The field of HR Consultant is a challenging environment, but there are plenty of opportunities to gain here. 

Ideally, you have to work alongside some leading experts in your industry. HR Consultant should possess in-depth knowledge of human resource management and employment law, and will equally be eager to learn new skills and challenge their existing approaches to deliver results. HR Consultant is respected for their strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, so they should have excellent communication skills with a record of taking ownership to manage HR projects to their conclusion. 

HR Consultant responsibilities

As an HR Consultant, you will mainly be responsible to handle a lot of administrative tasks in an organisation, help implement human resources policies, provide training sessions on complex HR procedures, and hold responsibility for a company’s HR compliance management. Other responsibilities are as follows: 

• Build long term, lasting relationships to become a trusted advisor, supporting clients, through challenges and opportunities 
• Bring new thinking to organisations to allow the development of HR function, support best practice, develop successful leaders and add value. 
• Advice, design, and support recruitment and selection processes relevant to business needs
• Present training sessions related to specific HR programs
• Conduct audits of HR activities to ensure compliance 
• Lead existing and new relationships with stakeholders, including business clients 
• Hold responsibility in business development, including involvement in commercial activities 

See also: Step-by-step Guide To Be The Next CHRO

Essential and desired skills 

In order to be a reliable HR Consultant, you need a number of skills and competencies. Here are the skills you should master and nice-to-have qualifications. 

Essential skills: 

• Strong technical background (including knowledge of HR software and database programs, and updated computer skills) and evidence of delivering HR projects 
• Strong experience providing advice on and managing and implementing employee issues, including performance, absence, and grievance as well as disciplinary issues such as complex case management
• Self-confidence on the know-how strategy 
• Strong practical and theoretical knowledge of past experience and plan for future business success
• Excellent communication skills in order to explain ideas and concepts in a simplified manner
• Excellent listening skills and trustworthy 

Nice-to-have: 

(This might only apply for an entry-level business consultant because professional business consultant would get higher expectation from clients) 

• Good skills and attitude 
• Having relevant experience of being HR or working in HR related field 
• Good research skills 

Degree and certification

To succeed in this role, you must arm yourself with a solid education. Typically, HR Consultant would begin with completion of bachelor’s degree in business administration, business management, finance, human resource, or a related field. However, as you aim higher to be executive HR Consultant, a higher degree in a field related to human resource is advisable. 

Moreover, gaining professional certification in HR fields is an excellent way to set yourself apart from the competition and distinguish yourself to be a credible HR Consultant. Commonly, certification HR Consultant would acquire are Certified Human Resource Consultant (CHRC) and Certified Resources Analyst, Human Resource Certification. To acquire the certifications, here are credited colleges you can try: IAP, HRMI, GAFM, and SHRM. 

Freelance HR Consultant 

Freelance option is available for this role. If you want to go freelance to get a better work-life balance, you should have excellent time management. You also need to gain your network and know your audience. CIPD reported that small-to-medium-sized businesses would be a great target market for freelance HR Consultant, with a third of SMEs outsource some or all of their HR function because they don’t have big HR departments like larger firms do. Furthermore, you need to decide whether to become a sole trader, to work in a partnership or limited company. 

For sole trader option, you simply need to tell HMRC that you are freelance. However, you need to be aware that as a self-employed sole trader, you become your own manager and management who owns and runs your own business, therefore, you are personally liable for your business’ debts and your personal assets might be at risk if you could not pay the creditors. 

For partnership, you will work with your business partner and all partners will win a percentage of the profits. Every team member should also pay tax on a specified percentage amount. This option, however, will be much better to handle as you share legal and tax responsibility with your partners rather than shouldering them alone as a sole trader. 

For limited company, you will be able to enjoy salary and dividends from the company you work at. This, nonetheless, only if the employer sees you as a professional and flexible enough to raise funds through selling shares. Limited company options will require you to file annual accounts and an annual corporation tax return. 

Salary expectation 

According to PayScale latest survey, the salary of HR Consultant in some Asia states are divided as follows: 

Malaysia: Average salary is RM81,977 yearly with an average hourly rate salary is RM147.40 per hour. The average bonus you might get is RM19,000. 

Singapore: Average salary is S$86,511 annually with an average hourly rate is S$104.76 per hour. The average bonus you might get is S$9,500. 

Indonesia: Average salary is IDR85,200,000 annually. There is no hourly salary rate information. Yet, the average bonus you might get is IDR192,000,000. 

India: Average salary is ₹512,591 annually with an average hourly salary rate is ₹487.96 per hour. You can expect bonus, commission, and profit-sharing with an average pay of ₹81,251, V100,000, and ₹125,000 respectively. 

Read also: HR Business Partner vs. Just HR: Which One Do You Want To Be?