Professional Knowledge and Abilities, Essay Example

As the field of Human Resources has been greatly expanded, and also re-invented, over the last few decades, I find myself increasingly drawn to the opportunities inherent within it, both in regard to establishing and furthering my career, and in engaging in so challenging a profession. Quite simply, the “personnel” department of generations past has given way to the recognition within the worlds of business that people define the success of any enterprise, and that a greater focus on them translates to a better approach to business. It is to this practical and humane foundation of commerce that I most wish to devote my learning and abilities.

While, as noted, businesses everywhere now boast complex and highly interactive Human Resources departments, I believe that an initial focus on a business dedicated solely to the field itself can most effectively enhance my knowledge.   To that end, my interest is centered upon the International Personnel Management Association for Human Resources (IPMA-HR).   This is an organization, and a resource unto itself, with a history dating back to 1906. The pedigree is, moreover, especially impressive; in those formative years, President Roosevelt addressed the original organization in order to emphasize his commitment to improving administration in all arenas of public service.  Over the years, the IPMA-HR expanded from its Washington, D.C., base to chapters reaching across the United States, and eventually the world. As the operations grew, so too did the agenda and capabilities of the organization, and today the IPMA-HR offers guidance and assistance in virtually everything touching the field of employee care and relations. To note only a few of its efforts, the IPMA-HR awards fellowships and grants, posts job listings within the field, hosts a wide range of discussion groups accessible through the Internet, and can arrange for speakers to address topics ranging from sexual harassment issues to promoting wellness within the workplace (IPMA-HR).

Of most interest to me are the opportunities within the IPMA-HR to both gain a specific education in the field, as well as various levels of certification. Online training and seminars are available for both individual aspiring to rise within the Human Resources field, and for those already in place as HR managers. The successful completion of such courses entitles the individual to be certified as either a fully accredited professional or specialist within the organization, and this is as high a level of prestige and achievement as the field possesses.

I choose to focus on the IPMA-HR primarily because it appears to be the foremost organization in HR, and that with the highest professional standing. This advantage in turn  feeds into what I perceive to be its other great strength, that of a commitment to remaining current in an arena where change is a constant.   My education, as well as my inclinations, go to the many facets involved in truly effective HR management, as I believe the field is absolutely crucial to the success of any business. I understand the importance and challenges of addressing the needs of employees in today’s world, even as these needs must be attended to with the goals of the business in mind.   Nonetheless, so important and inherently complicated a task requires connections to the best resources available, as well as those that reflect the latest evolutions within HR. As is widely acknowledged,  today’s world demands an HR ethic in pace with, and relevant to, global and multicultural work contexts (Sims, 2007,  p. 523). With HR, education and the acquiring of abilities can never be completed objectives, for HR exists to reflect all the changing ways in which people view their own worth. Ultimately, I can isolate no better means of improving my knowledge in the field, developing and employing my abilities, and remaining in step with HR changes, than through working with the IPMA-HR.

References

International Personnel Management Association for Human Resources. (2011.) 1906-1937. Retrieved from http://www.ipma-hr.org/about-us/history/1906-1937

Sims, R. R. (2007.)  Human Resource Management: Contemporary issues, Challenges, and Opportunities.  Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.