Bio:
Yasser has been a practicing HR management professional, currently working with a well-known organization in Kuwait since the last 2 years. Though an Egyptian by nationality, he has spent his entire life in Kuwait. During his earlier career, after a short stint in administration, he was drawn towards the field of HR. He decided to further develop his skills in the same and enrolled for a specialized course with he Society of Human Resources Management. He hasn't looked back since then, and currently has 18 years of experience in the field of HR under his belt. He is currently pursuing MBA, with specialization in organizational behavior.
Questions:
1. How do you like living and working in Kuwait?
I was born in Kuwait and have been a resident of this country for my whole life. I have thus spent my entire career in Kuwait as a practicing HR professional. I personally feel that Kuwait holds great potential, among the regions in the Middle East for HR professionals, because of the sheer number of international firms that have set up base here.
2. What is your average day at work like?
I work with a well known construction company. On an average I work 6 days a week, 8 hours per day so you could say that my professional demands are somewhat hectic. This schedule is also comparatively more demanding than most other companies in the same industry, which is 5 days per week.
3. What is your biggest professional challenge?
My key objectives as a HR professional are two-fold, thus these become more or less my biggest professional challenges. Firstly, it is to ensure streamlined execution of HR policies throughout my organization. Especially since the last recessionary slump, our main challenge is to hire the best talent, and make sure we stick to the department budget that the department managing head has allocated for a particular position. So sometimes I also have to advise department heads on how some candidates could be an investment. Secondly it is managing career progression and succession planning of employees in my organization.
4. What is the most important thing you look for in new hires?
One of the key factors that I look out for in new hires is to be a quick learner. The desire for self improvement is important. Also depending on the position I am hiring for I also look out for various behavioral competency matches.
5. What is the biggest challenge you face in hiring talent?
My biggest challenge is to find the best talent and enroll them successfully into our corporate culture. Also to keep them motivated, thus managing their career paths, and at the same time getting the best out of them which can benefit the organization to a maximum.
6. What is your favorite part of your role?
It would be managing the learning and development function of my job. This includes managing the talent pool, succession planning and career path management of employees.
7. What has been the highlight of your career in HR?
The highlight of my career has to be my re-engineering efforts for my previous organization, for which I structured the entire HR department, demarcating its functions, procedures and processes.
8. What do you read to keep abreast of industry developments?
I keep myself updated with the latest news and trends in the HR industry in my region. The best resources can be found online on specialized HR forums and blogs.
9. What is your advice to someone looking to enter the field of HR?
Flexibility is a virtue I admire. To be able to constantly evolve, learn and keep oneself updated with the latest in the field of HR. To be on the look out for the next best ideology, philosophy in the field of HR.
10. How do you see the Middle East evolve as a place to practice HR?
I feel that organizations in the Middle East still have to evolve and understand the importance of having a good HR department, they also have to be more aware of HR best practices used internationally.
11. If you could wave your magic stick and make a significant development in one specific area of HR practices worldwide, where would that fall?
It would be to improve awareness towards EQ (Emotional Quotient) among organization.
12. Anything else you'd like to share with the community of Bayt.com Employers?
Thanks you very much for your great efforts! I would like to see more of Bayt.com sponsored events in this region since I believe, that as the thought-leaders in this region, a Bayt.com sponsored event could be an ideal platform to hear out from the HR community.
