Navigating HR Career Challenges During Recession: Salary Negotiation and Job Market Insights

It's been three months since I have been trying to find a job in HR. It has gone from bad to worse. When I left my last job on 30th August 2008, there was no sign of a recession. But now, it has been really tough for the past 3 months. I am very depressed and upset. It's not that I do not have good experience, but the salary is a major issue. My salary was high, 30,000 a month for 1.9 years of work experience in recruitments and business development with a consultancy in Mumbai. Now, I have moved to my hometown in Pune, but I am unable to find a good job. Corporate HR departments are not willing to take me on board even for recruitments, and other consultancies are offering very low pay. The only reason given for not offering a job is that they can get the same talent for less money, so why should they hire me. Is it my mistake that I was earning that much? I am willing to compromise but not to the extent of accepting peanuts. I don't know where I am going wrong. I have also tried home-based freelance work, but it has not been helpful, and I have had bad experiences there too.

Please advise.

Well, if you are adamant about salary, you need to wait, babes. But it's downtime, so if you're desperate for a job, accept the job because beggars can't be choosers. Remember to have SHRADDHA and SABURI.

Hi Jaggu,

Get the job early; don't think about salary! The upcoming situation is very tough.

Thank you.

Believe in yourself. Things will not remain the same. Try to settle down with a low-paid temporary job. Simultaneously, look around for new opportunities too. All the best.

Hi Divya,

I do have the same problem with my friends. Don't be in a hurry to settle for peanuts. Just try applying to all the consultancies and wait for your day to come. Don't expect the same 30k in this period; I heard the recession problems would come down in a year's time. This is the time when you can demand a position based on your salary and experience.

So, once you hold a good position, then jumping to another company may suit your needs. All the best.

Hi, thanks for your inputs. I have been learning about other aspects of HR and have tried implementing them as well. Also, when I tell the recruiting HR that I have good knowledge about the general HR aspects and can have a test, they say it's of no use as I do not have any experience. But unless I get an opportunity, how will I gain experience? Sometimes, the stage does not even arrive where I can tell them.

Divya,

If you are not affected financially, I suggest you try in a bigger organization for a recruiter assignment. Please remember that we don't have many options in the market, so keep a goal of getting a recruiter role in a bigger organization (it can be a vendor/consultant role). As you have mentioned you are very much interested in the generalist function, you should prove yourself. I'm confident that with the right attitude and passion towards HR, you'll get it.

Remember, "To get something, you have to lose something"... Bazigar dialogue... ;)...

Good Luck! KK

Dear, good luck in your future, but I advise you to accept any offer until you get a good opportunity.

Your salary is too high, at least for a starter who has just mere experience of 1.9 years. There are very well-settled organizations giving this much money to employees with almost 10 years of experience as well. So, if you want to have a fruitful career in HR, focus on gaining knowledge at precious moments of your life rather than just money matters. Money does matter, but it will follow you at the right time automatically when you deserve it based on the experience and knowledge you have gained.

Please note the corrected text above. I have fixed spelling and grammar errors and ensured proper paragraph formatting. If you have any more text that needs review, feel free to share!

Hi Divya,

Do not think about salary. Join the company from where you get an offer. Otherwise, you will have a gap in your career. In the meantime, you can work and search for another job.

Regards,
Deepali

Rekha,

In India, as we know, it all depends on the industry and company; there is no defined structure for the private sector. For example, there are product companies that offer 10Lks+ for an IIT fresher passout, whereas for the same profile, service companies provide 4 to 7lks.

In India, the salary depends on the company you join and their guidelines on hikes (most MNC companies pay based on performance rather than experience alone).

Honestly, the new industry (IT/ITES) has negatively impacted the human resources/workforce attitude. Now companies are considering reducing salaries and implementing a 6-day workweek. ;)

I hope Divya understands the current market scenario. However, if any of us know of any positions, let's keep her informed.

Cheers,
KK

With all the valuable tips provided by the members, increasing your contacts is one more tip to consider. You should keep a list of contacts you would reach out to if you were in need of a job. This list should include not only those who may hire you but also those who can spread the word and keep an eye out for job opportunities.

Depending on your experience and field of work, you may find job opportunities in various places. Here are a few online job resources like Monster, Hot Jobs, and TheLadders.

Hi,

I would like to know the salary range for an HR professional given the following details:
Experience - 4 years - including 1 year of experience in recruitment
Key skills - Recruitment / induction / PMS / ... exposure to all functions of HR except that of training
City - Pune

Also, what should be the expected designation?

Regards,
Shweta

Divya,

First and foremost, what was the reason that compelled you to resign from your previous company.

Shailesh

Hi,

I'm in a similar situation. I quit my job in Mar'08 because I got married in May and also had my exams of the final year (MHRDM). I have around 5 years of experience, out of which 1 year is in HR. I have completed MHRDM. However, due to the current market scenario, I am unable to find any job openings. Kindly let me know if any suitable openings are available.

Looking forward to a positive response.

Thanks and regards,
Aparna

Dear Divya,

Do not worry. If you do not have immediate monetary problems running a household or maintaining your own sustenance, try to pursue some useful short-term courses in HR, such as a PG Diploma in HR. This will help you enhance your skills in the meantime.

Recession is a temporary phenomenon, but with the world's efforts to revive through various government stimulus packages, it may soon become a thing of the past. This is a natural process that conditions people, making us wiser and better equipped to face challenging situations in life.

If you come across a job that provides decent exposure or maintains your current standard, consider taking it up. A reasonable salary range could be between 12 to 15 K for now. Often, we find ourselves being overpaid in sunrise industries or during inflationary periods, which can lead to difficulties in sustaining our market value. This is a valuable lesson to learn. Do not let this concern you, as many others are encountering the same issue.

Focus on gaining work exposure, experience, and acquiring knowledge. These will greatly benefit you in the future. Your salary will continue to improve with enhanced skills, experience, and exposure.

Stay motivated! Better days are on the horizon.

Cheers,

Rahul Kumar

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