Need Suggestion - Move From MNC To Small Company In Higher Role?

Dear All,

Currently, I am working as a Team Lead - Recruitment in a leading consultancy in Chennai, and I have recently received an offer with a decent hike from a small BPO company (50 employees) for the position of HR Manager in Vellore. Now, I am facing confusion about whether I should proceed with this offer or not. My friends are advising me that joining there might spoil my career and could hinder my chances of working in MNC companies in the future. Kindly advise.

Regards,
Kumar

Dear Mr. Kumar,

As you already have experience in recruitment and they are offering you the position of HR Generalist, I believe you should take advantage of this opportunity. There, you may have the chance to learn many more things beyond recruitment.

Thank you.

Kumar, you can join, but if I were in your place, I would not join because working with a consultancy is much better than working with a BPO company. Try to search for opportunities with a manufacturing company or any other industry. I would not recommend going for a BPO position.

Being in recruitment, you should probably try to judge a candidate who has experience being an HR manager in a 50-people company. The outcome may completely depend on the profile and the name of that 50-employee company and where it reaches when you move to your next job. Try to research the profiles of the leadership of that company and figure out if the company has a bright future. Next, it would be a good idea to visit their office at some point to speak to some of the employees there about how they are treated. The growth pattern is more important than where the person has worked before.

Regards,
Sid

Big, reputed MNC to a small operation is only advisable if you are going to be a founder/co-founder or otherwise a member of the core team.

Big companies have their own sphere, and dropping out of that sphere is a risky strategy. It may work if you start something of your own, but generally not otherwise.

Mr. Kumar,

Mr. Sid has rightly advised you. You must go with the advice, and I hope you will be able to make a decision after doing that.

pkj

Both Sid and Bodhisutra make valid points. But you are pursuing an HR Generalist role, which could broaden your horizons into areas such as Performance Appraisals, Training & Development, Compensation Benchmarking, and even, perhaps, as a Business Analyst. In my opinion, this could be more beneficial than solely focusing on a recruitment-oriented role. If this BPO has a long-standing presence and robust growth plans, offering you the aforementioned role at a higher salary, you should consider these factors in your decision-making process. All the best! Hardeep

Mr. Kumar, the position is okay, but try to find a job in Chennai itself. Your exposure level would be better there. Otherwise, consider looking for opportunities in a good manufacturing company in the same area once you are familiar with the basics.

Dear Kumar,

You have mentioned that you have experience in the recruitment sector in a consultancy. The opportunity that has come up is a great one. My suggestion is to take it up for the following reasons:

1) Better Designation
2) Better Role
3) Better exposure

This opportunity can be a turning point in your career. Think about it; the current strength of the organization is 50. As the organization grows, they will require more people, providing great learning opportunities and steady career growth.

Hope this helps.

Wish you all the best.

Hello,

From a careerist's point of view, one is always faced with the following choices:

1) To be a big fish in a small pond, OR

2) To be a small fish in a big pond, OR

3) Aim to be a big fish in a big pond.

It is a tough choice to make as it depends on your own competencies, your attitudes, your strengths, your career/life objectives, as well as your assessment of the organization that is offering you an opportunity to "elevate" yourself in the hierarchy of your career.

You have to evaluate your short-term opportunities along with your long-term personal and professional growth. Many of us do not have the courage to pass up an immediate opportunity to protect and pursue long-term objectives.

This is one area where you have to listen to many but make your own decision yourself as you alone are responsible for your life.

I suggest you take a balanced, critical, and objective view of your own reality and decide so that you continue to feel responsible now and for the future.

Best of luck.

Regards,

Samvedan

December 5, 2012