An HR professional is all things to all men – a leader, an organiser, an employment law interpreter, an intermediary, a shoulder to cry on, a font of knowledge. And as such, the skills required to work in HR are vast and varied. The HR department is the hub of a wheel to which all the spokes – the other parts of a business – are all connected. It is responsible for payroll, recruitment, training, compliance with employment law, conflict resolution, strategic thinking and maintaining company records to name but a few. So what skills are required to work in HR? They are numerous and diverse but if you have them, you could look forward to a successful and fulfilling career.
Organisation
In HR, you will be expected to be able to juggle a lot of balls and all at once. Among the myriad of tasks for which you are responsible, you will have to ensure payroll is data secure and on time, recruitment is underway, training courses are booked, company policies are up to date, performance reviews have been undertaken as well as many other demands. As such, you will need to have excellent organisational and multi-tasking skills so you can handle several jobs at once without missing any deadlines. Everyone will want you to focus on their task first so you will also need to be good at prioritising.
Communication skills
These are fundamental to success for an HR professional. You will be speaking to representatives from every part of the business as well as to outside organisations, job applicants and trade union representatives. Sometimes conversations might be highly charged especially if there is a dispute but an HR expert will need to know how to talk and listen to people to resolve problems. A knowledge of company policy, the law and an ability to see both sides of an argument will be vital in resolving disputes fairly. A good HR professional must be friendly and approachable and have empathy but also have the strength of character to make clear and justified decisions.
Appetite for knowledge
Technology changes rapidly and an HR expert must keep pace with these changes to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. There can be no excuse for salaries not being paid or important personal data being lost. The HR team must be tech savvy and be able to implement the latest software. The legal landscape also shifts at speed and it is the responsibility of the HR department to understand the changes in the law, how it impacts the business and ensure any necessary changes are implemented.
Mentoring skills
Training is vital to ensure the workforce is at the cutting edge of their industry. HR professionals must understand their company’s business and its long-term strategy and ensure staff undergo whatever training is required to achieve the best results. They may deliver the course themselves, give one-to-one training or find a first-class training course which will enhance staff members’ competence. An understanding of on-going progression is important for any business’ success and for the individual’s personal job satisfaction.
Understanding people
Understanding what makes people tick is a vital skill for an HR professional. This is important not only for getting the best out of current staff members but also for spotting talent when recruiting new employees. There may be times when employees are not performing to the best of their ability and an HR expert must find the best way to handle this. Are they being lazy and need firm but fair action to improve their productivity or are they struggling and need support? It is the responsibility of the HR department to ensure there is an open culture so employees can talk about their problems freely. Performance reviews will also ensure there is the opportunity for honest discussion between staff and their managers.
Understanding the business
HR leaders play an important role in a company’s success. They must understand the business, its strategy and its vision to help ensure the right people are in the right roles. This involves a knowledge of employees, their skill sets and attitudes and how best they can be used.
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