

Ultimately, differentiating between an HR coordinator and other roles labelled as, for instance, assistant or admin can be challenging. Organisations may use different titles for similar positions, making it hard to discern the distinctions. Nonetheless, some general differences can be outlined:
 

The Difference Between an HR Assistant and an HR Coordinator

 
Both an HR assistant and coordinator will support and manage department duties, however, HR coordinators are generally qualified to perform higher-level tasks while assistants will be responsible for aiding them in these endeavours or helping with administrative duties.
 

The Difference Between an HR Specialist and an HR Coordinator

 
The difference between an HR specialist and a coordinator is a little easier to define. This is because specialists tend to focus on one specific task in the department, such as recruitment, whereas generalist HR roles such as coordinators will split their time on an array of responsibilities. Typically in larger organisations that can house a bigger HR team, more specialists can be found, whereas small organisations or startups may depend on generalists.
 

The Difference Between an HR Admin and an HR Coordinator

 
Those who work in HR admin, often known as HR administrators, unsurprisingly, have a greater focus on administrative duties, whereas HR coordinators may do this while also dealing with employee-facing duties such as running training programmes, workshops and recruitment.

What Do You Need To Be An HR Coordinator?

 
Considering a career as an HR coordinator? Then the next logical question is: How can you become an HR coordinator?

The path to becoming an HR coordinator varies depending on the organisation. Given the broad range of responsibilities involved, the role of an HR coordinator may not be offered as an entry-level job, though this is a possibility. Employers may seek candidates with prior work experience in HR or a related field. Alternatively, they may require a bachelor’s degree in areas like finance or business.

Graduate programs can also serve as a gateway into the HR department, providing opportunities to progress to an HR coordinator role. Typically, individuals may start as HR assistants, potentially under the guidance of an HR coordinator, before advancing to the role themselves.