New HR map to improve responsiveness to clients' needs

The new 'map' looks to reflect what the HR profession does today, taking into account how the profession has changed - having moved from a function that is focussed on assisting line managers manage their people well, to a primary focus on ensuring an organisation has the capabilities to deliver its aims now and in the future. It illustrates the core activities, knowledge and behaviours required in the HR profession.

This will have an impact on recruiters in two distinct ways. One is that as HR professionals, recruiters will now be measured against these new criteria. Secondly, as recruiters we will have to (indeed, we should want to) take greater interest into how we can transpose this way of looking at a profession onto the industries and professionals we serve.

Taking the point about measuring ourselves as recruiters first, the HR map should be welcomed. Anything that can help us map our roles and understand what knowledge and behaviours we should possess to carry them out most effectively is positive. The areas of the map that look at 'talent planning' and 'organisational development' are particularly relevant. As recruiters we need to be working with our clients to help them with these aspects. The best recruiters are the ones who have a clear understanding of exactly where an organisation wants to be and how its people can help it get there and the HR map strives to achieve this.

We can learn a lot from the methodology of the map when recruiting into any field, such as engineering or manufacturing. Instead of looking solely at roles and responsibilities within HR, the map encourages looking at behaviours and technical competencies required within defined professional areas. These are then broken down by four bands of competence rather than by roles or organisational structures.

This is helpful because it gives organisations flexibility, something that is essential if they are to get the right person for each role. A good recruiter should already attempt to really get under the skin of an organisation and understand fully its culture. The challenge now is to fully understand the client's strategic direction and the capabilities required to achieve the company's key objectives. Thinking about roles in a more holistic way, as the HR map encourages, will provide significant advantages to HR professionals and recruiters alike.

As an ISO 9001:2000 accredited organisation, Jonathan Lee Recruitment continually seeks to improve its service delivery to clients, by modifying processes and capabilities to meet changes in customer demand. The HR map will have a significant influence on the way the organisation evolves in the near future to meet the changing needs of the HR profession as our direct link into client organisations. Client and candidate feedback are critical aspects of our own quality checks to ensure the service we deliver is relevant to stakeholder needs. This will be even more important to us as the changes introduced by the HR Map are implemented, primarily to make sure we continue to add value and that our service dovetails with the strategic objectives of our clients.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment's HR consultancy arm, Integrated HR (www.integratedhr.co.uk), will also be watching developments closely. There are clear opportunities for the team to work in partnership with clients, assisting with the implementation of the changes identified and acting as an independent advisor for organisations looking to adopt the new approach. Our ability to understand the HR profession and flexibly link these groundbreaking changes to organisations' strategic objectives will ensure we are well positioned, now and in the future, to work closely with our clients in meeting their changing needs.

Jonathan Lee Recruitment will be looking at the HR map with great interest and will in particular look at how the services we offer can continue to meet the needs of HR professionals within our client organisations. As with many things, where HR leads many others follow, so we expect to see significant developments across the sectors we work in as the map unfolds.

Look out for future articles in New Recruit on how Jonathan Lee Recruitment and Integrated HR are implementing the HR Map with key clients.

jon.blaze@jonlee.co.uk

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