HR people are the smartest people in the room

Posted on November 8, 2009 by HumanRaceHorses from http://humanracehorses.blogspot.com

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Be smarter than your competition

Back in the stone age when I actually used to have a weekly newspaper subscription, I made it a point to read the Help Wanted ads every week. I didn’t do this because I was engaged in a never ending job search. I did it because it was a really simple way to stay abreast of the changing trends in the local job market and to see what the competition was doing in regards to pay, benefits, and hiring requirements.

Like so many other things, the Internet has changed the way I approach this review.

I no longer subscribe to a weekly newspaper. I read all my news on web sites or via my Android phone. If I need to do any kind of market research on jobs or competition, I simply search via Google, or jump onto any of the bazillion job boards that out there to obtain the information I need. I also set up some short cuts to help so that I can maintain at least a general knowledge base of the employment trends in my local community.

For example, I get several emails every weekend via Monster every weekend telling me about the various that are open and being advertised on the job board in Florida. I do this by setting up searches for several job categories, including Human Resources and having them mailed to me. It takes me 15 minutes a week to review them. I can do it whenever I want, and I don’t have to worry about recycling the newspaper.

This is one of my personal ways of being green! This is also an easy tip for any manager to adopt, whether they are in HR or not.

Experts in Everything

As I was reading the Monster “HR Help Wanted” email this morning. I ran across the following ad. (This is not a paid post.) Take a look at the wide variety of skills that they are asking for in this job. Check out the various links if you want to know more about a specific topic. See you after the jump!

Faneuil is looking to fill the following position in Orlando, Florida.

Employee Relations using a Customer Service Oriented Approach

Policies – develop compliance policies and guidelines and ensure consistent application. Serve as the lead in writing and updating all HR policies and ensure that policies are updated.

Employee safety, wellness and welfare compliance

Oversees Worker’s Compensation

Establishes effective manpower planning, recruitment and staffing strategies

Oversees unemployment claim management

Ensures that EEOC, ERISA, DOL and related compliance matters are handled appropriately. Ensures that HR policies and practices conform to governmental guidelines.

Wage & Hour Laws – serve as company expert to provide direction on proper wages and employee classifications to comply with State and Federal laws

Assist and advise company managers on Human Resources Issues

Travel required up to 15%

Assist with other projects and responsibilities as needed

That is a helluva lot of different skill areas for one work function to be experienced in, let alone to be considered an expert in each. The next time you sit at the table and look at the people working in functions like Finance, IT, and QC, you can mentally stick out your tongue at them knowing that you understand and deal with many more complex disciplines and issues than they do.

Smile that secret smile, for you are the Smartest Person in the room!

Just don’t let it go to your head!

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