As an HR professional, it is your job to reintroduce a human element to the workplace, foster a strong organizational culture and increase employee engagement.
Apart from being the ultimate people’s person, here are five things you can do to succeed.
- Stay up-to-date
Continued learning is the key to success in any career. Thanks to technology, we now have access to better platforms and processes for hiring, screening candidates, managing people, showing appreciation, and scheduling. Keep an eye out for the various resources available, including platforms like Humanity, Mettl, and Rescue Time, that can make your job easier while helping the company grow.
- Be authentic
It’s an everyday challenge for HR professionals to maintain a positive persona and be the face of the company while simultaneously dealing with their own human struggles. Sometimes, trying too hard or being too friendly can come across as dishonest and inauthentic. To advance in your career it’s important to find the balance between being your authentic self while maintaining professionalism. By showing your colleagues that you’re human too, you’re more likely to build a better rapport with them.
- Look Beyond a Resume
Hiring people is a major component of your job. You have to have a keen sense of how someone will fit into your organizational culture to find the right person for the right role. In order to do that, you have to assess the applicant for who they are rather than relying solely on resumes and references. Make sure to ask situational questions during the interview and use skill and personality testing methods to screen candidates.
- Lead by example
All HR professionals should conduct themselves ethically, even in the face of senior management. Maintain confidentiality, avoid gossiping, think critically and behave with integrity.
- Be open
Communication is a two-way street, and more than hearing, it’s important to listen. The majority of people with whom you interact are not going to be able to communicate the same as you. In order to be a successful HR professional, you should be able to adapt to the different communication styles of your coworkers.
If there is any skill that we recommend you work on developing throughout your career, it’s this one.
