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Human Resources Careers
Human Resources is a
Career analysts are predicting the number of available jobs and job titles to increase in the near future. HR is going through a revolution, driven by technological changes. Things like cloud HR software and artificial intelligence are creating plenty of exciting opportunities for HR specialists. The industry is growing globally, not just in certain countries, so your career could take a global turn.
But before you start sending job applications, you should learn a few key lessons about the HR sector. You should know these five things before entering a career in HR.
You need to be flexible
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HR is a
You must be willing to embrace this change and seek for it. You have to be able to adjust to the changing environment on the go. It’s better if you’re not just adapting either but also actively seeking new strategies. So if you find change difficult to deal with and you’re looking for consistency, you might not find a home in HR.
You must genuinely like people
It might sound obvious but it’s important to be a people person in HR. You will have to like other people (all kinds of people!) and have a genuine passion to help them. If you can’t be passionate about hiring and feel empathy in firing, you probably won’t last long in the HR industry.
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It’s not to say you should become too emotionally attached. But you need a desire to find solutions to people’s problems, by focusing on the smallest of changes you can make. If you are able to be passionate about what you do, your life in HR will be much easier to manage.
Career coach and expert, Amy Feind Reeves has written the resource she wishes she had when she failed to land a job after college but went on to enjoy a rewarding 25+ year career as a banker, global management consultant, corporate executive, and non-profit executive.
You must be tech-savvy
Being tech-savvy is a key skill in the modern workplace. Almost all professions will require you to deal with technology in some way. But technological prowess is especially important for HR careers. The industry is leading the way when it comes to adopting things like artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
“The biggest challenge in modern HR is how to best advocate for and implement the new technologies available to improve the recruiting and management process.” – Essential Personel Inc
It’s not just important in terms of preparing for the future. A big part of HR is dealing with digital information – most job applications are done online, for starters! Workplaces use innovative cloud HR software throughout the recruitment and retention process. Without good IT skills and the willingness to improve, you won’t make it very far in the sector.
You should be smart with numbers
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While you don’t have to be a math genius to make it in HR, you can’t be blind to numbers. Being smart with numbers is not about your ability to calculate complex equations but it’s about your ability to understand things like budgeting and
So whether it’s about hiring new talent, adopting new cloud HR software, or managing the onboarding process, you must be smart with the numbers. You have to know how to
You have to learn to communicate
HR isn’t a “my way or the highway” kind of job. You will need to be flexible with how you approach people and understand everyone is a bit different. Since you want to be efficient, you need to know how to communicate with people – keeping in mind how everyone is unique in the way they listen and speak.
You may be exactly where you want to be; if so, congratulations to you. If, however, you are thinking about a change or are trying to climb the ladder, then this year could be the year that you shake things up a bit.
Tweet ThisYou need to have a knack for communicating. You not only need to know how to get your message across and get people to listen to you, but you also have to listen to them. You need to be able to read between the lines and communicate in ways that lead to progress, not stalling. Above all, you must enjoy this part of the job!
HR is a wonderful industry. It offers plenty of opportunities and unique career paths. The growth of the sector is also great for those looking for job security and a reasonable paycheque. But it’s important to understand what the industry is looking for and how you can survive it. By taking the above five lessons in, you could start your journey to becoming an HR professional.
