The 50 most influential people in HR

From a professor of organisational behaviour to senior vice presidents of human resources at major companies, HR magazine has put together a list of the most influential people in the human resources industry. With detailed profiles available of each person on the list via an interactive photo board, the article shows the wide range of knowledge and experience behind the human resources sector. Some people have been working in high profile areas such as Wendy Cartwright, director of human resources at the Olympic Delivery Project. Others are responsible for global workforces such as Sara Edwards, vice president for human resources at Orient Express with staff over 23 countries. The chosen professionals were those who, amongst other factors, include those that ‘challenge conventional thinking in HR, who play an ambassadorial role and who add real value to the business’. For more details and profiles of HR Magazine’s Top 50 read the full article at http://www.hrmostinfluential.co.uk/

Interviews – be prepared for the strange and weird

Interview questions may not just be about qualifications or experience. A recent survey, discussed in a Guardian article, found that that 'two out of five candidates had been asked a weird question in their interview'. These strange questions can be designed to find out more about your personality and your ability to cope with whatever is thrown at you. Are you prepared if the person at the other side of the desk asks you how you might fit an elephant in a fridge? The article looks at what you might reveal about yourself as you try to come up with an answer. Try ‘If you were a Microsoft Office programme which would you be?’ Your answer and your reasoning behind it might show “more than you think about you, your personality and how you like to work.” For more weird questions and how to answer them see the full article at http://careers.guardian.co.uk/weird-interview-questions

Report on latest UK pay increases

Pay negotiations are often a key concern for HR managers – so what does the national picture look like? Despite the recession, the latest report from Income Data Services (IDS) shows the median pay rise in the U.K. holding at 2.5%. The figures look at pay settlements over the last three months until the end of August and cover 5 million employees. The results show a very mixed picture, described as a ‘two-speed’ economy. The analysis, on the People Management website, shows on one hand that one in ten settlements resulted in a pay freeze, notably in the public, not-for profit and construction sector. More buoyant sectors with pay increases up to 4% include the engineering, energy, pharmaceutical and rail transport sectors. Additionally, such changes as "falling inflation meant the gap between pay awards and the rising cost of living was narrowing.” For more analysis read the full article at http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2012/09/median-pay-rise-remains-at-2-5-per-cent-in-uk.htm