CoVER FEatURE
Growing Strategic
HR Business Partners
Internally
The HR Business Partner role combines
business acumen with a solid knowledge
of HR theory and practice, creating a
challenging role to fill.
The good news is that many of the
potential candidates can be found
within your very own organization.
By mARy eLLen seLBy
The ROle Of huMan Resources Business Partners or
HR Generalists can be some of the most challenging HR
roles to fill in any organization. Even experienced HR leaders, who are adept at helping business leaders find the right
candidates for their strategic business needs, are often at a
loss as to where to source top-tier HR Business Partners.
The Selection Process
The first consideration in selecting strategic HR Business
Partners is whether to seek experienced candidates from
outside the company or to identify internal candidates.
Given that HR Business Partners need a deep understanding of the business, internal candidates are often a desirable
option. Of course, it is easier to find an ideal HR Business
Partner internally if the business is already committed to
developing internal candidates for strategic business roles.
The decision to groom internal candidates introduces
an additional consideration: whether the ideal candidate
should have operational HR experience or experience
in an area outside HR. Each type of candidate builds on
advantages. Individuals who already excel in one or more
operational areas in HR such as recruiting, training, or
compensation can make very strong Business Partners.
12 O www.hria.ca
http://www.hria.ca
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of HUMAN Capital - Winter 2014