Dive Brief:
- Dynamic, fast-paced and ever-evolving aren't exactly the first adjectives that come to mind when one thinks about human resources, according to an article at the Wausau Daily Herald.
- But they should be, say Wisconsin human resources professionals, educators and business experts interviewed for the article.
- HR offers people-oriented workers opportunities to enhance their own careers while also helping businesses thrive and workers find their professional niches.
Dive Insight:
One of the hurdles that HR might have is one of perception and public relations. Human resources isn't exactly a party-time topic, and school children rarely say they want to grow up be in human resources. That means that HR professionals also have to be life-long learners.
"Employees often have the perception that if you are asked to come up to the HR office, that they are in trouble," Tina Lamb, the associate dean of the Business Division of Mid-State Technical College, told the Daily Herald. "It is akin being told to report to the principal's office back in high school."
Another HR professional interviewed, Kim Hall, director of human resources for the D.C. Everest Area School District, started her career in child protective services, where she learned how to conduct investigations and make tough choices regarding the future of children and families. During that time, she noticed how parents' employers could help or hinder the process, and began to look into HR as a way of making a difference in peoples' lives. Hall believes that empathy and the ability to adapt to quickly shifting circumstances are "must-have" qualities for successful HR professionals. "You have to be willing to change gears at the drop of a hat," she said.
