The english for human resources It is a fundamental competence in these times of globalization. The ability to communicate with counterparts or staff in other latitudes is essential, as well as knowing the technicalities of the area.

English is considered a universal language thanks to the large number of speakers around the world. Any professional who wants to grow needs to have this language as a necessary tool to function easily in a work environment.

In this blogpost we address the importance of English in human resources and its applications in the area. We also show the relevance of hiring personnel who can handle the language or train those who already work for the company.

Importance of English in the area of Human Resources

The world is globalized and companies have staff who work remotely, as well as branches in different countries. The Human Resources team must be able to provide support, both to those who are on site and to other corporate bodies.

Many times the headquarters of a company is located in an English-speaking country. So the HR team has to report, converse, make presentations and reports in that language. Consequently, it requires managing a good level of specialized english.

Human Resources staff must frequently handle themselves in English, inside and outside the company.

Click to Tweet

Why hire English-trained HR staff?

In addition, usually You will need to conduct interviews in English and negotiate with suppliers training in that language. Therefore, the ability to speak that language is not optional but a requirement in large companies.

Staff trained in English for human resources allows communication between employees and the company to flow easily. Although it may be more expensive, adding bilingual professionals to your ranks is a good investment.

Those who work in HR know that it is better to hire staff with the skills required for the job. So, being bilingual, recruiters will be able to discriminate against applicants who have a better command of the language.

In summary, Hiring English-trained HR staff has multiple advantages. On the one hand, it enhances the positioning of your team, and on the other hand, it facilitates the performance of tasks, making them faster and more efficient in writing and communicating in that language.

However, if you have the right staff for the job and you don't know English in HR, you can always train them. At English2Go we have programs for Technical formation in specific areas and we can help you.

English for Human Resources: Necessary Topics and Concepts

Each profession has a number of specific terms used to refer to its elements. If you work within the human resources department, there are some topics and concepts that you must master in English.

English in human resources is a requirement to work in the area in transnational companies.

Click to Tweet

We refer to topics such as job interviews that are related to the educational levels of the applicants, and also vocabulary associated with salaries and working hours. Without neglecting what is linked to departments and jobs... in short, to the wide world of English for human resources. 

English for human resources and job interviews

Job interview

Among the key English phrases and words for human resources that you should know are those related to a job interview, whether you are an interviewer or an applicant for a position.

key questions
Meaning
Pronunciation
What can you tell me about yourself?
What can you tell me about yourself?
wʌt kæn ju tɛl mi əˈbaʊt jərˈsɛlf
Describe your greatest professional achievement
Describe your greatest professional achievement
dɪˈskraɪb jʊər ˈgreɪtəst prəˈfɛʃənəl əˈʧivmənt
Where do you see yourself in five years
Where do you see yourself in five years?
wɛr du ju si jərˈsɛlf ɪn faɪv jɪrz
What are your strengths?
What are your strengths?
wʌt ɑr jʊər strɛŋθs
What are your weaknesses?
What are your weaknesses?
wʌt ɑr jʊər ˈwiknəsəz
Why are you interested in working for this company?
Why are you interested in working for this company?
waɪ ɑr ju ˈɪntrəstəd ɪn ˈwɜrkɪŋ fɔr ðɪs ˈkʌmpəni


Pronunciation is essential to achieve English in human resources. Managing and practicing the phonetic alphabet helps your diction improve. If you need to know more about the International Phonetic Alphabet that we have told you about in this article, click here

English for Human Resources: Departments and Jobs

Companies are divided into departments that make up the organizational structure of the company. They are assigned the different jobs. That is why it is essential that you know your names in English, especially if you have contact with customers.

Consult the guide to English for human resources
Departments and jobs
Meaning
Pronunciation
Accounting Department
accounting department
əˈkaʊntɪŋ dɪˈpɑrtmənt
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
bɔrd ʌv dəˈrɛktərz  
Chairman
Chairman
ˈʧɛrmən 
CEO
Managing Director or Executive Director
si-i-oʊ 
CIO
head of systems
si-aɪ-oʊ  
CTO
chief technology officer
si-ti-oʊ 
Human Resources Department
HR department
ˈhjumən ˈrisɔrsɪz dɪˈpɑrtmənt 
Managing Director
Managing Director
ˈmænəʤɪŋ dəˈrɛktər 
Marketing Department
Marketing department
ˈmɑrkətɪŋ dɪˈpɑrtmənt
Production Department
Production departament
prəˈdʌkʃən dɪˈpɑrtmənt 
Purchasing Department
purchasing department
ˈpɜrʧəsɪŋ dɪˈpɑrtmənt 
Sales Department
sales department
seɪlz dɪˈpɑrtmənt 
shareholder
Shareholder
ˈʃɛrˌhoʊldər


By handling these terms you will communicate better with other specialists in the HR area. On the other hand, the recruitment of personnel will become much more standardized and their interviews will aim to better convey the roles that people will occupy.

Educational levels in English

This is an element of great importance within the human resources department. Knowing the educational levels will not only help you in a job interview, but also when carry out an evaluation or consider a promotion for your staff.

levels
Meaning
Pronunciation
O levels
Primary (little mentioned)
oʊ-ˈlɛvəlz
Technical school certificate
Diploma of professional studies
ˈtɛknɪkəl skul certifikeɪt
(UK) A-levels(US) High school diploma
Baccalaureate - Vocational High School
ə-ˈlɛvəlzhaɪ skul dɪˈploʊmə
Secondary school vocational diploma
Vocational Technical Baccalaureate
ˈsɛkənˌdɛri skul voʊˈkeɪʃənəl dɪˈploʊmə
(UK) A-levels in arts (US) Arts-oriented high school diploma
Bachelor of Arts, History, Social Sciences, Psychology, Art History
ə-ˈlɛvəlz ɪn ɑrtsɑrts-ˈɔriˌɛntəd haɪ skul dɪˈploʊmə 
(UK) A-levels in science(US) Science-based high school diploma
Bachelor of Physical Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering
ə-ˈlɛvəlz ɪn ˈsaɪənsˈsaɪəns-beɪst haɪ skul dɪˈploʊmə
(UK) A-levels in economics(US) Highschool diploma in economics and social subjects
Bachelor of Economics
ə-ˈlɛvəlz ɪn ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪks ˈhaɪˌskul dɪˈploʊmə ɪn ˌɛkəˈnɑmɪks ænd ˈsoʊʃəl ˈsʌbʤɪkts 
Vocational training certificate
technical degree
voʊˈkeɪʃənəl ˈtreɪnɪŋ certificate
Higher national diploma
Higher technical diploma
ˈhaɪər ˈnæʃənəl dɪˈploʊmə
Two-year University degree
General University Studies Diploma
tu-jɪr ˌjunəˈvɜrsəti dɪˈgri
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
ˈbæʧələrz dɪˈgri
Master's degree
master's degree
ˈmæstərz dɪˈgri
Teaching qualification
High school and technical school teacher
ˈtiʧɪŋ ˌkwɑləfəˈkeɪʃən
Certificates
Certificates
sərˈtɪfɪkəts


Salaries and hours in English

Finally, to complement your knowledge of English for human resources, it is important that you can recognize the different types of working hours, salaries and benefits that an employee enjoys within a finished company.

Phrases
Meaning
Pronunciation
Bonuses
Employee bonus
ˈboʊnəs 
Company Car
corporate car
ˈkʌmpəni kɑr 
Current Profit Sharing
Percentage bonus of company profits
ˈkɜrənt ˈprɑfət ˈʃɛrɪŋ
Full Time Position
full time position
fʊl-taɪm pəˈzɪʃən 
Health Insurance
Health insurance
hɛlθ ɪnˈʃʊrəns 
Holiday Bonuses
Extra holiday bonus
ˈhɑləˌdeɪ ˈboʊnəs  
HolidayPay
Vacation payment
ˈhɑləˌdeɪ peɪ 
leaves
Low / permission
liv 
Maternity leave
Leave / maternity leave
məˈtɜrnɪti liv 
Minimum Wage
minimum salary
ˈmɪnəməm weɪʤ 
Part Time Position
part time position
ˈpɑrtˈtaɪm pəˈzɪʃən 
Paternity leave
Leave / paternity leave
pəˈtɜrnɪti liv 
Promotion
Ascent
prəˈmoʊʃən 
Sales Commission
Sales commission
seɪlz kəˈmɪʃən 
shift
Turn
ʃɪft 
Sick Leave
sick leave/ leave
sɪk liv 
Team Incentive
Reward a team for achieving set goals
tim ɪnˈsɛntɪv 
Wage Or Salary
Salary
weɪʤ ɔr ˈsæləri 


All of these terms are important when hiring staff. However, they are also when a negotiation is made to retain a person who occupies a key position in the organization.

Get to know the guide to English for human resources

Specialized courses for Human Resources.

An excellent way to put all this knowledge into practice before facing the real world, is through personalized english classes with a dedicated instructor who enables you to use the terms in context while practicing their pronunciation.

It is important to keep in mind that HR personnel are part of the front of the organization and, therefore, must talk to people and companies. In order to leave the company well at all times, it is a requirement that you handle the English of the area.

Make your staff shine at corporate meetings by mastering English for Human Resources correctly.

Click to Tweet

To do this, you can train all your staff in English for human resources. English2Go, through its online platform, offers specialized English courses. In addition, we have 17 years of experience training professionals with native teachers. 

conclusion

Thanks to the contents of this guide you have a list of useful expressions and terms in English for human resources. This will make it easier for you to understand and communicate within the department.

And remember that constant practice is necessary to reach a good level in the language. With the accompaniment of English2Go You can train your staff, both in group courses and with personalized classes. We guide you so that your collaborators achieve excellence in their communication.

You may also be interested in:

English Courses for Companies

Personalized, with native teachers specialized in technical vocabulary.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Receive our content in your inbox.

>
EN