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.
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.
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.
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.
| 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.
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.
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.
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