Human resources are one of the most important departments in any company, and a well-managed HR department is often the secret to success in competitive markets. But what exactly is human resources management? Human resources management involves the following:
- Recruiting and onboarding new employees
- Providing training and development
- Evaluating employee performance
- Managing payroll and benefits
- Motivating employees
- Ensuring employee safety and welfare
- Complying with labour laws
Without effective approaches to HR, a company’s relationship with their employees can be strained.
Competent HR professionals are even more important in a pandemic. They’ve been key in transitioning organizations to work remotely or implementing safe work processes while making sure employees are properly supported and able to do their job properly.
If you work in HR, you likely know the important role your department plays. You may also be looking for ways to improve how you work in order to become a top HR professional and move up the ranks in your team. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at what all highly-valued HR professionals have in common, what training they need, and what skills they develop.
Want to excel as an HR professional? Here’s what you need to do:
1. Participate in professional development for HR professionals
Professional development in HR is extremely important, especially as workplaces continue to change and companies overhaul their daily operations.
Mentoring
Learning from others is one of the best ways to develop as an HR professional. That’s where mentoring comes in. Some of the best companies on earth use mentoring as the foundation of professional development, and 70% of Fortune 500 companies implement mentoring programs for their employees.
As a mentee, you could benefit from increased on-the-job knowledge, higher self-confidence, and even a better likelihood of getting a promotion. Mentors also benefit, enjoying better job satisfaction, improved communication skills and a sense of fulfilment.
Conferences
Conferences are a great way for you to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world of HR. With speakers often opening discussions on industry trends and challenges, conferences are where top HR professionals get their knowledge and skills refreshed to stay ahead of their competition. Networking is also a major benefit of attending conferences, which takes us on to our next point.
Networking
Whether you’re networking at a conference, at work or virtually, there are a host of upsides to developing your professional network. Here are just a few powerful ways top HR professionals benefit from active networking:
- Develop long-lasting relationships with other HR professionals
- Get career advice and support from industry veterans
- Gain knowledge from experienced coworkers
- Get noticed by recruiters and leaders.
2. Seek out training for HR professionals
Top HR professionals continually take courses and training to become the best at what they do. Here are some of the best ways that you can improve your human resources skills through learning:
HRPA Training Courses
The Human Resources Professionals Association is a popular option for HR professionals wanting to learn from industry experts. Their training services range from online self-paced learning to workshops and masterclasses to address specific areas of human resources career development.
SHRM Training Courses
The Society for Human Resource Management is a world-leading organization that sets a high standard for HR exams and courses. They offer a wide range of educational materials on their website, and they provide instructor-led courses for those who are looking to speed up the development of their skills and knowledge. If you’re an HR manager who wants to train your whole team, they also offer company-specific training so that everybody in your department is on the same page.
Human resources books
Learning how to become a better HR professional doesn’t end with courses and training. The best human resources experts also expand their knowledge and keep up with the latest trends with studies, research papers, and books. Regularly reading books about HR is your ticket to separating yourself from the crowd and becoming much more informed on different aspects of human resource management.
3. Pursue certification for HR professionals
Once you’ve taken a couple of courses, been to a few conferences, and read a pile of books about HR, it might be time to get certified as a human resources expert. Becoming certified in HR shows your employer that you’re serious about your profession and could open doors to a promotion or a new position at another company.
In Canada, the HRPA is one of the leading authorities in HR-related certifications. They have designations for professionals, leaders, and executives working in human resources, and these are widely recognized by organizations all over the country.
4. Develop essential skills for HR professionals
So, you now know how the best human resources professionals move forward in their career, but what skills do they possess exactly? Here are the top 4 most important skills that any HR expert must have to rise up the ranks in their profession.
Communication skills
Communication is essential in any HR role. You are managing people, so you need to know how to talk and listen in an effective and professional way. If you’re involved in the recruiting process, learning how to practice active listening could help you avoid hiring the wrong candidate and costing your company thousands of dollars.
Recruitment and selection skills
Recruitment is at the heart of all HR departments, so this is one of the main skills you’ll want to develop to a high level. Focus on improving your interviewing abilities and start paying attention to detail when you’re checking resumes and job applications.
Teamwork skills
HR professionals always work with people from their department or from other areas of the company. If you’re involved in recruiting, you’ll likely have to work closely with area managers and leaders, while those that handle payroll tasks will have to work alongside the finance department. Learning how to work as part of a team will help make you a valuable member of your HR team.
Analytics and reporting skills
Analytics and reporting might not sound like it has anything to do with human resources, but HR teams in 2021 are increasingly reliant on key metrics, performance statistics and recruiting data. Being proficient with Excel or Google Sheets is a great place to start. If you want to really stand out, learn how to use applicant tracking software or HR reporting programs.
The bottom line
If you’re serious about becoming an HR expert, then follow the advice in this post. Professional development, education and honing your skills are the best ways to ensure you get on the right track to becoming the best at what you do. Once you feel confident enough with what you know, why not check out the Adecco Canada job board to see if you find an HR position that’s aligned with your long-term goals?