Feeling Stuck in My HR Role: Should I Return to Recruitment or Stay Generalist?

Dear Group,

I am an HR executive in a UK-based CRO. I am currently in a Generalist role. For the past two years, I worked as a recruitment specialist for a consultancy. I feel that my skills are underutilized. Please guide me on whether I should return to my recruitment role.

Please advise me on how I can succeed as an HR Generalist and/or HR Specialist (Recruitment).

Regards,
Vikrant
9323088731

"Take care that you get what you like; otherwise, you will be forced to like what you get."

Dear Vikrant,

This is Sudha, a member of the CiteHR community. I was just going through your posting and thought maybe I can share my opinion and experience with you.

The problem faced by you is also faced by many people. As you said, for the past 2 years, you were into recruitment, and now you have moved to the Generalist profile. The first and most important thing is your interest. If you are more interested in the Recruitment profile, then maybe you should concentrate on that field. But if you want to be in the Generalist field, then maybe you should give some time as you are new to this kind of profile. In case you want to gain experience in both recruitments as well as the Generalist profile, then maybe continue with the current Generalist profile and gain some experience in this field also as you already have some experience in recruitment. But as I said, it is very important for us to first decide our interest. It is also possible to select a profile where both generalist and recruitment profiles are included. Kindly let me know your interest so that we can discuss among ourselves and then probably come to a conclusion about the same according to your convenience and interest.

Please feel free to get back to me if any other help is required.

Cheers,

Sudha

Hi,

The "growth," whether personal or professional, is always a tricky affair. Without being spiritual about it, first try to answer for yourself, your comprehension of the concept of "growth."

Is it money, position, power, popularity, or something else? Consider, for a change, growth as equivalent to your realization of the potentials that you were born with and those skills you acquired while living!

Unless the goal is clear and understood, it may prove to be a futile search like that of a mirage! It is a very frustrating realization on achieving what you aimed at and then feeling that you did not want to achieve this anyway or that you could have achieved something else!

In matters of career, the growth graph moves from being a "specialist" (or a functionary) to being a "specialist" (or being a generalist). You have to steer along this path. To do that, you need to be careful about opportunities that you choose to encash, organizations that you manage to work with, the tenure at each organization, and most importantly what you have been learning along the way. For this journey, you need to develop broad patience, perspectives, acquire multidisciplinary knowledge and skills, and manifest your efforts into something durable, valued, and permanent that people desire or deserve and that simplifies the process of living in a dignified way!

Be alert to changes and opportunities around you. More money does not necessarily mean a higher job or better opportunities for growth. Never change in a hurry. Never join in a hurry. When employed, give each assignment adequate time and your contribution before finally judging the continuance or separation.

A rolling stone may gather a lot of shine but no moss. Whatever the direction, your growth should be dignified, durable, and consciously achieved!

If you need elaboration of what is said above, feel free to ask! It is not advisable to think in short-term perspectives, especially in matters of growth.

Regards,

Samvedan

August 7, 2006

Dear Sudha,

Thank you for your valuable suggestion. You are absolutely right when you talk about interest. When I entered the field of HR, I never knew whether I wanted to be a Generalist or a Specialist. However, as time has passed, I have developed an interest in Recruitment, which makes me uncomfortable in a Generalist role. Perhaps I have become accustomed to working under pressure, and I find enjoyment in that environment.

I believe I have not spent enough time in a Generalist position to gain sufficient knowledge. I am considering sticking to a Generalist role for at least the next two years. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions or possibilities.

Best regards,
Vikrant
9323088731

Dear Vikrant,

G.B. Shaw once said, "Happy is the man whose profession is his hobby."

I would like to make one comment. You should always play to your strengths. Do what you are good at. Most successful managers have achieved success by focusing on what they excel at. Growth, money, and fame will come to those who are skilled and consistently leverage their strengths.

The decision is yours to make. I mention this because I believe the quotation you have at the end of your post aptly describes the situation.

Kind Regards,
SC