Let's not forget that we do have a lot of fun in HR

For another side of HR take a look at this clip I was asked to do for a showing on YouTube. This bunch of very bright people also had a real feel for recent graduates in the job hunt.

Here is the URL: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3716546/the_crucial_man_landing_a_job/

Is the HR Function Becoming a Commodity?

What is a commodity? The opposite of a brand. Some would say computer chips are a commoditized product. Intel wisely fought the concept with its clever saying, "Intel inside." Everyone would agree farm products are considered commodities. I don't know what farm is responsible, for example, for the string beans I bought yesterday and did not give a thought to comparing string beans from different farms before making my purchase.

Recently I have seen is several instances that some working folks consider HR a commodity (think one size fits all). That perception presents a lot of risk.

A recruiter told an HR professional the other day, "You have all the experience but it is not as recent as the client expects, when they are paying us to fill the position. There are a lot of people just like you out there and the client could get them without our help."

To me one of the exciting things about the world of work is that every organization is truly unique since organizations cannot yet clone people. HR is uniquely positioned to maximize the effectiveness of that competitive advantage. If the unique aspects of human capital are ignored, organizations will do so at their own risk.