Thinking of managing humans?

If you like people no matter their character deficiencies then you may want to pursue a career in Human Resources (HR). But of course, liking people is insufficient to succeed in Human Resources. It takes a lot more: a degree, experience and skills.William R. Tracey, in The Human Resources Glossary defines Human Resources as: “The […]

If you like people no matter their character deficiencies then you may want to pursue a career in Human Resources (HR). But of course, liking people is insufficient to succeed in Human Resources. It takes a lot more: a degree, experience and skills.
William R. Tracey, in The Human Resources Glossary defines Human Resources as: “The people that staff and operate an organization … as contrasted with the financial and material resources of an organization. The organizational function that deals with the people …”
From this definition one can deduce that people are at the heart of Human Resources. Asked what three skills are needed to be successful in HR, Ann Pickering, HR director at 02 told The Telegraph, “recruit for attitude, you can train for skill.”
Pickering then went on to say, “it is a great career for someone who wants to work in business and make tough, commercial decisions every day. It’s not an easy option.”
Indeed it is not an easy option. Because employers are increasingly expecting more from their workforce, the task of Human Resources management is growing in sophistication. HR is continually defining strategies for employee development, employee retention, and a positive, motivating work environment.
In Human Resources, like any other career, some minimum requirements exist to enter the field. But, you have the opportunity to continue to develop these skills and experiences as you work in Human Resources and are promoted into higher level, more responsible roles.
Because of the variety of positions in the field called Human Resources, the opportunity to find a work setting that suits your skills and strengths, your preference for company size or your desire to specialize or generalize, is great.
Let’s start with degrees. Many colleges and universities have educational programs that lead to degrees in Human Resources. Depending on the school you choose, courses leading to a career in Human Resources management will be found in departments such as business, education, instructional design or technology, organization development, human services, communication, or public administration.
If you are considering a career in Human Resources, you need to know that many professionals are also pursuing Masters degrees in Human Resources, Organization Development, Business Administration (MBA), and other fields. A Masters degree will eventually be required if you are in competition for the best jobs.
Some HR professionals say that the Masters is the new Bachelors degree in the field. And, because of the challenge of employment law, more Human Resources professionals are obtaining Law degrees or transferring into Human Resources from the legal profession.
If you are seeking an entry level HR position, try to obtain some experience while you are in college as an intern. Even part time work or an internship in other fields adds to your potential as a candidate. Leadership roles in clubs, volunteer experiences, club or college sports, and real world projects for a company add to your credibility as a candidate.
It would also help to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) which is a corporate body set up to regulate the practice of HR management in Nigeria. There are options for membership by examination, through practitioner’s route and practitioner registration.
The entry level position in HR is Human Resources Assistant or Administrator who handles all HR-related queries and handling all personnel-related paperwork and documentation, such as employment contracts. Then there is the HR officer who is responsible for  recruitment, payroll, training, induction, sickness and absence tracking, disciplinary and grievance procedures, redundancy settlements, equal opportunities and establishing staff support systems. After that there is the Recruitment Coordinator who arranges the advertisement of new vacancies, analysing applications and shortlisting candidates, arranging job interviews, and managing any testing procedures involved in the recruitment process.
Next on the professional cadre is the Training Officer  who identifies the training requirements among employees within the organisation and designs and implements appropriate training programmes for individuals or groups. Then the HR Manager who plays a strategic role involving a range of policies, processes and practices relating to the overall business needs of the organisation. He or she is also involved with overseeing others in the HR team and the delivery of their responsibilities in addition to employee welfare, salary reviews, and employment law.
Then depending on the size of the organisation there is also an HR Director  managing and controlling departmental expenditure within agreed budgets as well as maintaining awareness of contemporary HR development theory and methods and providing suitable implementation within the organisation.
Generally most job vacancies for Human Resources managers ask for the following skills and competencies:
•Effective interpersonal skills so you can interact successfully.
•Knowledge of computers and information systems.
•Effective spoken and written communication.
•Comfort with diverse people who have various educational levels, cultural heritages, religious practices, ages, work experience, and opinions.
•Understanding of statistics and finance.
•Conflict resolution skills.
•Able to set and accomplish goals and work as a member of a team.
•Demonstrate a high level of integrity, confidentiality, and fairness.