To Transform From A HR Generalist To Specialist

Sirs,

Wishing you all a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!

I am an HR professional with around 3 years of HR generalist experience and currently working in the automotive industry as a Senior Executive. My current role involves overseeing Training and Development (T&D) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). I am very interested in specializing in T&D and would appreciate your guidance on how to become a specialist in this area step by step. Additionally, I would like advice on transitioning into the IT sector.

Looking forward to your input!

Thank you.

Dear Jagdish,

It is good that you are trying to specialize in line with your current activities. You have not given your present qualifications. You can try to get qualified through ISTD Delhi or take up a course with a NABET certified institute like ICBI for the Train The Trainer program. You can also study on your own. If you can network with other HR professionals who need to have programs in their company, you can try. But that could interfere with your current job. You can also try to give programs free to NGO groups and see if you are found acceptable. For CSR nowadays, there is a special course on the lines of ISO. Please find out more details about this as well.

V.Raghunathan

Dear Jagadish,

Endorsing the idea of attaining certificates in the areas of choice. Having said that, I request you to check on the version of the ISTD program and ensure it is relevant to your current role. However, to work in Training and Development (T&D), you should essentially specialize in a topic of your interest and develop facilitation skills. Please explore platforms where you have the opportunity to facilitate.

Today, many NGOs are promoting themselves on Facebook. This provides the latest updates of their activities and insights to some extent. Build your activities around a 'Social Cause' and then activate your options based on budget. Choosing the right course of action that is rewarding is necessary.

Once you have shortlisted activities, you may have them reviewed if necessary.

All the very best!

It is good that you want to become a specialist. With your technical qualification, you can start training your own employees, with due permission from your management, on topics such as 5-S, Housekeeping, health, and hygiene, etc. Make modules of one-hour duration, have a small group of participants, and seek out feedback on your style, delivery, and content. Gradually, you can enlarge your role. You need to read a lot about everything happening around you. Training is not just talking about a subject but also understanding everything that is happening around it. This includes areas like the share market, your own competitors, etc.

Although I am a Political Science graduate, I am now capable of developing content on core engineering subjects. Recently, I have also developed a module on Construction Machinery. I have been into reading for the past 50 years, and hence have developed competency as a trainer as well as a content developer. Last September, I delivered a training on Technical Report writing for senior employees of Gulf Extrusions, Dubai. The HR boy, a young Pakistani, spoke to me and told me that the first batch training was a fiasco, conducted by a Pakistani Trainer, and it got folded up on day one itself. I took it as a challenge and read on the internet for two full days, learning everything about the world aluminum industry, bauxite excavation, conversion to alumina, manufacturing of extrusion, anodizing, painting, Australia being a world leader, etc. I created a 10-question Quiz on the subject as an ice-breaker activity. Most of the participants, who belonged to countries like Poland, Armenia, UAE, Pakistan, Philippines, and India, were present. Most of them could not answer very basic questions developed by me. I won over them, and the rest was a grand success.

So do not feel shy to read, understand, and enhance your knowledge, which is essential for a trainer. Best wishes.

Dear Mr. N.K. Sundaram,

It is very inspiring to read your vivid account of how you gained insight into the aluminum industry. I am sure many youngsters who are reading your post will understand the importance of devotion, hard work, and the rewards that follow. It is never too late to learn something new at any age, provided the determination to achieve exists.

V. Raghunathan

You may need professional help to make this transition. Get a mentor who can support you in this endeavor. The following link may help you: http://www.hrforyou.in/search/mentoring

Sirs,

Greetings!

I am an HR professional (PGPM-HR, B.TECH-CSE) with over 3 years of experience, predominantly in the automotive industry. My aspiration is to transition into a role as an HR strategist, decision-maker, and focus more on HR analysis rather than operational tasks. Currently, I am pursuing online courses in statistical tools and data analysis to enhance my skills.

I am looking to pivot into the IT industry and would appreciate guidance from the knowledgeable members of this forum on how to build a successful career in this new direction. What steps should I take to become a strategist/analyst in a prominent IT company?

Thank you for your assistance.