When you build HR team , which you prefer to make specialists or generalists? and why?

if it is a big company with many departments i would make it a specialists and add a qualified person for the concerned department as  our refrence help when a position in their dept. opens.as position required is more specialized in larger organizations than small sized.

if it is a small company and not too many dept. i will go for generalists.as positions required are not tightly formated to fit a special prospect.

Always prefer experience + educational back ground to select a resource to build a good team.

That depends on th type of the company.Companys which require expertise avialable in the job market can start with generalists in HR covering the essential HR functions. Companys which require expertiese which are rare in the job market require HR specilaists in sourcing, staff development, and succession planning for key jobs in the organization.

Generally, the building of a HR team (either specialists or generalists) depends on the type of the company and its available resources /activities. However, I will always prefer the HR team which has the specialist knowledge to make the best use of human capital. The team members will have the skill, experience and knowledge to support the company/organization.

I agree with Amer and Mohammad Tohamy.  However I believe that all employees must initially know and work as a Generalist because it increases their exposure and skill acumen.

Once an employee has acquired the general skills required over a span of time, then he/she can specialize in their preferred field.

If I had to build a team, I would make them Generalists and then give them the option of becoming Specialists.

When we form HR team, we prefer specialist because of taking right decision:

1. Relevant education.

2. Relevant areas of knowledge and skills.

3. Years of relevant experience

4. Specialized training