Four major HR challenges faced by managers and organizations now and in the future are the globalization of business, economic and technological changes, workforce demographics and diversity, and organizational cost pressures and restructuring. • HR technology in the form of human resource management systems (HRMSs) helps improve administrative effi ciencies and expand information for strategic HR planning. • Ethical behavior is crucial in HR management, and HR professionals regularly face a number of HR ethical issues. • The fi ve areas of competencies needed by HR professionals are strategic contribution, business knowledge, HR delivery, HR technology, and personal credibility. • Current knowledge about HR management is required for professionals in the HR career fi eld, and professional certifi cation has grown in importance for HR generalists and specialists.