Struggling to Start My HR Career: How Can I Navigate Job Search Challenges as a Fresher?

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have completed Masters in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from Jankidevi Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (Mumbai). I am looking for an opportunity in the field of HR. I have sent my CVs to many good recruitment consultancy firms and have received replies that there are no vacancies for freshers. If I think of starting my career with a recruitment consultancy, then I will not be exposed to other HR functions, and I am really confused about how much this experience will count in the future. I request you all to guide me and let me know how I should go about my job search.

Regards,
Vanita Kadam

Recruitment and HR, even though they are clubbed together, are really divergent career paths. If you eventually want to be in HR, stay away from getting deep into recruitment. Recruiting is just the beginning of the HR process. Recruiters need to have sufficient knowledge of HR within a company to set the right expectations with the candidate during the hiring process...nothing more.

HR takes off from where recruitment ends, involving compensation and benefits, legal and corporate policy enforcement, performance monitoring and management, training and advancement, etc. The new term I believe is HCM or Human Capital Management.

On the other hand, in a booming economy, recruiting is a tough and demanding job. But it can be incredibly exciting and fulfilling as well. You will need a different combination of skills as opposed to an HR professional to survive this job. The skills of an outstanding recruiter are truly a "MISSION" Statement:

- Motivate
- Initiate
- Source
- Sell
- Investigate
- Objectify
- Negotiate

If you are the structured nurturing type, HR is a good choice for you, but if you're the outgoing "Indiana Jones" type, seeking adventure and challenges in your career, go the recruiting way.

Dear Sir,

Thank you very much for your reply. I am an outgoing personality, but for me to start my career in an HR Generalist role is important because I can get exposure to various HR initiatives. However, in recruitment, it will be more of a hardcore sales job. Additionally, as most companies have outsourced their recruitment to consultants, how much will my experience count in the corporate world?

Can you please suggest the means through which I can secure a role as an HR Generalist? I would like to know how I should approach this.

Awaiting your reply.

Thanking You,
Vanita Kadam