HR is a critical department in any business and working in this field can be hugely rewarding. It is easy to see why so many people eye a career in HR, but it can also be challenging in addition to being highly competitive so it is important to develop a skillset that will enable you to thrive in this setting and stand out to employers. So, what are the key skills that HR employers want to see?
Adaptability, Flexibility & Patience
In order to succeed in HR, you will need to be adaptable and flexible because the work can be incredibly varied and involve working with many different people. This also means that you need to have patience when working with others.
Ambition & Confidence
Ambition and confidence is important in any job, but especially HR when you will be dealing with lots of different people every single day. Those that are ambitious and confident will be able to excel in their role, climb the ladder and instil confidence in others.
Business Acumen & Entrepreneurial Approach
When you work in HR, you always need to be able to see the big picture and understand what would benefit the business. Obviously, you will be working with staff and supporting them but you must also understand that you are there to help the business to thrive at the end of the day.
Discretion & Trustworthiness
As you will be working closely with people and handling sensitive issues, you must also be discreet and trustworthy. This means having good communication skills and the ability to form strong connections with other employees.
Organisational Skills & Ability to Multitask
Working in HR can certainly be stressful and no two days are ever the same. This means that to excel in your role, you both need to be well organised and be able to multitask, including prioritising your workload.
Ability to Meet Deadlines & Meet Targets
Similarly, you must also be the type of worker that is able to meet tight deadlines and hit your targets. This is vital not only for excelling in your own role but also for supporting employees and, in turn, helping the company to succeed.
Ability to Work as Part of a Team
The best HR workers are the ones that are able to work well as part of a team and integrate quickly. Many people enter this field by taking on interim HR roles which can be a great way to build experience, but you must also be able to hit the ground running and integrate with the team quickly.
These are the key skills that HR employers look for in candidates and anyone looking to excel in HR needs to develop these skills in order to stand out and find experience.
