Can I Pursue Human Resource Management After Practising HSE( Health,Safety & Environment ) . Your Suggestions Will Be Considered And Respected . Please Help Me !!

I have completed Masters in Industrial Safety Engineering this year and I would be working as a safety engineer in a HSE department of an organization very soon.

I am 24 now and I have plans to do MBA in Human Resource Management in a reputed college when I am 28.

A bit of a history before I bug you with my questions !!

I am interested in psychology & I read psychology articles to pass my leisure time. I love listening to people & it will be always a thrill to notice the micro-expressions of people from all walks of life. I also have a passion to learn English and I should confess that my communication skills are not excellent ! But I believe my passion will drive me towards excellence. I love interviewing and recruiting.I am also good at resolving interpersonal conflicts as I can understand everyone’s view point . As a safety engineer, I need to know the nitty gritties of Factories act , Factory rules and other HSE laws . I won’t have a hard time studying law too .

So , My queries are

1. Does I have the traits for a HR personnel ? If not, brief me on the skills I should develop?

2) Where can I take up my MBA? XLRI , Jamshedpur or any foreign universities .

I can work in foreign land only for few years and I will come to India at some point of time . suggest me a few colleges !

3) I need to specialize only in human resource management. I don’t think finance or procurement or logistics would suit me . I have already worked for almost a year in the procurement team of coal commercial after completing my bachelors . Is there courses specifically designed for for HR ? .. Suggest me ..

4. I need to work as a safety engineer for at least three years and I am desperate and eager to practice HSE . Is three years of experience sufficient to get a seat in B school ?

5. In the mean time, I want like to take up a few courses in correspondence !

1. Diploma in labour law

2. One Year Part time Post Graduate Diploma in PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & LABOUR WELFARE (PGDPM) offered by one of the Productivity councils

3. An organizational psychology course.. And there is no such course in India and I may pursue B.SC. Psychology

Do I sound very ambitious? … Is it necessary to take up these courses beforing pursuing MBA? … I just wanted to excel in HR !

6. What is the package that would be offered for a fresher in B-Schools? … I enquire it because I have a good academic record and I will be a successful hse personnel after a few years in an MNC.. I think I will be getting a salary of 50000 rupees at-least …Is MBA economically fruitful ?

7. Last ! If I start my career as an HR executive at my thirties , will I end up as an HR head in my forties ?

I thank you profusely for spending ur valuable time reading my queries .. Thank you !!

P.S

Please refrain yourself from commenting that I am too old already .. Age is just a number and its the Zeal and love that matters !!

Dear Karthik,

Greetings!!!

You definitely have traits of a HR guy but more than the traits , it's the ambition that drives you.

XLRI is a very good institute to study HR, you may also consider TISS and Symbiosis. As far as foreign universities are concerned, there are many factors that you have to consider apart from specialization and a blanket advice is not going to suit you in this regard. There is plenty of material available on the net about foreign education, do your own research and be your best judge.

There is no need to do correspondence courses before you apply for MBA in HR. Good management colleges do not take you for your past academic certificates, they judge you on the basis of aptitude and attitude. In my opinion, in stead of pursuing so many courses, you should try to excel at your current job because that's what you can present to your interviewers i.e. since you have excelled at one job, you may also excel at another ( It's a tangible way of presenting facts in management entrance interviews, in case you are an experienced guy.)

Package is never a limiting factor when you are graduating from colleges such as XLRI.

HR head is a vague term, you can be a HR head in a small company in a matter 0f 5 years, however, it may take 20 years to become HR head of a big global company. Rather than HR head, you should aim to become a good HR manager when you hit forties.

Dear Well Wisher ,
I appreciate that u have taken a lot of time to go through my queries and responded back in a candid & cohesive manner !


Thank you once again !

Dear Karthik

You have taken me back by about 25 years in my life. After working for paper / packaging technologies for about about 8 years, I started feeling that I should be a HR professional and yielded to the ways of my heart against the advice of many of my well wishers. Now that I have retired, I look back and would like to share with you the how I feel now. Had I not changed my role that time to HR, probably I could have gained a higher designation and lot of money with the undisturbed growth in the specialized field.

I could command excellent regard from all levels of colleagues in the couple of organisations but definitely not money and designation. Also looking back, I can also tell you that ideal HR does not exist in any business organisations. May be some of the promoters want an excellent HR climate but the the executives there are not translating it effectively. Most of the places (including Wipro and Infosys), the HR guys are considered disablers (rather than 'enablers') by the general employee. They are inaccessible at the time of need for their colleagues.

But I have no grudge in the way I have gone through my career in HR. If you find this any input for your thought process, please go ahead and get into HR function.

Dear Devarajan Sir ,
I understand your concerns and I am glad that u came up with your suggestions open heartedly . I would definitely think about it !
Thank you and I know that you care sir !

Dear Karthik,

You have fair amount of clarity in your thinking. Your background, coupled with an intent to do MBA - HR from a reputed institute like XLRI, shall certainly help you in your career plans. In my opinion, you will be able to contribute more to Industrial Relations (IR) in a large manufacturing environment. But you need to remember that experience is probably more important than qualifications for one's growth. By this I mean that you shall have to join as an entry level executive & slowly outshine others with an aptitude to learn the practical realities of managing HR. Let your organization utilize your strengths, you have to remain highly dedicated to the job assigned to you.

Remember that people with 30 years experience or more often share with me that they are not fully exposed to all aspects of HR. Even very senior persons heading HR function are unable to understand how to use HR technology to manage human capital. All I wish to bring out, without scaring you the least, is that concentrate on learning at your work place & acquire more & more knowledge. That is the only way to ensure personal growth. Never allow your qualifications to boost your ego, remain humble & you will grow whichever area (IR/ HR) you get into.

Dear Mr.Bhatia ,
First of all , thank you sir . I will think about industrial relations as u have said I can contribute more to it .
will always remember ur narrative of personal growth !!