Human talent is the driving force that pushes a company forward, and it is usually up to HR managers to nurture this steady growth.
Career opportunities for human resources personnel are practically unlimited, and the employment market has shown steady growth in the past decade.
The trend is expected to continue in this decade, too. But what does it take to succeed in this profession? Below are the top soft and hard skills one needs to become a successful human resources manager.
Verbal and Written Communication
Effective communication is the cornerstone of many professions today, but with HR management, the skill really makes it to the top of the required list.
One of the primary responsibilities of HR is to ensure that everyone in the company is on the same page when internal etiquette is concerned. This implies the ability to listen and convey one’s message in a comprehensive manner.
As for written communication, a lot depends on the ability to read between the lines — after all, not all dialogues will be led face-to-face.
Empathy & Tolerance
Empathy is one of those qualities that make effective communication easier. HR managers often have to deal with conflict resolution — something that cannot be achieved effectively without listening and empathizing with both sides of the conflict.
Sure, resolving conflicts at work is not something that can be achieved with empathy and tolerance alone — one needs a clear head and a thorough understanding of company ethics. Still, the ‘H’ in HR stands for ‘human,’ and one should always remember to maintain and nurture human relationships in a company.
Agility and Adaptability
Today’s work environment is robust and prone to sudden change, so the ability to adapt plays a major part in HR management.
Depending on the industry specifics, HRs might face the need to restructure entire departments on short notice — something that would not be possible without the ability to adjust to any change necessary.
Another, perhaps even more important skill, is the ability to recognize when this change is necessary. That decision may not always fall to the HR departments, but it is not entirely out of the question.
Looking to boost your online brand? Create your FREE business profile atWhatBiz? Here
Analytical Skills
While HRs do not always decide when a complete restructuring is necessary, it is often up to them to anticipate hiring needs. That requires a thorough analysis of the company’s operations, short- and long-term goals, as well as the best ways to accomplish those goals.
In large enterprises, HR and recruitment are usually two separate departments, but in smaller companies, the distinction is not always that clear.
So, on top of managing existing staff, HRs will often be responsible for acquiring new talent, too.
Notably, the time to hire a new candidate for a job opening takes up to 44 days — a rather long period of time not every company can spare.
That’s why anticipating the hiring needs of a business is so important — it gives HRs a chance to start searching for candidates in advance, thus saving precious time and optimizing company resources.
Proficiency with Relevant Software
The choice of professional software is one of the most basic HR manager interview questions that does not have a ready-made, universal answer.
Normally, HRs are expected to have experience with several software tools, from CRMs and applicant tracking systems to more specific HR resource information systems, like Workday. The actual software types will largely depend on the industry — what works in IT is not exactly the best choice for finance and vice versa.
Still, you are expected to know at least several tools because most routine operations in any company or industry heavily rely on automation.
Willingness to Learn
This is another skill that can boost your career opportunities in any industry and profession, but in HR, you absolutely need it to succeed. Any ‘people’ job that also relies on analysis and automation is about constant learning.
Trends and technologies in HR change all the time — and even though this change does not usually happen overnight, successful managers need to stay on track with the new social and technical developments in their respective industries.
This implies checking out new software that can boost company automation efforts and staying informed about purely human developments — like the changing job expectations of new demographics.
Need Career Advice? Get employment skills advice at all levels of your career
Understanding Business Specifics
Even though HRs are not supposed to have the same level of technical understanding as company CTOs, they still must have sufficient knowledge about the specifics of the company they represent — especially if they are also responsible for hiring and onboarding new staff.
In IT, for example, this usually goes down to an understanding of the technologies used by the company and the projects under development. This skill, once again, relies on one’s willingness to learn and adjust.
Proficiency with Employment Laws
This is a skill that gets overlooked surprisingly often, especially in large corporations that have entire legal departments at their disposal. However, understanding employment laws and regulations is very important for HRs, who will be the first ones to enforce these regulations.
A common grey area in today’s work landscape is the collaboration with freelancers, independent contractors, and other gig workers that have to be classified within the company structure. Laws for collaborating with independent contractors change all the time, and it is up to HRs to monitor these changes to avoid legal repercussions — particularly with taxation.
Cultural Awareness
This skill is essential for working in international companies, but it can also prove useful for companies that operate on a more local scale.
Cultural diversity is becoming common in many industries, and managing human resources requires at least some basic understanding of the ethnic and cultural environment within a corporation. Obviously, the emphasis should be on inclusivity, and background cultural knowledge is vital to achieve it.
Ability to Lead and Inspire
One more commonly overlooked skill that can help HR managers build impressive careers is the ability to lead and inspire. In today’s diverse, multicultural workplace, leadership skills often make it to the forefront of human resources management.
After all, one of the main goals of an HR department is to ensure all employees can reach their full potential, which ensures their individual career growth and overall company development. In practice, it is not always enough to outline possible career goals — it is necessary to encourage and lead through example.
Stress-resilience
Even though we list this skill last, it is actually one of the most important qualities in today’s hectic workplace. Working with people can take its toll, which is why stress resilience is one of the key skills without which a career in HR simply would not be possible.
All in all, the career of an HR manager may not require a lot of hard skills or technical knowledge, yet this path is certainly not for everyone.
The set of personal qualities necessary to succeed in this industry is mostly inherited, and while some of these skills can be acquired and trained, the level of empathy, agility, and, most importantly, stress-resilience necessary to successfully accomplish all routine tasks makes this job harder than most people believe.
This is perhaps one of the reasons why the HR market keeps growing — besides the obvious part that companies, regardless of their size or business specifics, always rely on human talent and professional HR to manage this talent.
