COMPETENCIES OF HR PROFESSIONALS: A STUDY ON THE HR COMPETENCIES OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS1

Year 2015, , 47 - 60, 30.10.2015

Serkan Özdemir Ayten Akatay , Umut Eroğlu

https://doi.org/10.15637/jlecon.104

Abstract

The changes in HR operations changed the expectations from an HR professionals in the last
decades. Today businesses need HR managers and professionals who can contribute strategically to
the organization. As a result of these developments competencies are becoming more important in the
selection process of new employees. The purpose of this research is to examine existing literature
concerning HR competencies and to shed light on what competencies university students on the way to
becoming HR professionals have. Also analyzing the perceptions of university students regarding HR
competencies and the contribution of education. Additionally the relationship between competency
level and gpa is tested. With this goal in mind a survey is conducted on 301 students of Çanakkale
Onsekiz Mart University, Biga Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and the gathered
data is analyzed. Via analysis 8 dimensions of competencies (credible activist, strategic manager,
change manager, culture and structure architect, business knowledge, innovator, HRM specialist,
manager and leader) is found. Also the data showed statistically significant differences between
education contribution and competencies. No relationship between competencies and gpa is found

Keywords

Competency, HR competencies, human resources management

COMPETENCIES OF HR PROFESSIONALS: A STUDY ON THE HR COMPETENCIES OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS1

Abstract

The changes in HR operations changed the expectations from an HR professionals in the last
decades. Today businesses need HR managers and professionals who can contribute strategically to
the organization. As a result of these developments competencies are becoming more important in the
selection process of new employees. The purpose of this research is to examine existing literature
concerning HR competencies and to shed light on what competencies university students on the way to
becoming HR professionals have. Also analyzing the perceptions of university students regarding HR
competencies and the contribution of education. Additionally the relationship between competency
level and gpa is tested. With this goal in mind a survey is conducted on 301 students of Çanakkale
Onsekiz Mart University, Biga Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and the gathered
data is analyzed. Via analysis 8 dimensions of competencies (credible activist, strategic manager,
change manager, culture and structure architect, business knowledge, innovator, HRM specialist,
manager and leader) is found. Also the data showed statistically significant differences between
education contribution and competencies. No relationship between competencies and gpa is found. 

Keywords

Competency, HR competencies, human resources management

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