Compensation Fundamentals: Job Questionnaire Report

General summary

There are various responsibilities attached to this job and include presenting technical results of studies, tasks, or projects. Researching wage areas, companies, and contact information in the pre-data collection period. Helping in customer care services by proposing solutions to tackle problems as well as taking responsibility for individual work quality and strive to produce satisfactory results. I strive to offer constructive feedback to colleagues and keep everyone informed of the progress. I offer recommendations and pivotal guidance concerning wage and salary programs.

Principal duties and responsibilities

Data collection to private industries consumes 75% of the day’s working period. Data collection entails two main objectives that have to be attained. The first objective seeks to achieve technical competency in principle roles including

1. Researching HR compensation policies and regulations,
2. Gathering, reviewing, and analyzing survey information,
3. Provide recommendations about HR compensation policies and regulations, and
4. Issue recommendations and guidance concerning wage and salary programs.

Technical competence is a critical factor to ensure effective presentation of technical results of studies or projects (Hung-Yue 7). Even though I have had several impediments dealing with co-workers’ ideas and adapting to the organizational culture, I have always been result-oriented and effective. In December 2015, I attended a two weeks training that has highly improved my performance. Since then, I have been able to deliver timely and accurate results of the data that I gather. Since data collection is an activity that calls for much resilience, I have always worked diligently to improve my time management skills. During data collection, I acknowledge cross-organizational opportunities to improve effectiveness by applying necessary knowledge to assignments.

The second objective that guides my work in data collection is the contribution to the company’s mission. I strongly embrace teamwork to organizational and strategic developments. In all the activities that I undertake during data collection, I manifest a great understanding of the organizational mission as well as ensuring that my work contributes to mission achievement. This milestone is achieved by achieving the following performance objectives:

1. Plans and organizes work inaccessible and orderly way,
2. I acknowledge the responsibility for individual assignment and I strive to ensure that results surpass the expectations,
3. Supports and facilitate strategic plans of the company when conducting data collection.

Good planning helps to accomplish assignments within the stipulated timeframe and budget.

During the December 2015 training, I learned and improved data collection skills, interpersonal skills, and persuasive communication skills to get appointments and data from uncooperative people. Good interpersonal skills have also been essential in achieving a consistent and detailed response from the assigned companies. Furthermore, I have effective knowledge of pay programs and operational laws, policies, and pay program tools and skills.

These competencies are vital in ensuring that company packages are accomplished with few errors and forwarded for review on time. Since representing a company requires professional relationships, I have acquired effective communication and negotiating skills during the data collection exercise. Data collection is a vital exercise that assists in identifying and developing transparent and beneficial working relationships with clients.

Administration work takes 20% of the day’s work. Administration work involves calling for appointments to the point of contact for a particular company to collect data. Performing administrative duties associated with the pre-survey process is a delicate role that requires patience. This move is the critical step since it gives the target participants the first impression that hugely determines how they respond.

This role also involves interviewing private industry firms to gather complete and precise information about a particular job. Administrative work also entails conducting a critical analysis of the data gathered to measure internal consistency, reliability, and accuracy. After data collection and analysis, I perform other administrative functions linked to the post-survey process. This role requires customer care and teamwork skills to ensure effective interactions with internal and external customers.

While executing administrative work, I reckon the significance of delivering top quality and innovative service to clients. I have developed a high understanding of client needs and I always prioritize my clients. While handling administrative work, collaborating with colleagues is very necessary to alleviate average performances. On various occasions, I help colleagues with responding to customers’ issues and making follow up to ensure they are satisfied. On critical issues, I involve the higher-level officials in problem-solving. Further, I work collaboratively in teams to identify and qualify customer needs and respond adequately and timely.

The remaining 5% I spent on training to improve my overall skills and remain relevant in a highly evolving workforce. My training is based on the skills that are relevant and needed to meet the company’s objectives. Organizational training is an essential tool to promote a company’s strategic agenda and to attain tactical training requirements common across projects and teams (Stahl and Björkman 65).

For instance, I completed the classification class within the timeframe and attained an excellent score on the final assessment. I have strived to relate what I learned in this course to my line of duty and I have highly improved my technical skills because I achieve major roles with ease. Besides, I managed to accomplish my Residential Care Facility Administrators and Dental Hygiene continuing education. During this training, I developed a close relationship with my project officer, and we often meet to evaluate my goals and performance progress.

Percentage of time used

I spent 75% of my time at work conducting data gathering to private industries. This task takes most of the time because it entails on-site activities such as interviews that need much time to ensure accuracy. Administrative work takes 20% of the time. Administrative work relatively requires minimal time because it entails pre-and post-data processes that are automatized. Besides, most of the administrative work relies on the fieldwork obtained within the 75% of work time. I use the remaining 5% for training/school. Training is based on advancing my job skills and abilities.

Decision-making

In most cases, decision-making is made collaboratively across departments or from the executive management. I collaborate with the authority in the decision-making process. I report to my project officers and my supervisor about the progress of any commitment placed on the team or me. However, various decisions do not necessarily involve authority. These decisions include calling for appointments to the point of contact for a particular company to gather data and helping colleagues with responding to customer concerns. I provide on-the-job training to new employees by established procedures and practices.

I process documents, data, and other related materials to create awareness to the respective departments. I research the relevant information needed for reviewing certain policies to ensure adherence to the legislative framework.

I offer various functional advisory to colleagues as well as the project director. For instance, I offer advice about developing an understanding of the industry trends and challenges. I evaluate the recommendations raised by the management and create awareness among colleagues. I offer the management ideas and suggestions that arise from the daily business. I encourage the development of innovative ideas for continued growth. I evaluate the organization’s progress and challenge the management to seek alternatives for improving performance.

I am a reliable team player who contributes complementary skills and adds ideas as well as provides meaningful feedback. I embrace open communication and criticism from my project officers. This aspect helps to fulfill any commitment placed on my assignment and the team. I collaborate with colleagues and work in partnerships to accomplish tasks. I have much influence both in the data collection and in administrative work. I propose solutions to solve problems as well as generate innovative ideas to help my colleagues. I assist fellow data collectors during on-site activities and in the data analysis. Ideally, I strive to ensure that colleagues, administrators, and the public are well informed about employment, private records, and essential legal standards.

Ingenuity

Data collection is a major area that needs the quality of being inventive or resourceful. I have developed vital skills in influencing how I think, work, find solutions to challenges, and build relationships. For instance, the pre-data collection is a very critical moment that requires persuasive communication skills to get appointments and data from uncooperative but significant sources. Achieving collaboration is in most cases complex thus one has to be creative enough to get people to accept to be surveyed (Stahl and Björkman 49). Besides, during the surveys, some of the participants are not patient enough. Thus, it needs inventiveness to ensure that contact is maintained throughout the survey period. Data analysis also requires a lot of creativity to ensure that report is issued within the planned timeline and budget.

Another key area that commands a lot of creativity is developing knowledge of pay programs and necessary laws. This move is necessary to ensure that company packages are accomplished with minimal mistakes and forwarded for evaluation on time. During my first year, I experienced various challenges such as dealing with company officials because of not being creative enough to offer individual responses but relied on co-worker ideas.

Currently, I have been keen to ensure creative conversations with company officials, and I manage to provide appropriate feedback. I am very resilient and flexible enough to tackle problems as they arise. Even though I believe in teamwork, I do not passively accept the decisions of others, but rather I attempt to figure things out, decline unjustified conclusions, and acknowledge the genuine contributions. As a critical thinker, I reckon that significant change can only be achieved through patience.

Communications

Communication is an essential tool that facilitates the accomplishment of various duties both inside and outside the company (Hung-Yue 5). Communication skills are also essential for data collection, particularly in identifying and planning for appointments with target people or organizations. The rate of communication is high during the pre-data collection activities, during on-site activities, and during data analysis.

About 50% of the communication is covered on activities related to data collection. Successful communication helps in building practical solutions to address concerns. For instance, I have developed effective communication during my administrative roles such as customer care and teamwork. I use my communication skills to build strong and mutually supportive team relationships. I communicate set goals and cooperate with colleagues to meet deadlines while ensuring compliance with established policies and regulations.

Internal communications involve co-workers, supervisors, and clients. Internal communication takes about 45% of the total communication time. The purpose of internal communication is to encourage a swift flow of information and sharing of ideas. This objective is achieved through weekly meetings, educational forums, and benchmarking. Communication is essential in ensuring respectable and transparent working relationships with colleagues, customers, and supervisors. Effective communication enables morale-building, productivity, and a setting where diverse ideas and practices are nurtured.

Good and timely communication offers constructive feedback to co-workers and clients. Besides, communication facilitates timely responding to customer concerns (Haines and Lafleur 530). Appropriate communication assists to achieve milestones within the set time and budget and keep clients, co-workers, and project supervisors informed of the progress.

The remaining 5% of the communication I use during training and organizational learning. The purpose of training is to improve skills to perform my tasks more effectively by engaging others to identify and eliminate barriers to collaboration. Due to professional training, I communicate tactfully and effectively, either orally or in writing. Consequently, without supervisor intervention, I utilize reference sources, sound judgment, and team collaboration to resolve problems within a complex systems environment.

Job specifications

Minimum education

An applicant at GS-07, GS-09, or GS-11 grade level can secure this position. If an applicant is recruited at the lower grade, he or she may be promoted to the upper-grade level in the period specified by regulations. Promotion is conditional upon satisfactory attainment of the needed training and regulatory requirements. However, even with the qualifications or the ability to articulate duties, promotion is not guaranteed or implied. Interested applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in-grade, time-after-competitive appointment, and any other regulatory requirements associated with this position.

If substituting education for experience at the GS-07 level, an applicant must possess one full year of graduate education or superior academic achievement, particularly a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Alternatively, if substituting education for experience at the GS-09 level, an applicant must possess a Masters or equivalent degree, or two full years of consistent higher graduate education leading to the specified degree. Similarly, if an applicant seeks to substitute education for experience at the GS-11 level, one must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of consistent tertiary graduate education leading to the specified degree.

If an applicant seeks to combine education and experience, the following specifications should be met. Accomplished tertiary education and experience may be combined to meet total qualification requirements. The combination is computed by establishing the applicant’s total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required for the grade level, then determining the applicant’s education as a percentage of the education required for the grade level. The two percentages are then combined and they must add to 100 percent to qualify the applicant for the specified level.

Besides, if an applicant seeks to substitute education for the experience or combine education and experience, transcripts must be issued. Other basic requirements indicate that any applicant must be a U.S citizen, and if using education accomplished in foreign institutions to match the requirements, one must prove that the credentials have been examined by an independent organization with the knowledge to interpret foreign education. These qualifications must also be confirmed as equivalent to that achieved in a licensed U.S education program.

However, as a human resource specialist in data collection, one has to undertake the following roles.

• Helping in undertaking data collection tasks on assigned wage change using identified operating procedures.
• Performing administrative functions linked to pre and post-survey processes.
• Interviewing selected companies to obtain comprehensive and precise information about a certain job
• Identifies and contacts potential research subjects based on study goals and as specified for the particular position
• Performing critical analysis of the information issued to establish internal consistency and accuracy.

Skills, knowledge, and abilities required

Skills are needed to accomplish specific, technical roles with a need to update often in a bid to match the evolving job specifications (Entrekin and Scott-Ladd 27). The specific skills needed to meet the functions of the job entail:

• Skills for interviewing and data collection
• Preparing and maintaining precise records
• Planning and spearheading projects
• Skills to analyze, verify, edit and store research data
• Skill to apply computer spreadsheet and database applications in the compilation of research data

Knowledge is essential to perform basic calculations to determine ratios, percentages, read technical data, compile different information, and solve technical problems (Conley and Zheng 338). Specific knowledge needed to accomplish the functions of the role includes:

• Potential to ensure quality, safety, and infection control standards
• Knowledge of organizing and planning techniques
• Knowledge of human resources principles and regulations as well as skill in undertaking wage surveys
• Effective communication, both orally and in writing

Ability is needed to perform various duties and engage diverse individuals in teamwork. HR specialist is required to manifest the following abilities:

• Ability to identify and recruit research subjects
• Ability to comprehend and apply field and laboratory research procedures
• Ability to perform under minimal supervision and ability to deal with frequent interruptions

Description of previous experience and educational qualifications

From the 14^th day of July 2014 to the present, I serve as Advanced Medical Support Assistant (GS-679-00) Primary care for 40 hours each week. The workstation is the Veterans Administration Medical Center, 150 Muir Street, Martinez, CA 94553. In my past position, I offered clerical and administrative for various clinical departments such as VA Oakland Eye Clinic. This role entails processing VA ID cards for veterans, tracking the status and progress of work, and making daily adjustments based on the defined priorities.

I also provide on-the-job training to novice employees. I offer information through telephone calls and person to the co-workers, military personnel, and the mainstream public. I work cooperatively with the coordinated care delivery model and the Patient Aligned Team (PACT). I work closely with the PACT to evaluate clinic utilization using various reports to support the needs of the clinic.

I organize and participate in team meetings to manage and strategize patient care. As a member of the PACT, I take part in decision-making, offer solutions on operational issues by sharing information and coordinating with the medical team to promote continuity of care.

I inform and create awareness to providers about shared patients as well as contact patients to coordinate follow-up care. I enter, manipulate, and retrieve data from the Vista, CPRS, and other clinical information systems as appropriate to area operation. I undertake mini-registration and chart compilation, requested forms, manually or using automated systems, for individual patient orders for blood work, X-rays, radiation therapy, respiratory or ventilated care consults, and other requests as required. I direct the patient to fill all the required forms before been seen by the practitioner. Consequently, I have developed high competence in data handling, coordination, and customer relations.

From the 15^th day of July 2013 to November 2013, I served as the Program Support Assistant (GS-0303-05) Office of the Chief Medical Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121. Serving in the capacity of Program Support Assistant, I managed and coordinated the service Provider Profiles Program, Talent Management System (TMS), process the credentialing appointments, process renewal of privileges, and offer assistance with the Residential Meal Program.

Serving as the program support for the Physicians Provider Profile Program, I was responsible for maintaining and ensuring the many physician’s provider profile charts are completed twice a year. Consistent program maintenance is done to promote accountability and completion of each provider profile.

From the 16^th day of June 1996 to the 15^th day of December 2010, I worked as Hospital Annex Supervisor for 50 hours per week. I used to manage 65 medical/dental clinic staff and training compliance for civilian employees and 80 military personnel. I successfully coordinated daily activities, training, and other affairs of a diverse clinic. I was responsible for ensuring adequate communication with all clinical staff regarding medical supplies. I spearheaded the development and implementation of major systems that involved a travel expense management system, time reporting and leave monitoring system. On decision-making, I participated in the evaluation of international salary benchmark data to build and implement a two-tiered salary structure and allowance portfolio for the organization.

I provided patient education to Sailors and Marines and Air Force. I managed to lead the transformative quality, safety, and efficiency improvement plan of the hospital annex. I also served as the project manager for complex Medical/Dental facility influencing patient care delivery systems. I used to assess and evaluate program needs and justify budget/time allocation for each. My potential to coordinate activities and prioritize to meet timelines remains evident based on the milestones I attained as Hospital Annex Supervisor. I assessed and analyzed performance by administering mid-year and annual reviews both oral and written. I collected data from different sources and organized the schedule in a common format document.

I served as an Administrative Officer from February 2008 to December 2008 for 80 hours per week. I was attached to the Second Battalion, 7^th Marines regimen as an Administrator. Under this capacity, I served as the Infection Control Manager, Patient Liaison, Blood Bank Coordinator, and a Dental practitioner for the U.S Armed forces and Afghan citizens. My clinical prowess was instrumental in the successful medical and dental service to the Battalion. I occupied the position of Chief leading petty Officer following the departure of the Senior Medical Officer. I ensured order, discipline, and swift flow of activities of the Battalion Aid Station. My unshaken leadership qualities and patience complimented the combat readiness of the military.

As the Assistant Blood Bank Coordinator, I collected information from the lab at the UK Role II Hospital for the daily blood reports. The reports contained information on blood products including expiry dates, patient data, and recipient of blood transfusion. I verified and forwarded all necessary data for the blood report to U.S Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. I also served as an Infection Control Manager whereby I ensured that the base had sufficient sterile instruments for medical emergencies. I trained five junior medical assistants in Infection Control Practices. My administrative skills manifested as I identified and wrote several pages for revisions of essential guidelines and policy requirements that were missing from the Patient Tracking and Medical Casualty Evaluation Standard Operating Procedure.

Education and academic honors

I have a Master of Science in Health Care Quality Assurance from Trident University International, California. I have achieved capstone in data gathering, market research finance, budget segmentation, accreditation, and IT from the Golden Age Hospital in Mission Viejo, California. I have a Bachelor of Science in Health Arts from the University of Saint Francis Illinois. I have an Associate in Applied Science, Dental Hygiene from Coastal Carolina Community College, North Carolina.

I have a certificate in Medical Billing and Coding from Carrington College, California, and a certificate in Surgical Technology from the Naval School of Health Sciences, Virginia. Due to my effectiveness and commitment to professional development, I have achieved various academic honors and awards. In 1998, I graduated as the clinician of the year from the Naval School of Health Sciences. In 2005, I received an award as the Air and Surface Warfare Specialist. In 2006, I graduated as Magna Cum Laude from the University of Saint Francis. In 2014, I graduated as Summa Cum Laude from Trident University International.

Description of the typical background and the experiences required

Open-ended

Human resource specialists handle a variety of responsibilities. In many organizations, the human resource department has various specialists attached to particular tasks related to recruitment, training, compensation, and collection of employee-related data. The data collection specialist evaluates the needs of the organization and attempts to achieve them. S/he achieves the organization’s goals by studying and understanding the company’s plans and engaging the management in identifying their expectations. The HR data specialist processes the needed paperwork and issues guidelines in fulfilling legal requirements (Armstrong 44).

The experiences include the ability to collect and evaluate wage data within specified timelines and budgets. The officer must possess wage and salary programs knowledge. The specialist must manifest skills in accomplishing wage surveys.

Highly structured

Time-in-grade is the one-year requirement Federal employees in competitive service, General Schedule (GS) positions at GS-5 and above must serve before they are eligible for promotion to the next grade level. The HR specialist must demonstrate strong personal attributes including professionalism, approachability, and appropriate demeanor. He or she must show the ability to support the HR director and colleagues to help in their tasks. The HR specialist should provide timely responses to internal and external sources to tackle issues as well as give information for planning.

Works Cited

Armstrong, Michael. Armstrong’s Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, London: Kogan Page, 2014. Print.

Conley, Curtis, and Wei Zheng. “Factors Critical To Knowledge Management Success.” Advances in Developing Human Resources 11.3 (2009): 334-348. Print.

Entrekin, Lanny, and Brenda Scott-Ladd. Human Resource Management and Change, Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013. Print.

Haines, Victor, and Geneviève Lafleur. “Information Technology Usage and Human Resource Roles and Effectiveness.” Human Resource Management 47.3 (2008): 525-540. Print.

Hung-Yue, Suen. “The Effect of End User Computing Competence on Human Resource Job Performance: Mapping For Human Resource Roles.” African Journal of Business Management 6.28 (2012): 6-9. Print.

Stahl, Günter, and Ingmar Björkman. Handbook of Research in International Human Resource Management, Cheltenham: Elgar, 2006. Print.