Transitioning to HR: How Can I Leverage My 5 Years of Experience to Start Fresh?

I want to start a career in HR. My total experience in different platforms is around 5 years. I hold a BSc degree and am currently working with Tata Teleservices as a team leader. However, I am interested in pursuing a career in HR. Please suggest the right way for me to start.

For pursuing HR as a career, you need to acquire a formal qualification in HR. You can pursue a full-time MBA or PGDHR if you can leave the job. Alternatively, you can opt for a part-time MBA or PGDHR course if you are unable to leave the job. Distance education programs do not receive much favor from employers unless you possess significant work experience in core HR areas. In the meantime, consider seeking roles that are closely connected to HR or administration, such as salary administration, etc.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
Mumbai

I have a similar decision here. Though I have started a career in HR and hold an advanced certificate as a practitioner in the related field, I want a course or a certificate program to acquire relevant experience in software. It could be an Oracle program in the field to guide me on HR software.

I also need someone to help me with reading materials on human resources and knowledge management.

Regards,
Adewumi T
Nigeria

I have completed an MBA in Marketing + HR and am currently working in the government tourism sector as a marketing executive. I have been offered an opportunity for an HR management trainee position in the government sector (Cottage Industry) for a personal interview.

Preparing for the HR Interview

I would like to know how I should prepare for the HR interview, what questions are typically asked by the interviewer, and what theoretical studies I should focus on to increase my chances of being selected. Although my career goal is in HR, I initially joined the company for a marketing role. Your prompt response to this email would be greatly appreciated, along with any suggestions you may have regarding key points to study.

Regards

Questions to Consider for HR Career Transition

The questions may revolve around the following issues/subjects:

• Why do you want to switch to HR while marketing is more lucrative?

• Who is your favorite marketing guru? Read something about him.

• What kind of skills are required for a marketing job? How will HR help you find one?

• Whether cottage industry is an industry under the I.D Act?

• Read about P.F., ESI, and gratuity, including their computations, wage limits, etc.

• Read some definitions like retrenchment, closure, layoff, and the procedures, strike, and lock-out.

• Keep track of recent amendments in ESI, P.F., I.D Act, and Gratuity Act. (You can view the blog on talentmoon.com for some key amendments and some issues on P.F., ESI, gratuity, and late coming, etc.)

• What are the functions of HR?

You can similarly visualize some basic issues.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advisor
Mumbai

When I read your query, it exactly matched my career path. Even though I am a B.Sc. holder, I was very much interested in HR. I have taken an MBA course at Karnataka State Open University (it's a correspondence course). I have almost 4 years of experience in BPO as a quality analyst. I successfully completed my MBA without quitting my job. Currently, I am working as an HR in a company.

Pursuing an MBA for a Career in HR

It does not matter whether you have an MBA from a regular program or a correspondence course; what matters is how much interest you have in pursuing your dream job. If you take up an MBA course and start job hunting, show how interested you are in securing an HR job. Definitely, you will achieve it and even excel as an HR professional.

All the very best.

Warm Regards,
Divya K. Nagaraj
Bangalore