Does a Distance Education Diploma Hold Back Your HR Career Progression?

Hi All,

I joined this group just three weeks ago and introduced myself as Engineered HR. Today, I have a question regarding the qualification requirements for handling the HR generalist role.

I missed an opportunity to join one of the big organizations simply because I hold a diploma in HR from a distance education program, rather than an on-campus degree. Now, as I enter my fourth year of service as an HR generalist and aim to progress in my career, I am being asked for a degree in HR or an MBA from an on-campus institution.

My queries are:
1. Does the qualification really matter for an HR generalist position?
2. Are distance education programs not valued in the field?

Thank you for your support and response.

Hi Savitri,

Don't be disheartened. Leaving HR aside for the time being, let's talk about some other opening. For example, if you are recruiting a technical person (such as a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering), what all will you consider? Qualifications, experience, knowledge, personality, attitude? Wouldn't you give a little more preference to a B.Tech. graduate than a Diploma holder? All these attributes mentioned above go hand in hand. We can't sideline one and consider the rest.

Please think afresh rationally and then decide for yourself. Don't take anything personally; only then will you be able to think logically.

Wish you all the best.
Tania

Hi,

I understand your problem. Yes, qualification matters a lot. It is a criterion for selection/promotion, and it is also expected that one should have a full-time degree. However, since you have already entered this profile and gained knowledge, in this condition, you/your employer can, to some extent, overlook your qualification if you have gained sound knowledge of your work. So, try to focus on improving your job knowledge. It is also a fact that employers want performance, not a dozen degrees.

Regards, Pushpendra

Dear M/s Savitri,

When you join a new job, you will perhaps feel new to work. At the same time, if you have a perception that you are not the right qualified, things will seem even more critical. But what I can suggest to you is to build up your confidence that I CAN, where your qualification will never be an obstacle to your achievements in life. Was Dhirubhai Ambani a Master's Graduate, or Bill Gates a Master's in Computers? But what they had is only one thing: fire in the belly to achieve something and passion for their goals.

Regards,
Vijay.ch 😊

Hi,

I would like to add that even if you end up getting the position you are looking for someday, you would not be paid the requisite sum for that position unless you have the desired qualifications for that position. This policy is followed by most of the top organizations.

So don't take anything personally, and work for your betterment without losing heart.

Regards,
Madhumita 😊

Hi,

Without doing the basic homework of knowing the requirements of the career you are looking for, you had entered the field and hence these setbacks. Now you cannot redo anything in this matter; leave it aside. There are certain companies that pay more weightage to qualifications. But the good aspect is that there are many who give weightage to skills and competency rather than paper degrees. In today's competitive world, the customer needs the result whether it comes from a Harvard graduate or a Panipat graduate. As your friends suggested, keep improving the skills and try to concentrate on getting specific qualifications like Psychometric, Competency Mapping, etc., which will add more value. All the best.

Sunil

Hello Savitri,

As mentioned by Tania, it's just a logic. If I have degree holders and those who have done "Full-Time MBA," why do I need to go for someone with "Distance Education"? Even some companies only hire people from specific institutes and with a certain percentage of marks - what can you do in that? So, don't feel sad. There is nothing wrong.

Regards,
Sanjeev Sharma
Blog: http://sanjeevhimachali.blogspot.com/

Hi all,

Thank you for the replies and suggestions!

I wonder why everyone has written in a pity note! Maybe my letter sounds more like agony than a point of discussion.

I am now holding a responsible position in one of the MNCs, and it was just a question I had when I heard about the rejection based on qualifications. I myself am an HR professional in the telecommunication industry, and I would prefer hiring an engineer over a diploma holder due to the variation in subject knowledge levels among Engineering graduates.

My point was, does the same hold for an HR generalist position, and what would be the benefit of an on-campus MBA degree?

Thank you for all the information.

Savitri

Hello, Savithri.

You have raised a very good question.

In my opinion, I definitely support a person who has done his MBA while working. This gives him/her the exposure required and also the opportunity to learn practically while learning (learning by experience). This will be of tremendous use.

This helps you remember whatever you were learning and find out whether it can be practically applicable or not. At the end of the day, employers only look for practical knowledge, not theory (only to some extent).

What is the use if somebody knows the theory of competency mapping, KRAs, etc., but doesn't know how to implement them? This is where experience as well as knowledge comes into the picture.

I appreciate your efforts.

And I feel there is nothing to be pitied about.

I also request employers to give an opportunity to candidates who have given to the concept of learning by experience. These people have a lot of potential. Because these people know the practicability of the concept.

Please don't ever feel sorry that you haven't done your full-time degree before getting down to work. But one suggestion from me is please don't restrict yourself to a diploma. Pursue an MBA (HR) from reputable universities offering distance education like IGNOU, Sikkim Manipal University, etc., and upgrade your skills.

Goodbye, all the best.

Sindhu 😂

Hi Savitri,

Unfortunately, in India, we stress more on a full-time MBA, majoring in HRM in relevance to this function. Throughout my career, I have seen many people excelling without the best qualifications. Conversely, I have seen few upstarts with excellent qualifications being shunted out on account of inadequate performance, personality, leadership, or productivity.

We, especially in the HR fraternity, are so enormously enamored with qualifications from premium institutions such as "IIMs/XLRI/TISS/XISS, etc.", more so since others follow it. While I do appreciate and acknowledge the premium institute passouts as generally being better, a heap of people not fortunate enough to get an opportunity to acquire such qualifications are also found to be 'so very good'. Fixation on qualifications alone is not quite essential as we tend to miss out on a lot of latent talent who excel 'elsewhere'.

I have worked in India and abroad at top positions extending up to the top executive business head position in large MNCs, essentially being from the HR fraternity. It gives me great pleasure to see HR people reaching the very top. Qualifications have not been the main criteria after a few initial years of experience but growth, performance, and the ability to deliver profits in large, professional environments with distinct leadership abilities were the key. Many traits, of course, are inborn or still acquired, essentially due to better IQ/family background in most cases.

I think, given the circumstances, you may be well advised to do a distance learning MBA in HR from one of the better universities. It is recommended to acquire a university 'degree' than any diploma. Try to take out time for studies. Believe me, you will not realize how time flies. At the end of the day, you would have only enhanced your entry chances into organizations.

The other route is to perhaps, 'painstakingly' acquire niche knowledge as an HR generalist or a specialist with years of fruitful grind. I believe, if you have the mettle and resolve, you are bound to rise faster, qualifications or no qualifications. I know many at the VP level who have just basic qualifications but have done very well in their careers. Some others have taken to consulting and have excelled.

Rahul Kumar

Dear all participants of this discussion,

I initially considered ignoring this message, but then decided to share my comments.

I have mentioned before that one primary reason companies opt for full-time MBAs is due to an oversupply compared to demand. Annually, approximately 200,000 individuals complete their two-year MBA courses. These numbers exceed the count of people pursuing MBAs in the USA or the UK.

Additionally, some have brought up the aspect of knowledge, suggesting that even individuals from prestigious institutions like IIMs make trivial errors. However, who claimed that an MBA solely revolves around knowledge? If it were solely about knowledge, pursuing an MBA wouldn't be necessary. MBA programs focus on grooming individuals. While knowledge can be acquired anywhere, proper grooming, personality development, confidence building, decision-making, leadership skills, and competitiveness (such as clearing exams like CAT) are aspects that necessitate structured education. A person investing in a correspondence/distance MBA typically spends 10-40 thousand rupees, whereas someone pursuing a full-time MBA from a reputable institute may spend between 5-7 lakhs. Is that person irrational?

Consider this scenario: When dining out, one typically selects a restaurant based on budget or status, similar to how companies operate. Just as elders advise on choosing decent and hygienic dining places, companies also seek certain credentials. Would you prefer to eat at a roadside stall or a reputable establishment? While even 5-star hotels can make mistakes, the likelihood is lower. Conversely, while not all roadside stalls are unhygienic, the risk is higher. Despite this, roadside stalls can still thrive. There's always the possibility that a wealthy individual might visit, appreciate the food, and support the vendor in transforming their business. Until then, patience is key.

Similarly, individuals pursuing distance education or correspondence MBAs must await the right timing and opportunities without succumbing to frustration or impatience. For instance, last year, Google India advertised a Manager-HR position, receiving a total of 1276 applications, all from full-time MBAs. Among these, around 260 applicants hailed from A+ category institutes. What are your thoughts on this?

Exercise patience, seize the right opportunities, and avoid hasty decisions post completing your MBA. Continuing with the same company and growing within it can be beneficial.

Regards,

Sanjeev Sharma

(Blog: http://sanjeevhimachali.blogspot.com/)