It is often the responsibility of Human Resources professionals to assess the qualities and skills of others—job candidates, current employees, and even superiors.  However, there are also traits that should be characteristic of those working in the Human Resources field. Here are 9 skills that are essential for Human Resources managers, selected by the HR Daily Advisor.

  1. Organization. When dealing with a large number of employees it’s important to keep files organized and readily available.
  2. Multitasking. Because the responsibilities of Human Resources departments are so varied—and often time-sensitive—HR reps need to be able to handle several different tasks at the same time, and be ready to switch between tasks in a heartbeat.
  3. Discretion. Human Resources departments can be responsible for handling very sensitive matters, which are often personal in nature. While HR answers to management, they are also in constant conversation with other employees, and it’s important for HR management to protect those employees from unethical intrusion into private matters.
  4. Dual Focus. As we just mentioned, Human Resources departments serve the needs of a company’s upper management and employees. HR representatives need to know when to protect the individual and when to protect the values and culture of the company.
  5. Employee Trust. The best HR professionals are those that both management and employees can trust. They should remain sympathetic to the employee, while at the same time enforcing management’s policies.
  6. Fairness. All companies have policies with which employees must comply, and Human Resources workers are no exception. Fair HR reps must address the needs of the employee while remaining fair-minded when it comes to complying with the company’s policies.
  7. Dedication to Improvement. Human Resources managers must constantly be thinking of creative and innovative ways to improve relations between management and employees, and how the HR department can improve communication between the two.
  8. Strategic Orientation. HR professionals should take a proactive role in helping management plan the company’s future. It is often Human Resources managers that represent the rest of the labor force.
  9. Team Orientation. When working with a group of people, work with the group as a team. Team dynamics help keep everyone involved and allow the group to work as a single unit committed to the same goal.