With demand for skills like strategic talent management and people analytics, human resources has evolved multi-folds over the last few years. The ability to supervise people and manage administrative tasks doesn’t suffice a human resource manager anymore. The increasing competition for high-performing talent among employers, demands human resource professionals to be strategic and well-equipped with new-age talent acquisition, talent development, and talent retention skills.
Like other business functions, a data-driven approach is common in human resources. So it’s natural that employers look up to their managers to be more data-driven now than at any time in the past.
Online Certification have emerged as a convenient means to learn in-demand skills.
New skills to Acquire
1. Talent management – Attracting high-performing talent has become essential for employers to keep themselves up in a competitive market. Talent-need assessment, succession planning, leadership skill assessment, are a few areas which human resource professionals should strive to equip themselves with and stay abreast of their career.
Some certifications that are helpful in these areas are STMP (Senior Talent Management Practitioner) and GTML (Global Talent Management Leader). These certifications are offered by the Talent Management Institute. STMP is meant for senior HR professionals and GTML is meant for HR leaders who are looking to take a global leadership position. The institute offers GTML in collaboration with the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, where you get access to learning material from top faculties of the school.
2. Employee relationship – Demands of employees from their workplace are significantly different than a decade ago. Employees today demand more flexibility in working hours, frequent work from home, and even better relationship with co-workers. Human resources professionals need to develop a new understanding of employees’ wants and needs.
SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) and GPHR (Global Professional in Human Resources) are globally-recognizedbest HR certifications in this area. These certifications are offered by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI).
3. Compensation and benefits – Employers are increasingly moving to a distributed workforce. Human resource professionals are expected to be well-versed in managing global compensation and benefits programs. Further, employees seek mental and physical health benefits from employers.
CCP (Certified Compensation Professional) is a popular certification in this area. This certification is offered by World at Work.
4. Learning & development – Career development programs are a crucial part of an employee retention strategy. Learning & development programs improve employee skills and increase productivity and efficiency. Employers are seeking L&D officers and even CLOs (Chief Learning Officers) who can build, implement, and oversee organization-wide training programs.
APTD (Associate Professional in Training and development) and CPTD (Certified Professional in Training and Development) are globally-recognized best HR certifications in this area. These certifications are offered by ATD (Association for Training and Development). Some world’s leading learning officers including CLOs are CPTD certified.
5. Diversity and inclusion–Building a diverse and inclusive workforce is a priority for employers as many global companies have had a bittersweet experience, failing to comply with diversity and inclusion acts. Employers are now seeking professionals who can build strategic diversity and inclusion programs and help diversify and more inclusive workforce.
CDP (Certified Diversity Professional) and CIP (Certified Inclusion Professional) are globally-recognized certifications in this area. These certifications are offered by the Institute for Diversity Certification.
Straddle up for a learning spree
The demand for new skills is primarily driven by a change in employee behavior and the influence of technology in the workplace. As employee behavior change and employers adapt their strategy to accommodate this change, HR professionals will need to develop new skills. Whether it’s by taking a hrcertification, a course, or going back to university, learning new skills is the only way forward for HR professionals!
