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 new methodologies which are being used in 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 readymade systems and procedures else you will land up doing jobs which are routine and monotonous. First of all please make it very clear to yourself as in what area you want to develop yourself. In HR what stream you would want to concentrate on. You have to find out your own interests and capabilities based on it you can proceed further. HR is not an area where you are restricting to files and policies. This is the only department which deals in finding out innovative ways and means to motivate its workforce, enhance their professional and personal lives. The departments’ responsibility is to provide opportunities to its workforce so they demonstrate best of their talent and perform well. To accomplish such important objectives where you can make a difference in peoples lives in personal and in professional, what you need is the zeal and enthusiasm to act and not wait for directions. 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 exiting certifications CIPD certifications are very much appreciated especially in Gulf and specifically in Bahrain.
b. Or is it work experience?
Experience is something which you can get once you are taken in a company and it is a result from 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 fix, its same chicken first or egg story. Most of the employers / recruiter look for previous gulf experience though you may have had good certifications. But its all upto you how you gather or make yourself in a situation wherein you can add up your work experience. Both have its equal importance in its place. It’s a layman’s question to ask which one is more important. Normally in companies which are governed and owned by traditional home run business families, you will always face such kind of problem situations. But even though 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, its all your own intelligence negotiation, timely decision making will help you shape up your career. As a silent observer what I can suggest you is this is such a field wherein the sky is the limit to develop and attain.
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 latest systems and procedures in HR & Training.
Best of Luck
Sajid Rasheed