Human resource (HR) personnel must be people who desire to help and have lots of interaction with other employees. Their duty is to serve as a go-between for the management staff of a company and its workers. This job is truly part of the backbone for any business, and therefore, it calls for a very special kind of person. If you can be comfortable many HR functions while remaining calm, this job may be for you!
HR specialists work in an office setting and use typical office equipment; computer programs, phones and general office protocol is expected. Professional attire worn by an HR employee includes both normal office wear and dressy business apparel for important company meetings. This exceptional person will be in direct contact with employees from entry-level hourly workers to the highest CEOs, VPs, and even the company president.
What Are Some Of The Duties For An HR Job?
Multi-tasking and meeting deadlines are often required of an HR employee, as well as all aspects of hiring personnel, training and handling myriad employee relations. Furthermore, skill at leading meetings, training sessions and discussions for groups of people is also required. In other words, a natural love of people, excellent communication skills, public speaking abilities as well as maintaining confidentiality are a few of the key job functions needed.
Specific Functions Of An HR Employment Specialist
- General knowledge of any laws relating to HR and business, which are set forth at the federal and state levels
- Basic knowledge of immigration rules, laws and visa status including employee rights
- Good working knowledge of regulations affecting disabled workers
- Comprehensive understanding of all benefits packages for permanent employees such as health insurance, medical leave and worker’s compensation.
Counseling Is A Big Part of HR Functions
Employees routinely visit their HR representative for help and information concerning problems they are having in their personal life as well. Since divorces, alcoholism, pregnancy, drug issues and many other types of personal family matters greatly affect an employee’s job performance, it benefits the company to make available links to outside resources.
This is another way that HR workers become confidantes of the general employee population. Some of the qualities needed for human resource personnel in these situations are:
- Ability to lend a non-judgmental ear and great listening skills, in addition to displaying respect, integrity and unbiased help to every employee
- Ability to maintain appropriate documentation while also ensuring complete confidentiality
- Counsels employees and directs them to the appropriate outside advisers, counselors and agencies for assistance
- Mediates between employees and management when there are work-related disagreements or other problems between workers
Parent, Mentor, Helper, Motivator
As you can see, the job skills needed for a career in human resources is something like being a den mother to the company. Occasionally, unusual events occur and the successful candidate for this crucial job learns to become adept at handling any problem.
You may be expected to keep track of employee’s milestones, such as length of employment, for celebrations as well as be responsible for bringing a birthday cake for management birthdays. The details are many and this job demands people who can supervise themselves and find their own creative methods for efficiency.
However, for sizable companies with two or more HR workers, there is usually an HR supervisor who is seasoned at emergencies and complicated tasks. Most human resource managers work at one company for many years, and therefore, know its policies thoroughly. If you really love people and you like being known as a savior to many, I encourage you to apply for jobs in the human resources department and champion the critical HR functions and duties that await.