Sixty
per cent of Personnel Today readers who took part in our news barometer survey
last week do not think it is necessary to have an HR background to be effective
at HR.
In
three days, nearly 200 readers voted online. John Wrighthouse, head of personnel
plan- ning and development for Nationwide, believes HR specialists who have
also had experience working in other areas of business are the most effective.
"For
those HR people who have come through the HR profession we suggest they develop
broader skills by having a period of time out of the area – working in a
business unit, working with our members, suppliers or other specialisms.
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"As
an individual who came through the HR specialist route, I spent four years out
of HR as operations director running a £2bn mortgage subsidiary. Having just
returned to an HR role, I can say I am far more effective now than when I left."
Andrew
Kakabadse, deputy director of Cranfield School of Management, speaking at the
HR Forum on board the Oriana cruise liner, said business experience is key.
"HR knowledge, skills and experience are nice to have, but anyone can get
these after three or four months of exposure in these roles," he said.
