Competencies Expected of Today’s HR Professionals Working in Poland – Evolution or Revolution?

Introduction: As demand for a professional approach to human resources in organizations has risen, requirements for specialists in this area have grown systematically. Due to multidimensional needs of people at work, as well as the rapid pace of changes in the environment, each “Era” (starting from the industrial revolution to the present day) affects the competency needs of individuals responsible for co-creating the working environment. Research Aim: The aim of the study was to identify key competencies of HR specialists working in Poland in the context of selected classic models outlined over the last several decades by HR practitioners and theoreticians, in terms of employers’ expectations. Method: A mixed study design (qualitative and quantitative) has been applied to the analysis of job offers addressed to HR specialists via the LinkedIn platform. Results: Conducted analyses showed that competencies prevailing in job offers for HR specialists in Poland were personal, such as communication skills, teamwork, diligence/conscientiousness, open-mindedness and adaptability, initiative, action-oriented mindset/self-reliance, as well as willingness to learn and develop. On the other hand, the following were listed among managerial competencies: work organization, data analysis and good judgement skills, as well as project management skills. The most frequently mentioned skills are digital competencies specific to the HR field: ERP systems, MS Office, project management, database systems, as well as tools for creating e-learning courses and supporting social media. Conclusions: Conducted analyses and comparison of study results obtained by representatives of other disciplines point to relative stability of the "set" of key competencies of HR professionals. The only modification consists in their position in the hierarchy of the current needs of the organisation. Therefore, in the case of HR specialists, we can speak about the process of consistent evolution of competency needs rather than about a series of revolutionary changes in overall characteristics of the profession.