HR Specialist
Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this HR Specialist hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.
HOW TO HIRE A HR Specialist
What does a HR Specialist do?
HR Specialists’ give your business direct communication to internal and external stakeholders to assist with all HR related activities such as onboarding, recruitment, contracts, staff exiting and any work related issues.
HR Specialists manage high volume workloads and handle sensitive information daily while providing a positive attitude and paying high attention to detail.
Day to day tasks of a HR Specialist
- Collaborate and support the HR team in delivery of HR projects and strategy
- Manage large amounts of internal and external enquiries
- Lead all HR related task i.e. recruitment, onboarding & training
- Ensure staffing contracts are completed to a high standard.
- Resolve work related issues coming up with solutions
HR Specialist definition
HR Specialists' primary responsibility is to provide a high standard of service to all internal and external stakeholders within the business. They must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and keep confidentiality as priority.
HIRING PROCESS
HR Specialist Hiring Process
Build the ideal candidate profile
Skills needed for a HR Specialist
A HR Specialist must be focussed and empathetic. Each day can be different, and work volumes can change so the HR Specialist must be able to work under pressure and in a fast paced environment, providing a high standard of communication and care each day.
- Attention to Detail
- Organized
- Problem Solver
- Confidentiality
- Positive Attitude
Pro Tip
For HR Specialist roles, you’re likely to receive a medium number of applications than you would for senior positioned roles. Ensure you provide details about what it’s like to work for your company, what skill set is required and your company’s values and beliefs.
WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON SKILLS
How to write a HR Specialist job description
Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position. Here’s what to include in your HR Specialist job description:
Job Title: What position are you hiring for?
Summary: What makes your company unique? What would it be like to work for you?
Responsibilities: An overview of the role’s day-to-day activities, and how the position contributes to the organization
Requirements: Skills a candidate must have to perform the job successfully
Benefits: Details of compensation, benefits, and any perks on offer
Pro Tip
In building your candidate profile, remember you’ve already identified what skills are needed to succeed in the role. Here’s where to list your “must-have” skills and maybe a couple of “nice-to-have” skills. For example, a HR Specialist must empathize with each staff member/ candidate they communicate with and have some exposure to HR procedures.
SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sample skill tests for a HR Specialist
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Question 1
Attention to Detail
Question Type: Audio
Please listen to the below call and summarize the key pieces of information.
Question 2
Care
Question Type: Audio
You have received a call from an internal member of staff who has advised there is information wrong on their contract.
They seem frustrated as they have been on hold for some time.
To relieve this staff member of their frustration/ stress, what actions & tone would you use?
Question 3
Problem Solving
Question Type: Text
Your work volumes have risen due to a larger number of recruitment within the business. You are worried you will not get through all the tasks you have to complete.
Please tell us how you would handle this situation.
INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS
How to interview a HR Specialist
Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The interview should focus on any skills that require development that were highlighted from the skills assessment.
Now you know that candidates can do the job, the interview becomes more of a relationship building exercise where you can get to know the candidate on a more personal level, understand their motivations, and how they would fit in with the team.
Making An Offer
How much does it cost to hire a HR Specialist?
The US average for a HR Specialist is $73,311 according to Builtin.com while the reported average salary on Glassdoor amounts to $57,404. The lowest paid ten percent is paid up to $38,000.
HR Specialist Salary United States
HR Specialist salaries in the United States range from $38,000 – $87,000 (USD). $87,000 salaries in the U.S vary a lot depending on the industry and the nature of the business as well as the location.
Source: Glassdoor
HR Specialist Salary United Kingdom
HR Specialist salaries in the United Kingdom range from £30,000 – £58,000 (GBP). HR Specialist salaries in the UK vary largely based on location and depend on the type of HR business & location.
Source: Glassdoor
HR Specialist Salary Australia
HR Specialist salaries in Australia range from $63,000 – $140,000 (AUD). HR Specialist salaries usually depend on the type of business and the nature of the industry, location, and commission structure (if applicable).
Source: Glassdoor
