Starting a career in HR is all about understanding people and data. Luckily, HR Software can help you to thread the needle. But what are the trends that you could start to learn about now that could benefit you down the line?
Working from home (is here to say)
If you wish to take up a career in HR, now is the time to shift your focus from learning about in-office best practices to developing a deeper understanding of working from home best practices.
During the coronavirus pandemic, many workplaces were forced to close. Where home working was an available option, employers began to spend on supporting workers in their efforts to set up and maintain home workstations. The investment was huge. From technology and cabling to tables and chairs, the workforce was equipped and made ready.
Fast forward to the easing of lockdown restrictions and many companies took the decision to continue working from home wherever possible. This shift in where workers are based comes with new health and safety concerns, communication hurdles, and the puzzle of remote staff engagement (to keep track of things like progression and training). Making sure you know about how to manage these issues remotely is now an essential HR skill.
Data collection
Do you know how to track and collect company data from a home working environment? From simple individual time tracking to wider project management info and even onboarding staff, data management from a remote location brings with it its own list of potential problems.
Undertaking a career in HR in the modern workplace means understanding data collection and knowing how and when to use it for the best possible outcome. If you don’t know who on your team desires career progression and who is perhaps nearing the end of their career and does not wish to progress any further, you could, for example, insist that all staff are required to train in areas that ultimately won’t benefit them or the company.
Unlocking data management from remote locations is a talent that not all HR staff will master going forward – make sure you are on board with the best practices and methods of achieving your goals.
Planning an overall HR strategy
Being a people person is a great start if you’re considering a career in HR. If you’d rather never speak to anyone ever again and live your life behind closed curtains while shouting at the delivery driver to leave the package on the step and walk away, HR probably isn’t for you. But communication is not the only skill you need. You need a strategic mentality.
The ability to plan an overall HR strategy begins with understanding industry roles to better advertise them (and ensure the right candidate is successful), and moves through onboarding new staff, monitoring performance, offering relevant training, and helping to resolve personal issues along the way (like arranging immediate time off following a family bereavement).
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Understand HR from the ground up. It’s what modern business needs from you.
