Dear Abdullah,
Let me start the Bahraini way, Kefak ante al yaoum. Shlonech? Shaqbarak? Hope you are doing fine. Apologies again for responding late.
Let me attempt to answer your queries in breakups:
- Mid-size construction company – No policies and procedures to work.
According to me, you had a very right opportunity to develop an HR Department making active each function live step by step. You could have used this opportunity to experiment with new methodologies that are being used in the present time and which you can learn through different mediums. What you need is the management support, and I am sure no management will refuse a systematic way of working with proper job roles and responsibilities.
Don’t wait for ready-made systems and procedures; otherwise, you will end up doing jobs that are routine and monotonous. First of all, please make it very clear to yourself in what area you want to develop yourself. In HR, what stream do you want to concentrate on? You have to find out your own interests and capabilities. Based on that, you can proceed further. HR is not an area where you are restricted to files and policies. This is the only department that deals with finding innovative ways and means to motivate its workforce, enhance their professional and personal lives. The department's responsibility is to provide opportunities to its workforce so they can demonstrate the best of their talent and perform well. To accomplish such important objectives where you can make a difference in people's lives, both personally and professionally, what you need is the zeal and enthusiasm to act and not wait for directions. I hope I am clear in explaining it to you.
- What it takes to get into a bigger company such as an MNC so that you can get a chance to work on broader concepts of HR.
a. Is it Qualifications such as CIPD?
Yes, among existing certifications, CIPD certifications are very much appreciated, especially in the Gulf and specifically in Bahrain.
b. Or is it work experience?
Experience is something you can get once you are taken into a company, and it is a result of the support you get from good and recognized certifications. You have to start somewhere. Unless you start, how will you gain experience? I can understand your dilemma; it's the same as the chicken-first or egg story. Most employers/recruiters look for previous Gulf experience, even if you have good certifications. But it's all up to you how you gather or put yourself in a situation where you can add to your work experience. Both have their equal importance in their place. It's a layman's question to ask which one is more important. Normally, in companies governed and owned by traditional home-run business families, you will always face such kind of problem situations. However, as times are changing and the new generation has taken the reins in hand, they have trained and developed themselves from prestigious Western universities and are nowadays understanding the underlying problems in people management and implementing newer strategies to curb the age-old traditional practices.
Abduallah, it's all about your own intelligence, negotiation, timely decision-making that will help you shape your career. As a silent observer, what I can suggest to you is that this is a field where the sky is the limit to develop and achieve.
Did you join any forums in Bahrain? (There are several of them for Business, training, Management, etc. Try joining some forums and meet people; this will help you exchange ideas).
Subscribe to some HR & People Management Magazines, periodicals; these will help you stay in touch with the latest systems and procedures in HR & Training.
Best of Luck,
Sajid Rasheed