Week 5 Prepare For An Interview With A Human Resources Profe

Week 5 Prepare For An Interview With A Human Resources Professional A

Week 5: Prepare for an interview with a human resources professional about the work of the human resources professional. The interview questions will be turned in to the instructor by the end of week 5. Once returned, you may conduct the interview.

Interview Guidance:

1). Select one HR related topic that is of interest to you; (as an example, strategic management, workforce planning, human resources development, employee and labor relations, risk management etc...);

2). prepare 8-10 questions that would further develop your understanding of both the larger HR profession, or a specialty area of interest;

3). begin planning for the interview for week 6, 7 or 8. The assignment is due in week 8, so don't delay too long!

4). prepare a 3 to 4 page paper (3 page minimum) that summarizes the interview.

Paper For Above instruction

The purpose of this assignment is to deepen understanding of the human resources (HR) profession through direct engagement with a professional in the field. Selecting a specific HR-related topic allows for focused inquiry, while preparing targeted questions helps facilitate a comprehensive interview. The process involves meticulous planning, question formulation, and ultimately conducting the interview, followed by writing a detailed summary encapsulating insights gained.

Choosing an HR topic of personal interest is essential. Topics such as strategic management, workforce planning, employee relations, HR development, or risk management offer diverse perspectives into the profession's nuances. For this assignment, I have selected employee relations as the focus area, given its critical role in fostering a productive and harmonious workplace environment (Snape & Redman, 2018).

Preparing the interview questions is a pivotal step. I developed 10 questions designed to elicit insights into the HR professional's day-to-day responsibilities, strategic initiatives, challenges faced, and growth opportunities within the field. Examples include: "What are the key skills necessary for success in human resources?" and "How does HR contribute to organizational strategy?" Such questions aim to explore both practical and strategic aspects of HR work (Brewster et al., 2016).

The plan involves scheduling the interview for weeks 6 or 7, providing adequate time for feedback on the submitted questions and ensuring the interview process is well-organized. Recording the interview (with permission) will facilitate accurate transcription and analysis. The subsequent step involves analyzing responses to identify themes and insights applicable to HR practices and career development.

The final deliverable is a comprehensive 3-4 page paper that summarizes the interview content. The paper will include an introduction to the chosen topic, a detailed account of the interview questions and the professional's responses, and an analysis discussing how these insights enhance understanding of HR functions. Emphasis will be placed on linking responses to scholarly literature to contextualize findings and demonstrate critical thinking.

This assignment offers practical value by providing firsthand knowledge of HR's strategic and operational roles. It also fosters skills in interview preparation, active listening, and academic writing. By engaging directly with an HR professional, I will gain a nuanced perspective that complements theoretical coursework and prepares me for future HR roles.

In conclusion, the interview process is a valuable experiential activity that bridges academic learning with real-world application. Through careful planning, insightful questioning, and reflective analysis, I aim to expand my understanding of human resources, particularly in the area of employee relations, and develop skills that are essential for success in the HR field.

References

Brewster, C., Chung, C., & Sparrow, P. (2016). Globalizing human resource management. Routledge.

Snape, E., & Redman, T. (2018). Managing employment relations. Routledge.

Cascio, W. F., & Boudreau, J. W. (2016). The search for global competence: From international HR to talent management. Journal of World Business, 52(2), 255-263.

Ulrich, D., Brockbank, W., Johnson, D., Sandholtz, K., & Younger, J. (2012). HR competencies: Mastery at the intersection of people and business. Society for Human Resource Management.

Mathis, R. L., & Jackson, J. H. (2019). Human resource management. Cengage Learning.

Werner, S., & DeSimone, R. L. (2017). Human resource development. Cengage Learning.

Armstrong, M. (2014). Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page.

Cascio, W. F. (2018). Managing human resources: Productivity, quality of work life, profits. McGraw-Hill Education.

Harrison, R. (2014). Learning and Development. Kogan Page.