Any company needs a human resource department to function properly. This function plays a key role in the workings of any organization. As they handle all the employee-related matters in a company. Human resource is more than just hiring and firing employees. Its duties are diverse, ranging from managing all the aspects of payroll management to the emotional well being of the employees, assessment of their performance and motivating them to do better, amongst many others. Being an exciting career option, it has many aspirants. If you want to have a career in human resources, you may choose from many HR courses run by top business schools or even go for HR management courses online.
Human resource teams in all organizations have several responsibilities. They need to ensure the smooth internal functioning of the company by managing the people. They need to train them, help them work in a conducive environment and assess their performance as well as reward them for good performance. They are also responsible for the dissemination of important communication regarding employees, keeping the employees updated on changing policies and organizational structure within the company and facilitating a good working relationship between the managers and their subordinates.
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There are several benefits to a career in human resources. As a human resource manager, you will professionally benefit from working with many kinds of professionals and also get to work across several industries. It will increase your knowledge of various industries. HR managers are employable in a multitude of industries and domains as their expertise is related to the employees and not restricted to a specific segment or technology. This means you will have many options for employment compared to someone who has specific expertise, for example, a telecom engineer can look for technical roles in the telecom sector only. This would not be the scenario with you as an HR professional since all organizations want HR professionals. You can apply for MBA Courses in HR
There are several subsets within the human resources function. You can be working in any of the various tasks related to recruitment, payroll, employee engagement, learning and development etc. You will be constantly exposed to new ways of working, modern technology and new strategies to learn from within your domain of work. You will be participating in the organizational journey of the company as you will be a part of the major strategic planning process and will gain from this exposure.
There are several career paths within the HR domain. To begin a career in HR, it would help to gain a human resource certification. Most institutes offer human resource management specialisation as a post-graduate diploma or degree. Most companies prefer to hire candidates who are professionally trained in the field hence it would help to complete one such course before looking for jobs in the HR field.
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In HR, there are two broad career paths – one as an HR generalist and the other as an HR strategist. A generalist performs a wide variety of HR-related operational tasks such as payroll management, personnel policy deployment, recruitment, training and development, legal compliances, employee engagement and internal communication activities etc. He is responsible for a gamut of responsibilities.
A specialist, on the other hand, is responsible for larger specialised tasks such as labour relations, rewards and recognition, recruiter, workforce planning, HR development, risk management specialist, retention specialist, compensation specialist, trainer, analyst and safety officer etc. They usually work in large organisations.
On the personal skills side, a good HR person should have excellent interpersonal skills. They should be able to connect with the employees, listen and empathize with them. They should also be friendly and approachable. Being the backbone of the employee workforce, HR should be able to provide them with a window to air their grievances and come for any support. They should like to socialise as well because being a human resource professional means they will be required to meet people from all walks of life.
Another important part of an HR professional’s life is to have a basic knowledge of every domain. They might be required to hire an engineer, a marketer, a customer service professional all in day’s work. It is important to be able to adapt quickly so that they know what to look for in new hires.
Human resource function plays a key role in managing and developing an organization. They are the soul of any organization. From the first stage of talent acquisition to an exit interview, a human resource manager is present in every step of an employee’s journey. It is indeed a challenging field as it requires dealing with employees and their issues. However, with a positive attitude, the right personal skills and proper HR-related professional qualifications, you can make a flourishing career in human resources.
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When and if you choose to go into the field of Human Resources, here are a few interview questions you might be asked.
10 most common HR Questions:
Q. Tell us about yourself?
Ans. This is generally the first question during the HR round. You must give a complete introduction of yourself providing details about your qualifications, experience, interests and family background. It is advisable to highlight your key skills here.
Q. Why do you want to work with us?
Ans. In order to answer this question aptly, it is suggested to research well about the company, its philosophy and culture. Tell them how you will help further the company’s vision. Mention how well you understand their business model and the skills you possess which make you an asset for the company.
Q. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Ans. This question is a double-edged sword. You must handle it tactfully as it can serve as the deciding factor in your recruitment. Your main focus should be on your strengths. As you tell them about your weakness, you also mention how you are making efforts to overcome the same. HR management courses especially cover this question.
Q. You have changed many jobs. For how long do you intend to work with us?
Ans. You can say that you switched jobs to grow professionally. It has made you more confident, competent and skilled so that you can add more value to your job. You are looking for a long term association.
Q. Would you like to ask any questions from us?
Ans. You can ask them more about your position. You can get an overview of the job profile as well as the responsibilities that will come with it. It is better to get clarity about your role here.
Q. What are your salary expectations?
Ans. You should be prepared for this question. Do your research and find out about the approximate package being offered for this position site as per market standards. Mention the figures but don’t be too rigid on them.
Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Ans. Do your groundwork and give a reasonable answer. It is a good idea to put forward your plan on how you aim to take small steps to reach the mentioned goal in the next 5 years.
Q. Will you be fine working overtime or on the weekends?
Ans. You can say that work and timelines are important. You would be available whenever the company requires your contribution and would handle the assigned task with dedication.
Q. How do you handle work pressure?
Ans. Tell that work pressure motivates you to work harder. You can let them know that you have worked under strict deadlines. Pressure has always brought out the best in you.
Q. What is your work philosophy?
Ans. You should say that you give 100% to your work. You take it as your responsibility to complete the assigned work on time and ensure good quality.
HR interview is the final round of selection. It is the deciding factor when it comes to securing your desired position in an organization. Therefore, it is important to prepare well on these questions, rehearse your answers and body language and most importantly, do your homework on the company thoroughly.
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