Corporate social responsibility is a business model which is self-regulating and helps to keep an organization accountable on every front on a social level. CSR makes sure that a company is held accountable to its stakeholders, itself, as well as the public. By practicing CSR– also known as corporate citizenship– organizations are remaining conscious of the kind of impact they create in every aspect of society such as economic, environmental, and social. Engaging in CSR means that an organization is operating in ways that enhance the society as well as the environment instead of leaving negative impacts on them.
If you are interested in this field or want to study CSR, then read this article to find out more.
- Understand the broad variety
CSR is a very broad term and can therefore be referred to as an umbrella term used by organizations to describe a range of activities. In some instances, CSR can refer to the environmental footprint they leave behind or the sustainability efforts they are implementing, the investment in community projects and initiatives, employee volunteerism, as well as the management of corporate foundations. At the CSR front, you could be advising or consulting with corporations on their efforts.
Roles within CSR include –
- Sustainability
- Reporting
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Marketing, communications, or public relations
- Community investment
- Events and partnerships
- Focus on your particular skillset
Companies will seek to know what skills you can offer them and how unique it is for the benefit of the company. In CSR, the main objective is about learning how to communicate very well, research, and turn insights into compelling leads like writings, conversations, and presentations. There will always be business cases with small CSR budgets where candidates will need themselves to be resourceful.
Key skills and competencies as identified by CSR professionals
- Interpersonal
CSR professionals need to work with people across departments and are responsible for collaborating and communicating with them to do the needful work. CSR is not always an established department as such, so individuals need to rely on their relationships with others to get things done. One has to be a visible leader who has great organizational and managerial skills.
- Communication
CSR professionals need to be great communicators, both on written and verbal terms as they are solely responsible for conducting all the communication – from business case to the impact they are leaving as well as communication that needs to be tailored for the stakeholders and other audiences. In a way, they are responsible for business communications and news
- Systems thinking and connecting the dots:
CSR is a cross-sectoral work role and often needs partnerships with organizations to complete tasks. Being able to understand and see the big picture is a very big plus and individuals need to be able to explain how their organization fits into this greater cause and therefore be taken with seriousness and dignity.
- Business Acumen: CSR professionals need to have great research skills, strategic thinking, marketing abilities, etc. as one of the most common skillsets that are looked for in this role.
Join a corporate social responsibility course in Canada today and learn all the necessary skills to excel in this field.
