Career Research Report: HR Assistant Role in Retail Sector - MG410

This career research report examines the role of an HR Assistant within the retail sector, highlighting the essential skills, knowledge, and experience required for success. It delves into current trends influencing the profession, such as the integration of artificial intelligence and the increasing importance of diversity in the workplace. The report also includes primary research in the form of an interview, providing insights into the evolving nature of HR and the impact of technology. The author evaluates their own suitability for the HR Assistant role, referencing a relevant job advertisement and assessing their skills and potential contributions to a retail organization. Ultimately, the study concludes that HR plays a vital role in organizational success and emphasizes the importance of adaptability, communication, and problem-solving skills for HR professionals.

Career Viewpoint
MG410
CW1 – Career Research Report
Name:
H number:
Bucks ID:
Due date:
Word count:
1

Contents
Introduction.........................................................................................................................................3
General trends influencing the chosen industry or profession.........................................................4
The required skills, experience and knowledge.................................................................................5
Evaluation............................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................8
Reference list........................................................................................................................................9
Appendices.........................................................................................................................................10
Appendix 1: Primary Research Evidence....................................................................................10
Appendix 2: Relevant job advertisement.....................................................................................10
2

Introduction
Human resources can be defined as a department of organization that plays a vital role as
it performs all functions that are related to workers related (Boon, Den Hartog and Lepak,
2019). Main aim of HR is to satisfy needs of employees and retain them within business. In
this study, I am going to discuss effectiveness of HR assistant and reasons as why I have
chosen this field and which opportunities I can take. Selected sector in which I am going to
perform Hr assistant job role is retail. Further, I will discuss current trends that can affect this
sector and profession as well along with skills that are essential for performing this job role
with effectiveness.
3

General trends influencing the chosen industry or profession
HR is one of the main key of organizational success as it performs number of functions
for satisfying employees and retaining them within business so that it can help out company
in accomplishing goals. HR is getting changed due to number of reasons as well as current
trends. Some trends that are having critical impact on its performance include:
Technology (Artificial intelligence): Artificial intelligence and advanced technology is
one of the main current trends that is affecting HR professional job role. In retail sector, HR
is using advanced technology and software and implementation of software like employees’
portal and customers’ relations management has made them able to measure performance of
employees and measuring satisfaction level of customers (Takura, 2019). Work from home
and virtual working are main examples of this current trend that has changed HR’s roles. It
has improved their performance but on the other hand, it has increased pressure on them as
they need to manage both virtual employees and employees who are working from office.
Diversity: It is other current trend as it has also changed the way in which HR works.
Due to diversity, companies are hiring employees of different cultures. It is also increasing
pressure on them as they need to learn different languages and need to adapt values of
different cultures so that they can manage diverse employees in an effective manner. HR
needs to invest in training, record keeping and all other functions (Sriviboon and
Jermsittiparsert, 2019). They need to provide training to employees so that they can learn
different language and can work collaboratively with others. So, on the basis of this, it can be
said that diversity has affected HR profession in a critical manner.
Interviewer: According to you what is current and future trend that can change HR job role
in a critical manner.
Interviewee: AI based apps and technology is current trend that has changed HR profession
and will change it to the great extent.
On the basis of primary data, it can be said that AI based tools are offering cloud
solutions, bots, digital assistance, automated machine learning and others. All these apps can
improve overall efficiency and performance of employees. All these apps can enable HR to
better predict of future trends by which, they can recruit employees and can satisfy them in an
effective manner (Gallo and et.al., 2019).
4

The required skills, experience and knowledge
Working as Hr assistant is not an easy task as they have to perform number of skills. HR
requires number of skills for performing their job role such as:
Communication: Communication is the key of success of HR department. HR has to
deal with diverse employees and for satisfying their needs, they need to have an active
listening and oral communication skills. By having this skill, Hr professionals can solve
conflicts that occur among employees and by doing so, they can satisfy employees.
Time management: HR needs to perform number of functions that starts from
recruitment and end to their retention. For performing number of functions, they need to have
time management skills. HR manager allot number of tasks to HR assistants and for
delivering projects in a timely manner, the need to possess this skill (Stewart and Brown,
2019).
Adaptability: HR professionals need to be adaptable. Employees who leave origination
can shake up HR professionals’ daily agenda. To adjust to as well as predicting, they need to
have flexibility. Along with this, number of other changes occurs in business environmental
factors and accordingly, they need to make changes in strategies. So, for this reason, it is
important for them to have adaptability.
Along with skills, there are some areas in which HR professionals need to be expertise such
as:
Employees’ relations: The purpose of HR is to satisfy employees as well as customers
and for that HR professionals need to be expertise in improving employees’ relations. For this
expertise, HR needs to work with employees and need to motivate them. By improving
relations with employees, HR can encourage them for staying within business for the long
run and it can make them able in accomplishing organizational goals.
Training and development: It is other main area of expertise for HR professionals as HR
professionals need to provide training to employees so that they can perform their functions
with effectiveness. It is believed that by getting training, employees find easier in performing
their tasks and it improves their performance (Stone, Cox and Gavin, 2020). For improving
performance and retaining employees within business, HR needs to identify effective ways of
providing training so that functions everyone can learn effective ways of performing
functions and can help their company out in accomplishing goals and vision as well.
5

Interviewer: According to you, which skills are essential for HR professionals for
performing their roles with effectiveness?
Interviewee: Team working and problem solving skills are essential.
Team working: Hr professionals need to work with employees and for this reason; they
need to have an ability to work in a team. This skill can make them able in improving
relations with employees and by doing so they can increase employees’ satisfaction level.
Problem solving: HR professionals are more likely to encounter many difficult situations
at the time of career that is why they need to be problem solver (Ogbonnaya and
Messersmith, 2019). By having an effective problem solving skill, they can satisfy employees
and can help out companies in accomplishing goals.
Overall, it can be said that HR needs to have number of skills so that they can retain
employees and increase their trust.
6

Evaluation
Selected job role that I have selected is: HR assistant. On the basis of advertisement,
given by well known as reputed retail sector. In regard to HR assistant, I can say that Hr
assistant is a person who coordinates with HR managers to manage all relevant activities to
human resource (White, 2020). HR assistant plays a vital role as they help out their
companies in accomplishing goals. I believe that I have all those skills that are being required
by well known retail sector and I want to show my potential and by performing job roles of
HR assistant, I can help retail sector in accomplishing their goals and it can boost my
confidence. Improved confidence is important as it can help us out in career development in
the future.
In addition, I can say that I always wanted to perform job role of HR as I believe that Hr
is one of the main key of organizational success. I want to show my potential and I believe
that by performing this role, I can develop my career in this field. I also believe that with all
skills that I possess, I can satisfy employees’ needs. My ability of active listening and
communication can improve my relation with employees and customers as well (Boakye and
Lamptey, 2020). This improved relation can make me able in encouraging them for getting
work done in an effective manner. Along with this, I can help out HR manager in adapting
changes and performing functions as per the identified current needs. I have knowledge of
advanced technology so, by using software and advanced technology, I can help retail sector
in becoming the market leader and taking competitive advantages (Nykyforenko and et.al.,
2019).
7

Conclusion
It has been summarized from the above study that HR plays a vital role as it helps
their company out in accomplishing goals. This study has discussed all those skills that are
required for HR professionals for performing their job role with effectiveness. Some skills
and areas of expertise that have been discussed in this study include: communication,
decision making, team working and employees’ relations. Further, it has discussed current
trends that can affect both retail sector and HR professionals. Advance technology is one of
the common current trends that can affect HR as well as other professions.
8

Reference list
Boakye, A. and Lamptey, Y.A., 2020. The rise of HR analytics: Exploring its implications
from a developing country perspective. J. Human Resour. Manage. 8(3). pp.181-189.
Boon, C., Den Hartog, D.N. and Lepak, D.P., 2019. A systematic review of human resource
management systems and their measurement. Journal of management, 45(6), pp.2498-
2537.
Gallo, P. And et.al., 2019. Innovative trends in human resources management: Evidence for
the health care system.
Nykyforenko, V. and et.al., 2019. Motivational monitoring as a component of effective
human resource (HR) strategy of company. Academy of Strategic Management
Journal. 18(2). pp.1-6.
Ogbonnaya, C. and Messersmith, J., 2019. Employee performance, well‐being, and
differential effects of human resource management subdimensions: Mutual gains or
conflicting outcomes?. Human Resource Management Journal. 29(3). pp.509-526.
Sriviboon, C. and Jermsittiparsert, K., 2019. Influence of human resource practices on Thai
pharmaceutical firm performance with moderating role of job involvement. Systematic
Reviews in Pharmacy. 10(2). pp.234-243.
Stewart, G.L. and Brown, K.G., 2019. Human resource management. John Wiley & Sons.
Stone, R.J., Cox, A. and Gavin, M., 2020. Human resource management. John Wiley & Sons.
Takura, T., 2019. Current Trends in Medical Economics in the Circulatory
Field―Socioeconomics Background and Research Issue―. Circulation Reports,
pp.CR-19.
White, S.S., 2020. Exploring HR During M&As: HR Perspectives of Leadership
Communications Impact to HR Role. Wilmington University (Delaware).
9

Appendices
Appendix 1: Primary Research Evidence
Name of contact Oliver
Company unknown
Job title Hr assistant
Date of contact 5th March 2022
How did you contact them? online
Questions asked &
summary of their answers
Current trends that can affect HR profession?
Skills and areas of expertise for HR profession?
Appendix 2: Relevant job advertisement
10

We are hiring HR Assistant
Our customers are leading groups of company and we treat employees as important resources of
company. For providing valuable services to clients, we are looking for candidates for HR assistant
position
Job requirements
Fluency in English language
Knowledge of labour or employment laws
Excellent communication skill
Commitment to self development
Candidate should have an excellent record of kitchen and staff management
Should have a pleasant personality
Team working skill
Flexibility skill
Problem-solving
Education and work experience
Professional qualifications in HRM
Salary would be discussed at the time of interview
Experience of at least 1 year in this same field.
Other job benefits
Medical insurance
Yearly vacation ticket back to home country
Drop your updated CV in word format to: [e-mail]
11