What Life Events Led You to Choose a Career in HR Instead of Your Childhood Dream?

What forced you to choose career in HR?

Dear All,

Everyone have a dream of becoming a Doctor, Engineer, Pilot, Marine Engineer, Software Engineer in their childhood. However some or the other factors forced or influenced to choose the other career. (Reasons may be more like Family circumstances, Financial Burdens, Less Marks and so on) No one dream about becoming a HR professional in their childhood. Reason nobody knows.

In your case what made you to choose career in HR, and what was your dream career in your childhood? Share with all of us. Let us find out the influential factor which influenced or influencing to choose HR career.

To start with let me share my experience.

My dream career in my childhood was becoming a Doctor? (No idea what made me to dream that career).

The factor (s) influenced to choose HR career is/are:

Teacher's Strike during my SSLC resulted in less marks in Science, and didn't get the seat in Science Group for Pre University.

Taken commerce group, later just to have a degree instead of common degrees like B.Com or BA, chosen the specialized course on HR from University of Madras. Because of the course done, just selected the HR career. Gained experience in HR and finally started loving the HR career.


Share your experiences.

Regards,

Hmm, none forced me, but I have a different reason for being an HR professional. I too have a different story. I am very good at talking. I can talk to anyone, everyone, irrespective of their position. So, I chose HR because I like talking to people, meeting new people, and I like that everyone should know me. Being an HR professional gives me all these three things I like - to meet new people and talk to them because HR is someone who can talk to anyone. Thirdly, everyone knows me because I am in HR. So, I LOVE my profession.

But what I regret is that I didn't do my MBA from a good university such as XLRI or IMT; I did it from I.P University. So, this is where I lack and wish to change, which I am trying my best to change.

Cheers,

Hi,

I am very good at speaking, and lots of my friends always tell me that whenever I give suggestions to anyone, it is very useful to them. When they talk to me, their biggest tensions are soon removed, and they feel relaxed. At that time, I was pursuing an MBA, but now I feel that it was true because when employees come to me, they really feel good talking to me. This thing encouraged me to choose this profession.

I like this profession very much, and my dream is to excel in this field through my hard work and dedication.

Thanks,
Charanjit

Dear,

I wanted to be a cricket player. I played cricket up to District and University level and then I changed my mind.

My Father had inspired me to go into this field. Please note that we are four brothers, and all are working as HR professionals in different well-known organizations. My father recently retired from a government job, where he was working as the Head of the Establishment department (the old name of the HR Dept.).

Aashit Srivastava

Though I am more or less a beginner in HR with around 1 and a half years of experience, the story so far goes like this:

I was working in a training institution (newly opened) as a counselor. It was a part of a small Pvt company. The institution was not doing great, and I hardly had any work, so I was asked to assist the HR department in recruiting. The management was quite impressed with me as I was able to fill a few positions. Then finally, the institution closed down, simultaneously the HR exec resigned, and I was transferred to the department as an HR Exec. So I fell into it. And then on... I enjoy every moment of my profession, especially as a generalist now.

And yes, in childhood, I wanted to be a computer engineer. And then in my first HR job, I began recruiting them :)

So I firmly believe, in life, whatever happens, happens for good.

Regards,

Sukanya

I am a student of XLRI, having recently joined the postgraduate program in HR. My interest lies in Training and Development, aspiring to become an International Trainer and Freelance consultant. I realized that improving my skills in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations could enhance these goals, which led me to pursue a course in this field.

I completed my engineering degree in Computer Science from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, and worked with TCS. During my time there, I also gained experience in Training whenever opportunities arose in the two years. Essentially, Training and Development is my primary focus and passion that has brought me here.

Hi,

Frankly speaking, in my childhood, I actually wanted to go into a nursing profession, and yes, at that time, I really wanted to become a nun. Still, sometimes I thought about becoming a nun, but we are social people, and I know I can't do this. However, I really wanted to pursue these professions.

Thanks,
Charanjit

Hi,

My childhood dream was to become a doctor, later a lawyer. When I was doing my P.U.C, I decided to become a software engineer. Unfortunately, I didn't get a seat in MCA but got into MBA. In my first semester, I topped the university in Organization Behavior and HRM. I decided at that point that I have to make my career in HR.

Now, I feel so happy. Even software engineers who are getting paid more than me also call me madam. I'm loving it.

Haritha

Hi,

My childhood dream was to get placed in a reputed bank. But after completing my degree, I decided to choose the HR field because of the HR person who conducted my first interview. His way of speaking and his attitude inspired me to pursue a career in HR.

Thanks,
V. Deepika

Ok, here is mine.

I wanted to be a chef in a 5-star or 7-star hotel. That's why I wanted to do BHM (Bachelor in Hotel Management), my childhood dream. But when I gave up my CET in Karnataka, I got an engineering rank very huge... say 16000. However, I thought pure science would be one option and wanted to make a career in physics.

When we had an event in 2005 as the international year of physics to commemorate Albert Einstein's papers in 1905, I was a student convener for the entire college. After that, faculties and management acclaimed my work. So I thought, why not choose a field with people and start loving people. That's why I pursued my MBA in HR and am currently hunting for a job.

Thank you.

Hi Everyone,

I am Thiagarajan S. from Chennai, working as an HR executive in a BPO. I have 1.5 years of experience in HR. I take this opportunity to thank all the members of CITE HR. Cite HR has helped me to grow my career in HR. All my doubts and mistakes were clarified through Cite HR.

Strictly speaking, in my childhood, I didn't have any ambitions. Really, I didn't know what I wanted to choose. During my schooling days, I was a dull student academically but excelled in extracurricular activities. I even failed in ninth grade and had to study for an additional year. Everyone was worried about my future. However, I managed to get through till tenth grade. In 12th grade, I realized my responsibility and worked hard to achieve 95%. During my final year of B.Com, I got placed in Accenture. It was then that I saw HR professionals and was greatly inspired by their way of speaking, decision-making, and interviewing style. I decided to revoke that offer and pursue an MBA in B-school, specializing in Marketing & HR.

After completing my MBA, I started my first job in an HR consultancy with a salary of 6k. Despite others calling me a fool for working for such a low salary, I was focused on learning and enjoyed working there, gaining expertise in recruitment and other concepts. With experience, I transitioned to a BPO, where I work as an HR generalist earning 14k. I attribute my company's success to the knowledge gained from Cite HR, covering various HR aspects from recruitment to training, payroll, performance management, and HR policies. While my friends are earning 30k, I am not interested in switching as I am deeply passionate about my HR profession, which provides recognition and allows me to be solely responsible for organizational goals. HR requires creativity and the ability to handle situations in a unique way, a trait not possessed by everyone.

I have a great passion for HR and continue to learn new concepts in HR to further develop myself. Cite HR has been instrumental in boosting my career. I want to thank all the seniors and juniors who have supported me.

Thank you for reading my story. This is my first post, and I wanted to share my experience with everyone. If there are any corrections needed, please suggest.

Regards,
Thiagarajan S
09551070687

In my childhood, I wanted to join the Army and applied for it as well but got rejected. When I started my MBA, I was confused about specialization. However, during the course of "Principles of Management," my teacher inspired me a lot. He was an HR professional with rich experience in domestic and international HR. His inspiration led me to choose this field, and for the last four years, I have been enjoying this profession. I aim to excel in my career in HR.

Regards,
Syed Adeel Ahmed

Hi, I loved reading the previous responses, and I am glad that at least we HR professionals are being honest with each other!

In my case, I specialized in HR during my MBA because I thought this was one way where I could dress well, sit in an AC office all day, and get paid to behave well with employees and make important decisions! I sincerely felt that life was a bed of roses for HR professionals. However, after I joined my first job (I am still at it, with 1.5 years of work experience), all my dreams were shattered. I have been harassed by angry employees, almost mobbed by factory workers, not to mention the relentless mental abuse by all the employees and being the scapegoat of disastrous management decisions. Trust me - I am back to the real world!

But still, at the end of the day, if anyone asks me whether I regret rejecting finance and choosing HR, I would still say I am glad that I made this choice! :-)

Hi,

Your journey is quite unique. Please find the revised version of your text below:

Mine is a quite different case. Please follow the following very patiently.

While I was in the eighth standard, I wanted to become an engineer and chose Composite Mathematics. At that time in Andhra Pradesh, there was Composite Maths - Engineering Group / General Maths - for the Science Group. My parents said no, and I was forced to take General Maths.

During my Intermediate years, I aspired to become a Chartered Accountant and wished to pursue Commerce. However, some external forces intervened, and I was again forced to take the Science Group.

I attempted the Medical entrance exam but was not selected for Medicine. With no other choice, I joined B.Sc. with BZC.

I wanted to pursue M.Sc. in other states but couldn't.

To continue my academic career, I opted for Law, a completely different field, and that too in English medium. Please note that my medium of instruction was my mother tongue until I completed my graduation.

After completing Law, I enrolled as an advocate and practiced for five years in the High Court and other Lower Courts. Subsequently, I joined the newspaper industry as a Law Officer and remained with them for a considerable period.

Out of academic interest, I pursued a PG Diploma in PM & IR while working in the newspaper industry.

During that time, I pondered on the dynamics of credit and blame in legal cases. I realized the importance of ground-level work and decided to transition into HR as my profession with my basic qualifications.

This shift led me to different roles within the newspaper industry as an HR Professional. I then ventured into the Sugar Industry as Manager of Personnel and Administration for a change. Currently, I am in the Cement industry as Manager of HR, facing new challenges.

I chose HR as my profession because I love it and find joy in my work.

I strongly believe in:

"Don't learn to live, but live to learn."

How do you feel about my academic and professional trajectory?

Thank you for patiently reading.

Regards

Re: What Forced You to Choose a Career in HR?

Hi,

I had no particular dreams in childhood of becoming an engineer or a doctor. On the other hand, no one forced me to choose a career in HR either. Fate led me to Pune as my father had a transferable job. During my graduation days, I started working part-time in the Administration Department of a small private company. This experience was the driving force in my career to pursue something more in the same field. Subsequently, I pursued a master's degree in HR, and today I have 4 years of experience in HR with a reputed software company. I truly enjoy being a part of the HR field!

Dear All,

I had the same query. I had given a genuine, true answer to the question, yet the interviewers were not satisfied. Please suggest some ways of putting it forth.

I had answered that when I came to do an MBA, I was confused, so I started by an elimination process. My parents did not allow me to take up marketing, finance was the thing I had tried before but did not arouse interest in me, so I chose HR.

Was this a wrong answer?