A strong HR department is crucial to the success of any company, regardless of the size and industry. HR professionals have a number of responsibilities within an organization, from interviewing job applicants to ensuring high levels of employee satisfaction.
In order to be successful, you must possess a number of HR skills and competencies that allow you to support the workforce of a company. Whether you’re interested in entering HR and want to know what it takes or you’ve been working in the field for some time and you want to polish your skills, you should have an understanding of the most relevant qualities any HR professional needs to have.
- Knowledge and Expertise in HR
The most important quality is, of course, having knowledge and expertise in HR. In order to become an HR practitioner, you’ll need specialized human resources education.
If you are looking for a way to kickstart your career in HR, an associate degree will prepare you for entry-level positions where you’ll provide general administrative support. A bachelor’s degree is for those who want to get an entry-level position or those with an associate’s degree who are looking to advance their career. A master’s degree can help you advance to management or executive levels.
There are also professional certifications that demonstrate your expertise, especially when considering collaborations with HRIS vendors, and can increase your pay. Some of the most popular include Professional in Human Resources (PHR), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR). Earning these certifications not only validates your HR knowledge but also enhances your credibility as you engage with HRIS vendors and contribute to the effective implementation and management of HR systems within your organization.
- Communication Skills
In order to be successful in HR, you’ll need to be able to communicate with different people, including job applicants, employees, and business executives.
A successful HR professional needs strong written and oral communication skills to handle daily tasks. You should always use a professional tone, and be clear and concise to all parties involved. Nonverbal skills are also very important as they will help you determine whether people are confused, dishonest, or uncomfortable in a given situation.
- Organizational Skills
Managing the needs of the entire workforce of an organization is impossible if you don’t possess any organizational skills. As an HR practitioner, you will need to juggle dealing with employees, putting together presentations, and doing paperwork, so having good organizational abilities is a necessity in order to be able to keep up with all of your responsibilities.
HR professionals often benefit from HR software for document management, employee schedules, onboarding, applicant recruiting, and payroll. These software solutions help optimize the daily tasks and overall HR goals of an organization, while at the same time making it possible for HR practitioners to better allocate their resources and time in order to be more productive.
- Negotiation Skills
Having proper negotiation skills means having the ability to prevent claims, ensure compliance, and build trust with employees, managers, and executives.
Some examples of situations that warrant negotiations include convincing an employee to not leave their job, a new employee with a college degree or extensive experience asking for a salary that’s higher than the normal starting rate, an employee wants to stay at the company but can’t work with the current schedule, etc.
In situations like these, the HR manager negotiates compromises that benefit both the organization and the employee.
- Conflict Management Abilities
During an average workday, an HR manager may need to handle conflicts between employees or between workers and their superiors, so having conflict management abilities is of great importance. Workers with different personalities will need to work side by side, and it will be your responsibility to ensure a good work environment.
When misunderstandings or conflicts arise, you will need to use your problem-solving skills in order to resolve the issue. You need to gather enough information from the parties involved and reach the best solution.
- Tech Savviness
The days when HR staff drafted performance reviews by hand or using a typewriter are long gone. These days, especially after the onset of the global pandemic, HR managers rely on tech tools to complete their job efficiently. In fact, more than 60% of HR practitioners say that having technology in place before the pandemic helped with a smooth transition to remote work.
As mentioned before, many HR managers today use specialized software solutions, online databases, and digital spreadsheets. Some might also need to track workplace analytics, update company blogs, and create PowerPoint presentations, so being tech-savvy is definitely a skill you need to possess.
Final Thoughts
In order to thrive in the HR field and to advance your career, it is necessary to possess certain qualities. From HR knowledge and expertise to conflict management abilities and strong communication skills, each one of these traits is vital for success in HR.
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