What Is the Difference Between HR and HR Consultants?

hr consultation

Are you diving deeper into the world of Human Resources (HR)? Do you have questions about your own HR department? Cahue Enterprises HR Consulting, Inc. is a premier HR consulting company in Temecula, CA, and we may be able to answer your questions and set the record straight. We know that when many individuals or businesses research HR, they have questions about HR consulting. Many want to know — what is the difference between HR and HR consultants? Here is a quick breakdown!

HR Manager vs HR Consultant

When you take a closer look at HR Managers vs HR Consultants, you may find that they are different sides to the same coin. Both are a wealth of knowledge in HR and are there to help your company succeed. Here is a better look at the key differences between HR and an HR consultant.

Internal vs External

The primary difference between HR Managers and HR Consultants is how and where they operate.

  • HR Managers operate internally within the context of your company and your own HR department.
  • HR Consultants operate independently from your company as an individual consultant or as a member of a consulting firm like Cahue Enterprises.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of HR Managers vs HR Consultants is another key difference that you will notice.

  • HR Managers and their teams are responsible for day-to-day HR operations of your team — hiring, payroll, employee benefits, employee relations, firing, and other daily operations.
  • HR Consultants operate on a more strategic, case-by-case basis and can be brought in as a specialist to help resolve key issues, help dictate strategy, or work on larger HR-related projects.

Type of Work

The type of work done by HR managers and HR consultants is another key difference to note.

  • HR Managers will handle the hands-on work that is associated with human resources.
  • HR Consultants are focused more on concepts and strategies that will dictate policy for the HR department at your company.

When Should You Use an HR Consultant?

HR consultants are specialists in their field. They are called on to help effect changes in policy or to assist with larger, more complex HR challenges that may be beyond the capacity or capabilities of your HR department alone. With that said, many companies want to know — when should you use an HR consultant? Here are a few key examples of why you may want to hire an HR consultant to help.

  • Significant Challenges and Projects — When HR managers and departments are faced with significant challenges or large, complex projects, an HR consultant can provide support, insight, and expertise. Key examples may be the acquisition of another company, the sale of your company, or large-scale layoffs.
  • Capacity — There may be times when you need reinforcements. If you are a growing company that continues to hire, you may need additional support in your HR department. HR consultants can step in and provide additional capacity for smaller or growing businesses.
  • New Perspective — Are you considering revamping your employee handbook or guidelines? An external perspective is a valuable resource when you are updating or changing internal policies. HR consultants can provide a different perspective in this scenario to help you arrive at the best solution.

READ MORE: Top 10 HR Trends for 2024

What is the difference between HR and HR consultants? Do you find yourself asking this question? We hope that this quick breakdown created by Cahue Enterprises HR Consulting has helped answer your questions.

Contact Cahue Enterprises Today!

Contact Cahue Enterprises today to schedule a consultation with our team of experts!