Essential skills that every HR candidate requires

Human resources (HR) is an excellent field for motivated, organized people who want to help businesses achieve their goals and employees reach their full potential. Almost every company has some kind of human resources department. As the business world becomes more focused on developing human capital, HR professionals are in high demand. Suppose you are considering a career in human resources. In that case, one of your job responsibilities will be to identify candidates for employment who possess the qualities that will enable them to succeed in the role for which you are hiring.

We sat down with our Manager of HR at KAPITAL — Ninoshka Patrao. We asked her about the skills an HR Manager/Executive must possess to succeed in this role.

According to her, an HR candidate's most essential and basic skills are:

1) Communication: A primary function of all HR professionals is facilitating communication between employers and employees. This means that both your oral and written communication skills need to be sharp so that you can relay information clearly and effectively to employees at all levels. 

She believes that “HR Managers must have integrity, be honest and true to themselves and others, and truly care about the issue at hand to have it both ways. It is important to understand that perceptions and opinions are two different things. Speaking in a way that others will listen and listening in a way that people will feel comfortable speaking is a vital element of communication. Opinions are points of view that are also judgments. On the other hand, perception is a point of view of an outlook, an assessment of a matter. Managers must recognize the differences and respond accordingly. Because the objective of an HR Manager is to be the neutral party, it is never acceptable to offer opinions to anyone. The tone in which you communicate should be encouraging, helpful, and accepting.”

Part of the communication requirements also involves negotiation. For example, successful HR pros can help opposing groups compromise and find the middle ground during the hiring process or when employee conflicts arise. 

2) Organizational Skills: One of the most critical characteristics of HR professionals is the ability to get organized. This includes strong time management skills and the ability to complete tasks efficiently. 

Quoting from her own experience, she says, ”Every day, I strive to organize myself and the activities I'm working on in various ways. I usually make a day's worth of tasks into a checklist. Distractions will always exist, but staying alert is essential. I set up my environment and workstation to constantly work on something else if I'm not working on the task. I make sure that all of my jobs and activities are connected in some way so that I can be cognizant of them and execute them effectively and efficiently.” On the same note, HR professionals also manage deadlines and accomplish tasks quickly to meet employee and employer needs.

3) Being Well Versed With Technology: Success in HR requires various skills, including technical knowledge. Therefore, HR managers must be familiar with the modern corporation's technology. “ We use Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office, and G-Suite to ensure all operations run smoothly. In addition, at KAPITAL, we have our unique talent solutions process called DreamHire. Unlike any other hiring method in which candidates are solely analyzed and hired based on their resumes, DreamHire allows us to make more accurate and informed hiring decisions. The key differentiator here is that DreamHire goes the extra mile to evaluate not only candidates on their resume but also their soft skills.”

4) Ethics: In many ways, the HR department of a company serves as its conscience. This means you must have a keen sense of ethics regarding confidential information and follow company policies. “I'm learning how difficult and impartial I have to be in my work as an HR Manager as I gain more experience. I am ethically responsible for making the best possible decision based on facts and knowledge.” Indeed HR professionals have to earn the trust of company employees and executives to do their job effectively. Therefore, honesty and discretion are vital components of any successful HR department.

5) Negotiation: Another essential skill for human resources is resolving conflicts and negotiation. People management sometimes involves mediating disputes, offering alternatives, and saying “no.” For example, Ninoshka says, “Negotiating salaries with candidates is critical to hire the right people and ensure we can sustain and support the employee as a firm. I wouldn't call it a negotiation; I believe it is a mutual understanding between an employee's expectations and the organization's viability.

The key to this, however, is how a professional deals with such situations. A good negotiator means understanding the other person, knowing when to give some ground, and finding the best solution for both parties. 

6) Commitment: “It is difficult to have a job like this in an organization without a strong sense of dedication and commitment. Human Resources is a multi-faceted, detail-oriented position that requires a strong dedication to the role, the employees, and the organization. If they are not dedicated or committed, you won't have someone who cares about the organization's well-being and operations.” 

Human resources need to be committed to their work duties to attain the desired job outcomes, incur job satisfaction, maintain practical terms and relationships with the other members of the organization, and retain their jobs.

7) Empathy, Patience, and Compassion: For HR leaders, practicing kindness goes beyond the individual interactions with their people. It’s also about amplifying this power throughout the organization by building better programs and fostering better interactions between managers and their teams. This is where data can be a great benefit. “I think that somebody who is empathic or patient enough to listen to people's views and feelings is more successful. I believe in attempting to understand the issues we are all experiencing individually and as a team and then doing my best to address them. Sometimes it does present a challenge, especially because our entire team is virtual. However, we all have something in common, and being able to connect on that level and drive that conversation is what keeps me going. I honestly believe an HR Manager should be able to listen patiently and comprehend how to solve and effectively improve things for an employee.” says Ninoskha.

As you can see, there is much more to human resources job skills than being good with people. However, if you could see yourself getting into some of these aptitudes, you might have what it takes to thrive in human resources. 

If this piqued your interest, then we might have something for you! Contact our HR and Talent Manager at KAPITAL for more exciting job roles!