Because of the ongoing economic recession in the country, most companies are now raising the standards in hiring their HR professionals nowadays. Stricter and more technical skills are needed to grab the job.

The current trend, analyzed by some of the top HR executives in the UK, is leaning towards where the companies will benefit more. Meaning, the HR professional who will be tapped to do the task should have more first-hand knowledge on how the job should be done.

The new HR can be best defined using the personal statement of HR expert Julie Towers, which says companies need to find prospective applicants that "are business first, HR second." Towers is the managing director of recruitment solutions of Penna, a large HR firm in the UK.

My advice to all HR applicants in the market is simple. Do not rely on what you have learned in books. Highlight all your skills and make sure that you know the company's objectives and the tricks and trade of the job.