Want a career in human resources (HR)? HR departments are responsible for helping to fill all the jobs in an organization, as well as ensuring that company policies are followed.
Below are the most important skills you will need for a successful HR career.
1. Recruiting
Since one of HR’s main functions is to fill open or newly created jobs, it is no surprise that recruiting is one of the most important skills you will need.
Essentially, recruiting is a sales job in which you look for a qualified person to match an open position — or, if you work for a staffing agency, review positions that might fit a qualified person. It’s akin to asking, “how can x’s product fill y’s needs?” in sales.
You will need strengths in assessing both the hard and soft skills of a candidate and assessing the fit between the two.
2. Screening
In today’s world, employee screening is perhaps more important than it has ever been. You need to be able to perform background checks thoroughly and talk to past employers for references.
Screening requires thoroughness and the ability to obtain information from busy people.
3. Employee Relations
Employee relations includes making sure good employees are happy, that morale is maintained and underperforming employees have an appropriate path.
To do well at employee relations, you will need to both identify and resolve employee issues successfully.
4. Onboarding
Onboarding is the process in which new employees come in and, from their first day onward, are informed about company policies and procedures, made to feel like part of the group, and get the information they need to do well at the company.
If you’ve been a team leader in anything, from sports to an afterschool job, you have important skills to use in onboarding.
5. Scheduling
All departments do scheduling, but these skills are particularly important in HR because meetings to discuss new hires and interviews can all be attended by several people from multiple departments.
One interview, for example, might be attended by two people from the hiring department and one from HR. Their schedules all need to mesh smoothly — and changes in schedules need to be handled as they come up.
A scheduler need to remain unflappable, no matter how many changes take place, and have excellent communication skills to make sure everyone remains informed.
Let a Staffing Agency Work for You
Looking for an HR job? We are HR experts, and can help you market your skills. Contact Nesco Resource today.
