Torn Between HR and Marketing: How Do I Choose the Right Path for My Creative Skills?

Dear all,

I am pursuing an MBA degree in HR and Marketing (dual) from a reputed institute. But because I am a fresher, I just have no idea which stream I should choose. Although everyone has convinced me to take up HR with a loud reason of: it's good for females, I was still a bit confused between advertising (marketing) and HR.

I know all jobs have their pros and cons, so if someone can just list the pros and cons of the HR job as per your experience, I would make a more informed decision.

Also, I am a very creative, outgoing, talented person, kinda artistic. I hope I could put my skills to use in an HR job.

Lavanya

Dear Lavanya,

Firstly, the sex of a person has nothing to do with the job, be it in marketing or HR. Since you have mentioned that you are pursuing a dual specialization, you need to analyze what your forte is. If you plan to pursue a career in HR, you need to have an eye for detail, be a quick thinker, possess good communication skills, and negotiation skills are a must. You also mentioned that you are quite creative, which is a plus point for either HR or Marketing.

A year ago, I was faced with a similar dilemma as I had also done a dual specialization in Marketing/HR, but I always had an inclination for HR, and I am quite happy with the decision I made back then. In the end, you need to have the right attitude and interests, so analyze what your inclinations/interests are and then make the right decision.

All the best.

Regards,
Rashmi

Everyone has convinced me to take up HR with a loud reason: it's good for females. That is 1000% true, and we can see many HR girls asking basic questions about HR. 🙂🙂😊

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Let me speak naked truth, I am not making gender bias comments or anything against women. But I have experienced these psychological temptations of some CEOs.

I have worked with many PAPPE [Punjabi] CEOs, and they prefer beauty over knowledge. Basically, some loose character CEOs like to have girls around as an entertaining atmosphere in the office. They showcase this as part of their office culture, which they believe inspires and motivates other employees.

It is, therefore, HR that becomes the scapegoat to recruit female employees to showcase, and HR becomes a mere showpiece.

Rashid

I fully agree with Mr. Rashid because, in our observations, we find that most female HR executives are merely showpieces being showcased by CEOs. Almost all flamboyant CEOs like female HR executives to entertain and frequently acknowledge their work, capabilities, and hard work from the female HR managers as appreciation and encouragement. They also misuse authority to accompany female HR executives for outside meetings, visiting vendors, or attending seminars just to have company.

They take almost all kinds of liberty to get entertained at office expenses by accompanying them with female HR professionals as official sponsor entertainments. I would also like to mention here that in hard and tough jobs, only HR professionals are preferred, such as in manufacturing - industrial relations, etc.

Partho

Hey, these are some interesting observations, and I feel most of them are true for both small and big companies. However, I still believe that HR is not about the sex of an employee. Gender may influence an employee's success in HR, but it does not play a major role. Trust me on that!

It's the personality, skills, and ability to learn and implement quickly that will help you in the long run. Trust me, this is not just HR jargon. Females may be preferred in HR because HR roles often require attention to detail and stability, qualities that females are often good at. However, HR is not solely about females!

What do you think, HR friends?

Thanks

Also, as good HR professionals, it is our responsibility to ensure that freshers and juniors are always given the best possible advice and positive responses because this advice may make or break them. They rely on our opinions, and that is why they ask us these questions.

Thanks

Hi there,

I appreciate Ravi's sarcastic comments because that is his strength which no one else has observed and is able to express. Let's accept such personality as unique and respect them as individuals with diversity.

Diversity in personality is always good and natural. Therefore, I do not find any fault with sarcastic comments made by anyone, including Mr. Ravi.

As far as ladies in HR are concerned, we have also observed that most companies, such as those in the service sector, pharma, or hospitality industry, recruit ladies to showcase them. Basically, they do not have any fundamental HR objectives to bring about any change or enhance HR but to adjust their public opinion and be perceived as forward-looking rather than conservative. Recruiting ladies may imply that they undermine the importance of HR itself and fail to benchmark female roles in their organization.

This does not establish any credibility for this profession.

Captaincook

I must say that you really have a taste for sarcasm!!!

With 1600 posts, most of which (that I have seen) are sarcastic!!! Just an observation and not a sarcastic comment! :!

I guess it's about time that we start using this forum for the benefit of our knowledge, networking, and others... There's no point in just writing thanks and posting sarcastic comments on this forum...

Thanks...

HR colleagues, I hope you agree with me...

K. Ravi, I hope this was not offensive to you...

Thanks

Dear Lavanya,

I also did my MBA with a dual degree in HR and Marketing. Now, I am working as a Management Trainee for the last 5-6 months, and now I feel HR is very good, but the growth here is very slow. In Marketing, you can grow rapidly, especially after observing the female employees there. You can earn a lot in Marketing, and you possess all the necessary capabilities for a Marketing role. Both sides have their advantages, but you have to decide where you want to go. Nowadays, many girls are choosing Marketing as their career.

Thanks & Regards,
Shweta

Dear Lavanya,

I didn't understand still... Are you pursuing an MBA in HR and Marketing, or do you still have to make a decision? I didn't get this ambiguity. If you have already chosen your career path in HR and Marketing, then I would give you some inputs.

HR is not a matter of gender. For that matter, any profession doesn't deal with gender. It depends on the interest in the profession you choose and the effort you put in.

As per your comments that you are innovative and active, this profession would be a better option for you. Go ahead and excel in your career.

Regards, Valli

hi,

I am definitely disagree with a point that female HR is just showcase in company, I am an HR its been more than 1 year and I have worked in manufacturing and now in media industry. i strongly feel a female employee are more determine and serious towards their work as compare to their male counterparts. and yes there are people who are more concerned about your outer beauty than your work skill. But than at the end of the day its totally depend on you how you want to be on your work place..

Please don't misguide a very potential coming female HR; it's a very dignified job which offers you with an opportunity to make change in an organization.

Also no one than a woman can solve a human problem as she is a reason being everyone existence.

Well, I have asked about the pros and cons of marketing and HR jobs. For example, it's mentioned that there is faster growth in marketing. Please answer that.