Struggling with Interview Question: Why Did You Choose HR as Your Career Path?

Dear Seniors,

I am working in an Automobile company in an HR Generalist profile. I have around 2 years of experience, and now I am looking for a job change. During many interviews, many HR professionals have asked me, "Why did you choose HR for your career?"

Please help me with the answer to this question.

Regards,

Fahim Khan

If you have an HR qualification, you can say, "I studied to have a career in HR." Alternatively, you can say, "I was looking for a job and got a decent job in HR, so I decided to continue in this."
Siva

Dear Fahim,

For that question, my answer would be: "Dealing with human beings is the toughest job in the world. Here is an opportunity to feel the pulse of the people and to help them help themselves. So, since I would like to take on challenging tasks in my life, I have chosen this field. Moreover, HR professionals are often referred to as Human Doctors."

That's one question I ask myself every night and shed a tear or two. Jokes apart :D The answer I give, which is genuine for me, is that I have an avid interest in Human Psychology and was also one of the top scorers in university. So, I got into the line of HR because I think Psychology is a major/integral/vital part of it. An HR person needs to have a very sound understanding of industrial and organizational psychology, without which they can't function well.

Hi, I'm Dolly and looking for a reputed job in the field of HR. I need to prepare for interviews, so could you please email me the necessary materials? That would be greatly useful to me. Thank you very much. My email id is dolly_pundir@yahoo.co.in.

Dear Fahim,

"Why did you choose HR for your career?"

A very apt question for a person attending an interview for an HR post! During my career spanning 31 years, I have seen thousands of people land in the wrong position or job. They often find themselves in a helpless situation due to reasons such as wrong guidance, incorrect selection, considering it a last resort for employment, or falling for myths. I believe that before accepting any job, one should introspect and ask themselves - why did I choose this job? If one finds more positive reasons, then they should go ahead with it; otherwise, it may be best to reconsider.

When it comes to an HR job, one should not view it as a last resort. As a friend once mentioned, it involves the study of human psychology and organizational psychology. Beyond understanding individuals in front of us, we must also exhibit humanity. Acting as a bridge between the workforce and the management, HR professionals need to possess qualities such as patience, empathy, love, tenderness, yet also be firm enough to handle challenging situations. The HR personnel should prioritize the workers when facing management and vice versa. By actively listening, a considerable portion of the workers' issues can be resolved.

From a management perspective, HR professionals should have a vision to contribute to the organization's growth plans with the backing of human resources strategies. Human Resources Management goes beyond just managing people; it involves harnessing human potential for organizational advancement.

If you are genuinely fascinated by these aspects and more, you can confidently state that these reasons inspired you to choose HR as your profession.

Lastly, remember that one can truly excel in the HR profession only if they hold a deep regard for humanity.

-Srinaren

Dear Fahim,

"Why did you choose HR for your career?"

Very apt question for a person who is attending an interview for an HR position! During my career spanning 31 years, I have seen thousands of people ending up in the wrong position or job. They feel helpless due to reasons like wrong guidance, incorrect selection, considering it as a last resort to get a job, myths, etc. I believe that before taking up any job, one should ask themselves - why did I choose this job? If they find more positive answers, they should proceed with that job; otherwise, they should reconsider.

Regarding an HR job, one should not perceive it as a last resort option. As a friend of ours mentions, it involves the study of human psychology and organizational psychology. It is essential not only to understand the person in front of us but also to be humane. In an organization, we act as a bridge between the workers and the management, requiring us to possess qualities like patience, empathy, love, tenderness, and also the firmness to handle difficult situations. An HR professional should be worker-oriented in front of the management and management-oriented in front of the workforce. Listening plays a crucial role, as it can help solve half of the workers' problems.

From the management perspective, an HR professional should have a vision to contribute to the organization's growth plan with the support of human resources. Human Resources Management involves not only managing people but also utilizing human resources for the organization's development.

If you are genuinely interested in all these aspects and more, you can say that these reasons fascinated you, leading you to choose HR as your profession.

Last but not least, you can do justice to the HR profession only if human beings are close to your heart.

-Srinaren

Mr. Srinaren, I am delighted to read such an answer. It makes me proud to be in HR. I wish people would focus more on providing essential guidance to young individuals like us rather than on trivial matters.

Thank you very much, Mr. Srinaren, for emphasizing the importance of being humane, not just human.

Hi, dear,

To study human psychology and lead a group or team of people is an important task for an HR manager. Therefore, individuals with good communication, presentation, and negotiation skills can choose this career path. If you possess these requisite qualities and qualifications, come and experience the world of CITE HR.

Dear Srinaren Sir,

The answer you have provided has been really valuable. I wish I could work with a person who understands HR functions and can articulate the concepts of HR so clearly and concisely.

Warm Regards,
Deepti

Mr. Fahim,

I would like to say only one thing... the people who are interested in observing others, understanding their behavior, and psychology tend to choose HR as their core area. Otherwise, they won't survive in the long run. You have to be passionate about everything you do with people.

Thanks,
Mamatha

When I was asked this question, I had said I took HR as my career because I didn't like working with digits in accounts and other subjects. I am good at dealing with people, so I took it as a softer option. But now, I am loving every bit of my job.

Dear Srinaren,

That was very well said. During my internship interviews, I was asked this question in a few companies. Now I have a clear picture of how to reply to this question. Thank you for your valuable tips.

Best regards, [Your Name]

Hi, I would say, in the past, HR was only focused on administration tasks. Nowadays, it is involved in strategic business decisions and contributes significantly from the functional side. As we progress, we also gain more knowledge about the company and stay updated on what is happening in other businesses.

Thank you.

Dear Srinaren Sir,

Thank you very much for providing young professionals like me with the right insight into why and who should actually pursue a career in HR for the long run. I am certain that your points will be beneficial to many of us.

Thanks a lot.

Regards,
Pallavi Gupta

Hi Fahim,

At the time of the interview, just say, "I made the wrong decision by choosing HR as my career, so I'm here."

Regards,
Harish