HR in the spotlight: What’s happening with this career path in 2018?
Although a rapid growth in the use of workplace technology is rendering some careers obsolete, human resources skills are in higher demand than ever. If you’re eyeing a human resources (HR) career, then read on to find out what’s hot in this field for 2018.
Demand for HR professionals will be high
Whether it’s scoping out potential employees, monitoring staff members, or safeguarding a company’s most important resource – it’s people – the skills needed to fulfil the duties of a human resources professional will always be in high demand. Strong competition for jobs in 2018 means that more HR employees will be required to find the best potential candidates amongs hundreds of applicants.
There will be strong opportunities for career growth
In the competitive modern workplace, organisations realise that high-performing HR staff are extremely valuable. HR professionals are therefore often given plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and to progress to more senior positions. If you start out as an HR representative at a company and prove that you’re good at your job, then there is an excellent chance of climbing up the career ladder within a few years.
Technology will advance HR practices
Since it involves constant interaction with employees, job candidates, and executives, HR has a stronger human element than most careers. But this doesn’t mean that the field is immune to the impacts of technological development. There have been numerous advancements in HR technology over the past few years, including time and attendance systems, payroll systems, and performance management programs. If you’re planning to enter a career in HR, then you’ll need to keep abreast of these changes.
People analytics will take centre stage
People analytics – which applies statistics, technology, and HR expertise to talent data to inform decisions – is emerging as a highly useful tool in the HR field. By looking at data related to employees, managers are able to better serve staff needs, create a more productive workspace, and improve skills development. Although it hasn’t yet been implemented by most organisations, in 2018 you can expect this new discipline to gain traction in a big way. If you’re looking for a career in HR, then expertise in people analytics will be immensely valuable in giving you the edge over other candidates.
Social media recruiting will become the norm
Social media has filtered into every aspect of business, and HR is no exception. The vast majority of companies today use social media (particularly LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter) as a recruiting tool. In 2018, social media recruiting will move to new heights, with companies particularly focusing on how to develop mobile-friendly recruiting platforms.
Now that you know what trends will shape the HR industry in 2018, it’s time to start your path to an HR career!
