ICL’s group HR director believes that graduates looking to work in personnel
would benefit from a financial background.
During a debate on the new skills needed to work in HR, Fiona Colquhoun said
HR professionals do not necessarily need to have a background in the
profession.
She explained, "If I had my time again, I would train as an accountant,
so that I can speak in the same language as they talk to me. The transfer of
different functions into HR can be very good indeed."
She said her HR team had learnt from the experience of a member of the
marketing team, who worked alongside them. Working with the HR team had also proved
beneficial to the marketing employee.
The debate took place at the Tomorrow’s Organisation: New Mindsets, New
Skills conference in London organised by Create.