What is the most important competency of HR manager?

1. Career development
2. 5 Essential HR Career Competencies

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated September 14, 2021 | Published February 25, 2020

Updated September 14, 2021

Published February 25, 2020

Competencies are the specific skills and traits people need to succeed in a particular area. Those working toward a career in human resources should focus their energy on developing certain competencies to drive personal success and show ambition at their job. In this article, we discuss the main competencies needed to excel as a human resources professional, why they're important and how to effectively use these human resources competencies at work.

What are human resources competencies?

Human resources (HR) competencies are the key attributes that an employee should have to excel at their job in HR and support the growth of their company. The competencies usually involve your ability to communicate and interact with others. Many HR departments also value skills related to mediating conflict and creating a good company culture.

Why are human resources competencies important?

To keep a company running efficiently, human resources professionals need to be able to create job descriptions, hire qualified staff and organize employee salaries and benefits. Strong human resources competencies at a company help employees feel appreciated and understood. Competent HR professionals also contribute to company organization and make sure that businesses are following the rules and regulations of their industry.

Related: Q&A: What Are the Main Functions and Goals of HR?

Most useful human resources competencies

Each company values different qualities and skills in an employee depending on the company's vision and goals. However, a few human resources competencies are especially useful for keeping any business running smoothly. Some of the most highly valued competencies for a modern business are:

1. Human resources knowledge

Employers need HR professionals to be aware of employment trends and labor laws. Human resources departments often manage complex paperwork that can influence how employees get paid and access their benefits. Human resources knowledge can be developed through college coursework or work experience and is one of the key qualifications for getting and keeping a job in HR. You must be willing to keep up with emerging knowledge in the field to be part of a successful human resources team.

Related: 16 Types of HR Certifications for Each Step in Your Career

2. Communication

Human resources professionals are responsible for helping employees understand the rules and expectations of working at a specific company. Therefore, they need excellent written communication skills for writing company handbooks and job descriptions. They also need to be skilled at public speaking and general oral communication to lead new employee orientations and workshops. Communication can be a determining factor in a company's ability to accomplish goals and introduce new initiatives within its workforce.

Related: 10 Communication Skills for Career Success

3. Organization

Human resources departments are often in charge of determining what hierarchical structure a company will use. They are also responsible for keeping extensive records on interviewees and hirees. HR professionals often need to be familiar with the best software and systems for organizing and sorting large amounts of data. They should have the ability to organize information for easy access and determine the most useful structure for each department.

Related: What Are Organizational Skills? (With Examples)

4. Problem-solving

People who work in human resources are often responsible for mediating conflicts between employees and helping all employees receive appropriate accommodations. They must come up with creative solutions for complex interpersonal problems to keep employees happy while staying within the company's budget. Problem-solving is an important competency in HR because overcoming difficulties can help drive progress and innovation and prevent employee turnover.

Related: Effective Problem-Solving Steps in the Workplace

5. Ethics and integrity

Companies rely on HR employees to uphold ethics in the organization. Being ethical protects businesses and employees by helping a company follow the law and uphold high standards in their industry. Human resources professionals often handle sensitive information, so they should have a high level of integrity and trustworthiness.

Related: How To Improve Ethical Leadership Skills (With Examples)

How to use human resources competencies at work

There are several ways you can demonstrate your human resources competencies in the workplace. Actively using core competencies during your daily tasks can help you stand out as a top-performing employee. Follow these steps to develop human resources competencies at your job:

1. Understand your company's competency model

Understanding the competencies that your company values most is the first step to developing your HR skills. Many HR departments have a document detailing their competency model. You can also identify the key competencies of your employer by asking about the company's mission and core values. This way, you can align your personal goals and behaviors with those of your employer.

Related: 10 Core Competencies and Skills Valued by Employers

2. Self-evaluate

Once you understand which human resources competencies you would like to focus on, find a way to evaluate your progress. Many people track their professional development by writing reflections or scheduling regular meetings with their managers. Aiming for success and assessing where you can improve is an excellent strategy for improving your performance.

3. Look for mentors

Consider which of your co-workers best embody human resources competencies and ask them for advice. You might shadow a senior HR employee and see how they develop their skills. Some HR departments offer awards or recognition for employees who regularly display the company's core values. By looking at the success of others, you can aspire to improve your HR knowledge.

Related: 5 Steps To Find a Mentor

4. Pursue professional development

There are many professional development opportunities for those interested in strengthening their human resources competencies. You can also join professional organizations promoting knowledge and education in the field. Attending regular workshops and classes can enrich your work life and help you stand out as an employee.

Read more: HR Interview Questions To Help You Prepare

6 Min Read

Human resource management responsibilities require an overlapping set of skills and competencies. If you’re looking for an edge in today’s competitive job market, understanding and developing these skills is the key to success. Let’s count down the list of six core competencies for HR professionals.

1. Human Resources Knowledge

Today’s job seekers have access to more information than ever before. Therefore, the best HR professionals must be prepared to meet these informed candidates with industry expertise of their own.

Understanding how and why individuals enter and move within an organization is at the core of everything else you will do in human resources. HR managers who truly add value are always attuned to “the big picture” of how HR practices relate to a successful business.

Your knowledge in this area needs to be greater than anyone else’s to support employees’ and employers’ objectives. After all, HR management is not just about talent acquisition but also about retention.

2. A Commitment to Ongoing HR Learning

Today’s business landscape is complex and in a state of constant flux. The field of HR is dynamic, and our ability to process and understand it needs self-motivation.

Growing in your job means being receptive to new ideas, wherever they may come from. Have you demonstrated a commitment to ongoing learning by taking advantage of conferences, other colleagues in HR or graduate studies?

HR professionals who never stop learning are well-positioned to translate well-thought-out industry trends and data into actionable insights.

The primary function of the typical HR professional’s job involves facilitating discussion between employees and employers. If a human resources manager can’t communicate clearly, they will not be successful. Both oral and written skills are required to relay information effectively.

One aspect of communication that gives people an edge is a strong ability for conflict resolution. Even in the most agreeable workplaces, problems arise that need a diplomatic ear, an eye for assessment and a hand for getting the problem settled. This particular skill is invaluable when negotiating solutions and keeping things on track.

4. Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking helps employees solve problems and build strategies that make them better at their jobs, according to Indeed.1 In any field, critical thinking helps professionals to:

• Absorb information without bias
• Analyze key characteristics of communication and context
• Solve complex problems
• Come up with creative, realistic solutions.

HR professionals, in particular, frequently need to balance complex situations and take their time to think with a combination of set-in-stone processes and outside-the-box thinking. Because employees come from a breadth and depth of backgrounds and experiences, HR professionals need to strategically cultivate an environment in which all can work together toward improving their organization.

5. An Ethical Approach to Human Resources

The importance of ethics as an HR core competency cannot be overstated. Every day, HR professionals face ethical challenges related to everything from managing private employee information to protecting the reputation of their organizations. Adopting an unwavering and unilateral commitment to ethics not only helps attract top talent while safeguarding your organization but also fosters a culture of trust and loyalty.

Part of being ethical is truly caring about people. Empathy for tough situations and “real life” goes a long way to set you apart from those who just do it “by the book.”

Some ethical principles are enshrined in law. Making sure your company’s policies and practices are in legal compliance is a mainstay in the world of human resources. Avoiding discrimination in regard to ethnic background, disability, religious belief and many other factors is important because of the hurt it will avoid and to foster a better, more diverse work environment.

Laws are always changing, sometimes incrementally, sometimes as part of a great cultural shift. Therefore, staying up to date on national news, trends and laws is particularly important; ignorance of the law is not a winning defense. Legal compliance, of course, also protects the company and its officers.

HR management is a juggling act. The more organized you are, the better you’ll be able to stay ahead of what you need to do and have time for things you would like to do. If you think that organization is something you either have or you don’t, think again. Organization can be honed by understanding where you work and doing a few things the same every day to build a daily routine.

How to Get Into Human Resources Management

The field of human resources is growing alongside a thriving national and international economy, which means that more human resources managers will be needed to accommodate this development. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 14,800 openings for human resources managers are projected each year, on average, from 2020 to 2030.2 Those with advanced knowledge from graduate degrees in human resources will be in the best position to take advantage of these opportunities.

The global marketplace, automated recruiting, talent management systems and outsourced payroll have required – almost forced – the HR profession to evolve. The BLS also said that today’s HR managers need to be experts in equal employment opportunities, healthcare and retirement plans. However, the daily life of an HR manager also has its lighter moments.

One way to expand on your skills in this profession and motivate your workforce is to highlight the fun qualities of HR. That can include coordinating company parties, theme days and charity events and drives; a nice break from keeping up on legal updates and handling tough personnel and technical issues.

Stepping up as an employee advocate is now one of the more important roles of HR, partly due to changing demographics. Millennial professionals surpassed Generation X in 2016 to comprise the largest share of the American workforce, according to the Pew Research Center, and this trend has continued.3

Whether it’s new tools for performing their job or providing clear avenues for development, the key foundational and technical skills you’ll gain from your MS in Human Resources Management studies provide a basis that not only encourages continued learning but also teaches methods to stay up-to-date on the latest news.

Many students in an MS in Human Resources Management program use the Capstone course to share their experiences with fellow students and learn real-life methods for properly managing a younger workforce. A happy secondary benefit of this course is that professional circles grow, providing career connections with peers who will continue sharing experiences and solutions for years.

Prepare for a Future in Human Resources Management

Great work experience and core competencies can help, but that takes time. An online Master of Science in Human Resources Management helps develop all these skills quickly. Not only will an advanced degree help you develop a richer understanding of how to be a better HR leader, but you’ll learn how to apply these skills appropriately for success.

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