Biography
Hatem is a HR Professional with over 8 years of regional and international experience in HR / Business Consultancy. He is currently employed as a HR Advisor for SNC-LAVALIN in their regional corporate office in KSA.
How do you like living and working in KSA?
What I like most about KSA is the great potential of the market and the various opportunities for career development and professional growth that are offered to working professionals.
What is your average day at work like?
As my role basically is to enhance HR strategies & plans and to link them to the company vision & business goals, i spend most of my working day immersed in strategic planning activities like meetings with division heads , reviewing reports & analysis , presenting HR plans, etc...
What is your biggest professional challenge?
For a long period of time, the HR function in the Middle East region was looked at mostly as only personnel and administration- mainly only with payroll, records keeping and government relations. My biggest professional challenge continues to be the challenge of positioning the HR function as a strategic business partner within the organization.
What is the most important thing you look for in new hires?
Commitment, core interpersonal skills but most importantly the ability, the willingness and the passion to learn and keep developing new skills.
What is the biggest challenge you face in hiring talent?
Mostly lack of qualified candidates within the budget
What is your favorite part of your role?
HR development: encouraging, contributing, planning and being significant in people's lives at work and the organization's development as a whole instills a feel of professional fulfillment in me.
What has been the highlight of your career in HR?
Initiating complete HR policies and practices in well known enterprises, which i believe played a big role in getting me to where I am today, an HR Advisor for a huge enterprise like SNC-LAVALIN.
What do you read to keep abreast of industry developments?
SHRM publications and education material , articles in HR websites and professional networks and HR books.
What is your advice to someone looking to enter the field of HR?
If you are people oriented, if you genuinely like supporting others and improving their lives, then HR, without a doubt, is the right field for you.
How is the Middle East evolving as a place to practice HR?
There has definitely been an evolution of Middle Eastern management practices, or a hunger to implement advanced management practices and methodologies, especially by using IT systems for example, quite effectively in both managerial and operational processes, but when it comes to HR Management, I think we still have a way to go and i personally trust the reasons below could have somehow long affected the Middle Eastern HR Evolution:
- The fact that oil is one key participant to the region's fast growth has forced enterprises to focus more on operations rather than human capital value.
- The local regulations in some of the Gulf countries have set some limitations to the workforce's expectations and ambitions. A misconception has been developing in the mind of professionals aiming to work in the region- a mere financial reward is to be reaped, but not a stable career path that is based on training, development and opportunities to grow.
-HR function was mainly considered mostly as a personnel and administration function which mainly involves in payrolls, records keeping and government relations only.
- Lack of solid HR educational programs across the region: most of the HR practitioners have developed their skills merely by experience. I strongly believe now is the right time for HR professional to position themselves as change leaders: obstacles will never fade away but the road is definitely easier now for highly motivated HR professionals to reengineer the HR function and role within their organizations, especially with the revolution of technology /social media and the existence of professional communities like SHRM and ASHRM: such powerful resources can and must be used to increase HR knowledge, professional networking and credentials .
If you could wave your magic stick and make a significant development in one specific area of HR practices worldwide, where would that fall?
Marketing & Positioning of HR as a vital function for organizations
Anything else you'd like to share with the community of Bayt.com Employers?
Thank You Bayt for giving us, HR professionals in the Middle East, the opportunity to share our concerns and ideas and exchange our knowledge and experiences.
