The Biggest Challenges in Human Resources
| By Eric Friedman | HR
The Human Resources profession has seen many shifts in how work is conducted and how companies interact with potential candidates. The biggest shift comes from the source of hire. When looking back in the past ten years recruiters have started sourcing candidates in several new and innovative ways then ever before. Far from perfection, the Human Resources profession has a long way to go to increase productivity and increase the quality of their department. Here are a few of the biggest challenges the Human Resources industry:
5 of the Biggest Challenges in Humans Resources
Aligning Workforce with Business Strategy: Basically all hires need to be strategic in the sense that they don’t only help the company as a whole, but their position aligns overall with the goals of your organization. Each and every hire needs to be more strategic and not just filling a position.
Defining a Workforce Strategy Based on Reliable Facts and Figures: Another important characteristic of a strong human resources department is the ability to define a strategy focused on hiring top talent and an efficient workforce. Basing your strategy on facts and figures will give you the ability to prove your worth to the higher ups. A lot of times HR departments will spend money while the CEO or CFO won’t understand the ROI. Base your departmental spending on specific HR metrics and the doors will open for your HR department.
Managing with Limited Resources and Budget: It’s no secret that the Human Resource department suffers from lack of resources, budget, and on numerous occasions they are understaffed. A successful department must be able to function with limited resources. If this requires working with outside vendors to streamline HR functions then your department must be able budget accordingly.
‘Knowing’ and ‘Developing’ Your Workforce: A successful department is able to know how-to and develop their workforce in the most efficient manner possible. Through assessment testing and routine training it’s possible to hire and develop a workforce to be of high quality. In today’s workplace continuing learning is deemed appropriate in necessary in developing your workplace.
Being Ready for the ‘War on Talent’: The War on Talent is real. HR departments need to understand that in order to be successful they must keep hiring top talent in their field. No longer will the mediocre work in the ever growing and competitive workplace, but in order to have the competitive advantage against your competitors you must hire the best workforce ever.
Working in HR isn’t easy and no matter the size of your budget or the strength of your workforce, it’s important to understand that working in Human Resources puts you in the trenches of your company. Hiring a qualified workforce is your main priority and even if you’re low on resources you learn to make due.
How does your HR Department Cope?
How has your HR department struggled with lack of resource and dealing with everything it takes to become a successful department?
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I can certainly agree with the limited staff. I am the HR department of one who also, by the nature of events, be other roles as well. One then must pick-and-choose which functions are done and which ones are left unfinished. Frustrating sometimes it can be.
The main point that I’m getting from your article is that it’s more important than ever for the HR department to get creative. HR has huge opportunity to become the catalyst for change that a sinking company needs and thinking outside the box can give their business the competitive edge it’s looking for from within.
About the only thing I see that has changed in the last ten (actually, in the last 50) years that I can agree with is your statement that recruiters have new sources and tools. As for your five points, you seriously think that these have revealed themselves and have been a consideration for HR only over the past ten years? Nothing new here.
I can understand Larry’s point about “nothing new here” but I can also see the validity of Eric’s post. I think both are valid.
I love these articles and the potential it shows for HR. Offline in the real world though, I don’t see enough adoption and focus on these challenges. Sometimes it seems HR’s biggest challenge is HR itself. Some professionals are comfortable with the status quo and the transactional components of HR.
Eric, very insightful article! I agree with you that these seem to be the biggest challenges in HR even today. Kudos to you for all the info you share!