A job in human resource management encompasses many responsibilities, like no two days, are ever the same. An HR professional takes on a variety of different tasks and responsibilities throughout the firm making him or her an invaluable tool in the firm.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the duties and responsibilities of an HR professional include:
- Interviewing job applicants
- Consulting with employers on employment needs
- Keeping employment records
- Planning and overseeing employee development and benefit programs.
- Handling staffing issues like directing disciplinary procedures.
Just like other careers, there are a set of skills that can help you succeed in your HR profession. These skills include:
1. Team Oriented
As an HR professional, you’ll work with fellow employees. It is expected that you’ll work with managers and colleagues to settle disputes and encourage collaboration and adherence to work policies. For this to work, you’ll need a team-oriented mindset and focus on helping others so that the company and its employees can succeed.
While it is okay to focus on your career and personal growth, an HR professional’s primary focus should be on the people they work with.
2. Multitasker
On a typical day, an HR professional will deal with a myriad of issues. From an employee personal issue, this minute to a recruitment strategy for a hard-to-fill job advert to an intermittent leave question the minute after. And that’s excluding the social media, wage/hour, engagement, retention, and a whole list of other things, each one critical to someone.
In human resources, it’s not one thing, it is another. The priorities in business need to move and change fast, and one manager who needs someone hired doesn’t care whether you’re helping another manager who needs someone fired. You should be able to handle it all, all at once.
3. Good Communicator
HR professionals should have impeccable communication skills. When the job is to deal with people, it becomes important for any HR professional to have strong communication skills.
And yes, HR professionals should have excellent writing skills to avoid any miscommunication. They must listen to understand other’s perspectives and bring a more honest discussion between them and managers.
Effective communication skills help HR managers to effectively manage any internal conflicts.
4. Organization
Managing the needs of employees and business owners requires top-notch organization skills. When an employee visits an HR office with a concern or question, the manager may not immediately have the answer. However, he or she should know the exact place to get the requested information.
Many HR professionals organize information either online or offline. That means there may be stacks of file folders in their offices with general information as well as a digital program with sensitive data.
5. Tech Savvy
Gone are the days when HR managers would draft performance reviews by hand or pound away on typewriters. Today, many HR professionals rely on online databases, digital spreadsheets, and visual planning software to complete their job.
6. Empathetic
HR professionals often address employee concerns including personal and professional conflicts, salary-related complications, company policies, and workload issues. In most cases, employees will turn to HR to solve an issue. Other times, employees are just looking for someone to listen to their concerns and provide them with additional resources.
7. Leadership
Whether they feel like it or not, HR professionals are leaders in an organization. Employees look to them for support and answers while managers look to them to maintain and enforce the organization policy. And yes, HR professionals represent the face of a company when conducting interviews.
At times, the HR professional requires to take charge. When it comes to decision-making skills and conflict management, HR professionals need to think and respond to situations quickly. As effective leaders, they encourage others to become leaders themselves.
Conclusion
As an HR professional, are your skills up to par? I hope the above listings give you the necessary insights on HR skills to keep you ahead in the race.
