How to Hire a Human Resources Specialist

As more time-strapped managers realize that wooing great job candidates can still take significant time and effort today, many organizations are adding human resources professionals to their teams to help with the recruiting process.

Human resources specialists support recruiting, onboarding and talent management programs. In addition, they may take responsibility for employee engagement, create wellness initiatives, and develop training and team-building programs.

With this focus on people management, it's essential to find skilled human resources specialists for your company. So, what HR roles should you spotlight now in your hiring, and how do you attract great candidates? Here's what you need to know:

Human resources specialist roles and salaries

Keep in mind that to attract strong candidates, it's crucial to offer salaries and benefits that are on par with industry trends. Here are three common HR specialist roles, along with their responsibilities and the starting salaries you can expect to pay for each position, provided by the Robert Half Salary Guide.

• HR assistant - These employees take on critical functions in the hiring process, including conducting internet research to identify potential candidates, scheduling interviews and interviewing applicants by phone. They may also review resumes, help plan new employee orientation programs and maintain employee records. The salary range for HR assistants is projected to be $35,000 to $45,750.
• HR recruiting coordinator - Recruiting coordinators manage the internal and external postings of open jobs, evaluate candidates to ensure they meet company hiring standards and prepare employment offers. They may also oversee applicant tracking and conduct recruitment analysis. For HR recruiting coordinators, the salary range is $41,000 to 53,000.
• HR benefits specialist - These professionals oversee the enrollment and management of company benefits plans. They help register new employees, serve as the primary point of contact for benefits-related questions or concerns, and work directly with vendors to resolve any issues that may arise. HR benefits specialists can expect a salary range of $47,000 to $59,000.

Explore the Salary Guideto find out what HR specialists expect to earn in your city.

When to hire a human resources specialist

Determining the right time to bring in specialized HR professionals depends on the needs, schedules and budget of your organization. Companies that need additional HR help are seeking both contract and permanent professionals.

Here are just a few examples of when and where a human resources specialist can benefit your company:

• Return to the office - HR workloads skyrocketed during the pandemic, and for companies transitioning to a hybrid workplace model, human resources specialists will be needed to update company policies and procedures.
• High workloads - If the amount of work is increasing at your organization, new employees or project professionals may be required to handle the additional responsibilities. That's a sign you'll need a human resources specialist to help with hiring, rolling out updated benefits packages or new employee programs, especially if you're creating multiple roles.
• Sluggish selection - If your leading candidates are getting snatched up by other companies before you can make an offer, you'll want to bring on HR professionals to help ensure you're conducting interviews and extending offers in a timely manner.
• Open enrollment - Many organizations also need assistance with open enrollment, that period when employees can sign up for health insurance or change their benefits plans, which an HR specialist can provide.

How to find your best hires

Because of the competition for HR gurus, strategy is key when striving to fill these positions. As you search, keep the following tips in mind:

• Be specific - Knowing how to write a compelling job description can give you a springboard to identify candidates who match your specific requirements. Job descriptions should contain an overview of all the relevant skills and experience you're seeking. Provide the role's broadest responsibility, function or priority within the company. Include an overview of expectations for the person who fills the HR role, the immediate and longer-term objectives, and define what constitutes outstanding performance. Be as clear as possible, so that the candidate understands the job's responsibilities and the criteria for success.
• Get referrals - Your professional contacts and existing employees are valuable resources when looking for accomplished HR professionals. You might even offer incentives, such as gift cards or bonuses, to employees who provide referrals leading to promising new hires.
• Look for balanced skill sets - Along with HR expertise, a human resources specialist should have outstanding soft skills. Particularly valuable today are collaborative abilities and an aptitude for problem solving. Also essential are strong communication skills, including a capacity to work well with others and clearly explain HR matters that can be confusing to employees, such as benefit elections.
• Keep an eye toward the future - Transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping HR as they change processes and take over routine responsibilities like scanning resumes and data entry. You'll need HR specialists who are tech savvy and adaptable to help you in this age of digital disruption.
• Don't wait for a unicorn - Keep in mind that the perfect candidate might not exist. Spending time looking for someone who ticks every single box could cause you to miss out on a wealth of talented individuals who would shine with your company. Instead, be open to providing on-the-job training to develop additional skills required for the role.
• Make your offer quickly - If you drag out your hiring process, you will likely lose skilled HR specialists to your competition. Once you've pinpointed the candidate you want to hire, make an offer. At the very least, stay in close contact with promising applicants throughout the process to keep them interested in the position.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to find human resources specialists is to work with a talent solutions firm like Robert Half. Our recruiting experts have the experience and connections to help you locate skilled HR professionals quickly.

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