The Role of Human Resources in Europe

Many companies and businesses in Europe have a human resources department, in order to help employees navigate the many challenges that can arise in a professional environment, help recruit and train new employees, and also ensure the employee relations are productive an in line with the goals of the company.

Depending on your preference, you might want to consider specializing in a specific area when applying for jobs in human resources, as there can be many differences between the daily tasks assigned to the different roles. Whether you are looking at Human Resources Courses in the Netherlands, or considering a full education in HR, this field is increasingly important and offers many interesting paths.

So let us take a closer look at the most common roles in human resources departments across European businesses.

Recruitment and Development

When applying for a new job, it is common for the HR professionals to be the first face that a new recruit sees. In this role, HR is responsible for identifying, acquiring and often interviewing potential new candidates, to ensure that they align with the company goals and values, as well as possess the necessary competencies to get the job done.

If you like interacting with people on a daily basis, but also wish to help situate, onboard, train and contribute to the development of new employees, then this type of role might be suited for you.

Employee Relations and Well-being

Another increasingly important role in human resources, has to do with maintaining positive employee relations, and ensuring the well-being of each individual person working at the company. In this role, HR professionals often help address workplace conflicts, where they focus on open communication, and help implement initiatives that drive engagement and a healthy company culture.

If you are concerned with mental health, work-life balance, and creating a supportive workplace environment, then this role might be well suited for you. We expect this role to be increasing in demand over the next decade as well.

Strategic Human Resource Management

The role of strategically managing employees can be seen as a relatively new additions to the ever growing list of responsibilities for HR professionals. This evolving role serves as a springboard for increased responsibility and career advancement, particularly in Europe. Many HR professionals in the region have pursued specialized courses to better assist directors and managers in effectively aligning employees with current business objectives.

If you would like to try your hand at workforce planning, succession planning, and implementing performance management systems to optimize employee contributions, then this role might be interesting for you.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

In our modern day and age, it is increasingly important for companies to be diverse and inclusive to all cultures, personalities and more. And in many ways, Europe is leading the  development on this front, setting a positive example for the rest of the world.

In this role you will be identifying any potential biases that the hiring process might be based off, ensure inclusive workplace policies, and overall create a positive working environment that ensures equal opportunities for every employee. If you would like to ensure a fair and balanced workplace, then this role might be interesting for you.