MBA Admissions- What Are The Institutes Looking For- HR Specialisation

Hello people,

I'm scheduled for an interview for an MBA program in HR. I was wondering, what does the panel look for? What does it take for someone to be in HR?

I have looked for this information elsewhere in this forum and have not come up with any results! So, my apologies if this question has been asked and answered!

I'm not sure what the panel would be looking for, but I would just like to share some experience and opinion on what it takes to be an HR person. Expectations vary, i.e., from the Management and the Staff.

Staff

I think the most important thing is that one has to be genuinely interested in people. There's no point in being in HR but feeling uncomfortable around people.

The staff of the organization is our customer. Hence, we should always try to assist them within the boundary of the set policies and guidelines. Listen to them. An MD once mentioned, to be with the people, put your ears to the ground. By doing so, you will get to know some underlying issues among the workforce.

Management

Besides the operational works, an HR person is expected to be a strategic partner to the business. We're expected to be able to advise and support the business objectives and direction. HR should be involved in decision-making. However, please bear in mind, in some organizations, HR is not involved in major business decisions either by default or due to a lack of credibility.

It has been deliberated over and over again on how HR can be a strategic partner. In recent years, HR's role has shifted from the traditional people maintenance, i.e., recruitment, remuneration, employee relations, etc., to a more strategic role. We're now expected to know the business value chain, external economic environments, identify potential issues from the business/industry change, and advise the management.

I hope this helps.

Regards.

Thank you, Eliza.

What would a business school be looking for in a potential candidate for an HR course? How would they evaluate such a student? My admission process comprises of a Written Ability Test, a Group Discussion, and a Personal Interview. As HR professionals, what would you be looking for in a candidate through this process?

Rule 1 - Be YOURSELF !!
Rule 2 - Be YOURSELF !!

Also, since the focus is HR.... Be people-sensitive. The personal interview should be used to project your people skills. How well you UNDERSTAND people... How well you can handle them... Understanding of the human psyche is important... try to display that you have some understanding... read some self-development books if you have time, and you might be able to catch up on a few concepts about how people think.

I cannot talk from experience, but I guess... when an interviewer is selecting for an HR course... he will definitely be interested in your people knowledge and people skills.

Hello,

Along with what has been said until now, I guess as a student, they will check for your focus in your area of interest. They'll check your knowledge, and along with that, they'll also see how you keep yourself updated. Some questions asked in such interviews are:

1) Why do you wish to take up HR?
2) What, according to you, are the functions of an HR professional?
3) What areas in HR interest you the most?

Apart from these, they might check your general knowledge, which will be useful in both group discussions and personal interviews.

As a student joining a course in HR, they will assess your knowledge, attitude, and skills like initiative, good communication skills, perseverance, and ability to learn.

Try to read a book on the basics of HRM and Organizational Behavior. That will provide you with a lot of information.

All the best.

Some more inputs -

1. Please keep your answers simple and to the point. Jargon is a big no even if you know a lot about HR.
2. If you convey to the panel that you are a people person, half the battle is won.
3. Your exposure to IT and other industries and where the HR industry is heading and why.
4. Confidence (even if some statistical figures are wrong, don't worry), interpersonal skills (in a GD), and finally attitude.

All the best :)

Since I'm working in an HR department right now, I would say managing people and getting the best out of them is crucial. This observation stems from personal experience. However, I am unsure how to demonstrate this quality in an interview. My tip would be to interact with people and maintain a friendly demeanor by smiling at everyone. I apologize if this sounds simplistic, but I believe it has been effective for me. Feel free to share how it goes. Best of luck, and remember to smile regardless! 😛

To be successful in HR, you need to understand the basics of business and human behavior. The role of HR in business is indispensable, whether debatable or not. The fact is, if HR has its basics firmly integrated into the company, management would find it convenient to communicate their thoughts and vision to employees through HR.

To navigate the seas of HR effectively, you need to:
1) Understand human behavior
2) Understand the management structure, policies, and decisions
3) Understand motivation and basic human psychology
4) Act as a bridge between the owners/top management and all employees (everyone except the top management) on all fronts.

Simply put, if the top management makes a mistake on any issue, it is HR's job to rectify it. If the top management has a vision, it is through HR that the vision is defined into individual roles and leads to success.

I hope this information proves helpful. Best wishes.