Critical Junction In My Career

Hi,

Please have patience to read the whole story…. :)

I completed my MBA(HR) in 2007 from a reputed institute.I was picked during campus placements by an MNC(IT Sector).I worked there for 2.5 years . Profile was that of a Business analyst and I was working on an HRIS product . However core HR activities as such was minimal in this profile. I had to talk to clients and gather their HR related requirements and configure the product accordingly and pass it on to the implementation team.

I had an intention of appearing for civil service examination then .So I was doing my preparations along with my job. I gave first 2 attempts while I was on the job but was not able to make it. So I resigned the job for better preparation and gave next 2 attempts. But still I was not able to make it.

After civil service fiasco, I joined a small company in my home town. Earlier I was working in a metro. Since I was jobless I was desperate to get a job .Fortunately, I got through the interview and was posted as the HR Manager of the company. However salary was almost 35% less than my last salary. I had to compromise since I was fresh from a break and had to come down to salary standards of a small town and an SME(IT Sector). However this proved to be a welcome break for me. There was tremendous learning opportunity. I was instrumental in building performance management system, T&D practices, Competency mapping modal, compensation benchmarking, Change management etc. These systems where literally non existent .So I had to build from scratch based on my own primary, secondary research and common sense .There was no one to give me any guidance initially. However 6 months after I joined we got into an engagement with a highly experienced external HR consultant. He was happy with what I had built. Even now we are running with these systems with minor tweaks as and when requirement come.

After initial 1 to 1.5 years of excitement, things started to become more routine and I felt as if my passion is leaking. On the personal side also there were a lot of changes. I got married, my mother retired(Father died long back) and I became the sole breadwinner. So salary package started to pinch me. Now I have a feeling that I have to gain more experience in these areas and get a feel of standard operating procedures practiced elsewhere.Now, After 2 years in my current designation,I have started to feel an urge for a more challenging profile. I am looking for a similar kind of profile and salary on market standards

Now we have a new marketing consultant coming in and there is pretty good growth prospects for the company. So I am in a dilemma on whether to start looking out or not. can you please advice me on this.

Hello Barathnikhil,

It's really nice to see someone of your age & experience thinking in such a matured manner--NOT many can do it, if you go by the so many Postings in this very Forum.

Coming to your dilemma,I think there are multiple ways of looking @ it.

Firstly, you mentioned that the company is likely to grow--business-wise. Due to which you EXPECT the salaries to raise, which would handle your current family compulsions.

Secondly, you mentioned that you 'feel' that you have got yourself into a 'routine' mode @ your core HR job.

Combining BOTH the above aspects, do you think that your core HR job role, responsibilities, and MORE IMPORTANTLY the opportunity to KEEP LEARNING WILL ALSO undergo an improvement along with your salary? If Yes, just stick with the present job. If No, then maybe it's time for your to move-on.

Quite often, both factors [Salary & Job Satisfaction] MAY NOT necessarily be directly proportional. I have seen cases where companies just scale-up whatever procedures/processes exist to cater to the enhanced employee strength--just because they have worked well so far. Nothing wrong in that approach, per se. But that would be from a Company-perspective. But you will need to look @ it from YOUR perspective.

Your decision would also depend on what your priorities are AT THIS POINT OF TIME. For eg., If you change job, would your family move with you [sometimes such aspects are 'taken for granted' before the individual realizes there's tough resistance from the family]?

Hope you get the point.

All the Best.

Rgds,

TS

Hi

I feel it is very important to weigh all pros and cons before arriving at a final decision. It is crucial for you to firstly decide what are your personal and professional priorities. Is it better compensation and/or more challenging work. To get a better compensation are you willing to reset your career goals. WIth your kind of qualification and experience I am sure you will crack a good opportunity in a metro or bigger city but again this will call for relocation, aligning your personal goals etc.

I would suggest explore opportunities in your present organisation. In your existing scope of work too you can create more challenging work for yourself automating HR processes, creating Employee dashboard for Management etc. As you mentioned your company is on a growth path so the staff strength would also increase so you can come up with some futuristic systems/processes which will cater to your business expansion. While doing all this you can always talk about your expectation for a better compensation to your Management.

There are many choices at hand for you..... make a choice which best suits your priorities.

ALL THE BEST

- Gia

Dear Bharat,
All said and done, if you find the offer a lucrative one and exciting there is nothing wrong to go for a change. Probably if and when resign you might as well offered better package by the present employer and might end up in yet another dilemma No.2 whether to quit or to continue. All the best.

Thank you all for your advice . I am one of the members in core management committee of the company.So i understand its current financial strength clearly.Knowing this,i don't think company is in a position to offer me what i want.Learning prospects is a good motivator to stay back.But personal commitments seems to be more pressing .