Four Qualities of a Great Human Resources Professional

Human resources is one of the most important departments in any company, no matter what the size. If a company is truly only as good as its employees, then each HR professional who is responsible for hiring those employees can make or break a business. That's why it's important for human resources reps to have certain professional qualities that allow them to do the job right.

A recent report from the Society for Human Resource Management says that one in five companies are currently looking to hire at least one HR professional for their staff. By and large, those companies are looking for a specific set of professional qualities—one of which is efficiency. In today's fast-paced world, it's important for you as an HR professional to make a plan for each project you oversee, and then follow through with that plan in a timely manner. You must meet these plans using ethical behavior, which is another quality that employers look for in HR representatives. You should endeavor to follow all best practices already set forth by the company and ensure that everyone who may be working under you is doing the same.

The third quality that a good HR professional should have is an understanding of numbers because data crunching is increasingly becoming a part of the professional workplace. If you are assigned a problem to solve, you can make a plan of attack to solve it. That plan should be backed by statistics and data that support all proposed actions. Without it, your plan may lack credibility and your human resources manager may be less likely to approve it. You don't have to be a math whiz, but a love and understanding of statistics is still a good quality to have.

Finally, communication is another quality, and perhaps the most important one, that an HR professional should possess. Communication among employees is of great importance because an ill-informed workforce can result in mistakes and even chaos. If you are in charge of communication in your department, it is in your best interest to polish up on or learn social media skills. Social media has increasingly become a huge part of how people communicate, so you should understand how to utilize Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets in addition to traditional communications.

To be the best human resources worker you can possibly be, these four qualities are important to have under your belt. Without them, you not only can't do your job well in this digital age but might also have trouble getting hired in the first place. Whether you are trying to find an entry-level HR professional job or a management position, acquiring and practicing these skills will keep you at the top of your game.

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