Struggling to Find an HR Job Without a Degree and Strong English Skills – Need Career Advice!

Hi,

This is Pooja Joshi. I am a postgraduate in Chemistry, but for the last 4 years, I have been working in HR. However, I do not have a proper HR degree, and I struggle with communication in English. Despite this, I am zealous about my work, well-organized, and a hard worker. I always seek new opportunities and strive for positive results. Nowadays, I am facing challenges as I am seeking a job in HR again. Due to the lack of a proper degree and communication skills, I am finding it hard to secure a job. Most employers look for candidates with good communication skills, a strong academic background, and relevant experience, which adds to my confusion about my career path. Additionally, I am soon getting married in Mumbai, which necessitates me finding a job urgently.

At times, I contemplate starting my own business or get drawn to new opportunities. However, I feel the urgent need for career counseling as I am not financially stable, and finding a job is crucial to support my family.

Can anybody provide assistance, please?

Regards,

Pooja Joshi
Email: poojaprofessional@gmail.com

You start your own business. Everybody has financial problems. You take some risks. Otherwise, you can try to speak with someone who is proficient in English, read newspapers, listen to the news, and watch movies. I have the same problem and I try the above things. I have seen a little improvement.

Hi Pooja,

Everything is possible if you have the zeal to do so, and congratulations on admitting that. Don't worry, you will find numerous examples of people who, despite lacking formal education in HR, are working as brilliant HR professionals.

• You have 4 years of HR experience, and that really matters!

• You can enroll in a correspondence/part-time HR course for a PG diploma or degree. Opportunities are vast in Mumbai.

• Have patience and think broadly; you can excel. Yes, individuals with relevant HR degrees are your strong competitors, but you can also succeed in the HR field if you trust yourself.

• Also, join some English speaking classes. Don't delay and practice diligently in your daily life. It's not a very challenging task, dear. Talk, walk, dress, and speak only in English. However, focus on improving your overall communication skills. How you interact, listen, share, and resolve others' problems and issues. In the end, it's the results that matter, not just English.

• Please use this citehr website as a great learning tool. There are numerous HR topics from basic to advanced levels. Study them to enhance your HR knowledge. These are the things that will benefit you in the long run.

• Starting your own business is not a bad idea, but build enough confidence with the right guidance and financial support. Some things may not be achievable right now, so leave them aside for the moment and focus on developing your career.

All the best.

Arti

Hi Pooja,

You have 4 years of experience in HR, which does hold certain value. You can enroll in a part-time or correspondence course in HR, as well as start reading English newspapers, watching English movies/news, and try to interact with your friends in English. You can also enroll in an English speaking course. A few days ago, someone posted a nice article on English speaking on CiteHR, you can search for that.

Wishing you all the best!

Regards,
Sayli

Dear Pooja,

First of all, work on communication. Read Times, improve your vocabulary, and practice talking. You are doing an HR job. Do you really like it (BSC-CHEM)? If yes, go for a part-time or executive MBA in HR. Continue working, then join a big firm, get a good designation, and maybe after 5+ years of experience, think about starting your own business.

If your inclination is towards another type of work, determine the field of your liking, and then pursue a related postgraduate degree in that field.

Kane
amit_kane2002@yahoo.co.in

Hi Pooja,

This is a very common type of problem. You have two specific problems: a) Communication skills and b) Absence of an HR degree. When it comes to communication skills, it's not a matter of a few days or weeks. It will take months and years to improve. So start today and follow the advice given by Arti. I am sure if you seriously work hard on your communication skills, you can be in a very good position after 1 year. But for now, be confident in whatever you know.

Regarding an HR degree, you can do a 2-year full-time correspondence course in HR from Symbiosis or IGNOU. Please work on your shortcomings for three years, and after that, you will become a quality professional.

All the best,
Akhouri Nishant

Dear Pooja,

Communication skills and a degree are not everything for an HR job. It has a wide functional area. You may look after other matters that do not require fluency in English. To do any type of job, you require your IQ first, then your degree. I am in a renowned construction company in the HR department next to the GM of HR. There are two MBAs under me, and I have the same problems as you.

Thank you.

Hi Pooja,

Arti has given more valid points. You have vast experience in HR domain, don't worry about lack of communication & Degree - it can be overcome with your hard work. All the best...

Dear Pooja,

I would like to say that first of all, you have to improve your IQ level. IQ level doesn't mean how fluent you are in English. It means how you express your views, ideas, and thoughts. It is not necessary that a very good speaker may be successful in HR. In HR, you need a lot of creativity and talent to measure and judge activities. Your decision-making power should be good and effective. Don't be frustrated. In my four years of career, I have seen many examples where people without specialization in HR/IR/Personnel are working in high positions. It is your talent that propels you forward. However, I suggest that over time you should consider taking a correspondence course in HR to increase your market value.

Best of luck,

Rakesh Kashyap

Dear Pooja
As everybody is advising you please do not keep any negative feelings about lack of good communication in English. And verbal communication as we all know is just a part of whole communication.
Do first your SWOT analysis and I suggest ask your friends or associates to do a swot analysis of yours and definitely you will find a list of strengths which you may be ignoring. We have to be positive in all aspects of our life.
You should have confidence in yourself and than one day you will see
Once you will be having confidence about urself than you can see the positive side of everything.And ENGLISH is not a necessary to be successful in life and don't feel shamed about it that you cannot speak English well. Start practicing and BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

Hey Pooja,

Chillax... First of all, please work on improving your communication skills. The next step for you would be to search for some short-term courses in HR that would enrich your knowledge and add to your profile. I am confident that after doing all this, you will gain self-confidence and surely land a better job.

Cheers,
Sachin Subhedar
Mumbai
9930056530

Hi, this is Kalpana. I personally would like to share some of my experiences with you. I just want to tell you that nothing is impossible. Try to utilize your inner capabilities properly. Since you are experienced in the field of H.R., continue on this path and try your best to improve your communication skills. Read newspapers and magazines to pick up new words daily and store them in your memory. Otherwise, stand in front of the mirror every day and talk to yourself. Recollect all the things you have done throughout the day and the new words you have come across. Incorporate these words into sentences and practice regularly. You will definitely see fruitful results. This practice can help improve your self-confidence and eliminate any fear you may have when communicating with others. Experience also plays an important role in communication skills. HR is not only about communication but also requires good interpersonal skills and proper behavior.

Communication is equally important with other skills.

Hi, this is Kalpana. I personally would like to share some of my experiences with you. I just want to tell you that nothing is impossible. Try to utilize your inner capabilities properly. As you are experienced in the field of HR, continue and do your best to improve your communication skills. Read newspapers and magazines to pick up new words daily, store them in your memory. Otherwise, stand in front of the mirror every day and talk to yourself, recollecting all the things you have done throughout the day. Also, recall the words you have come across, incorporate them into sentences you use, and practice regularly. By doing this, you can improve your self-confidence level and overcome the fear of communicating with others. Experience also plays an important role in communication skills. HR is not only about communication but also requires good interpersonal skills and proper behavior.

Dear Pooja,

I am a Toastmaster and a trainer on Communication Skills. I have attached a presentation that I normally use in my two-hour training programs. Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions. Communication skills cannot be learned by reading and attending courses. It requires regular practice, and improvement comes gradually. I will be available for guidance at all times.

Best regards,
Nazir Ahmed Vaid

Hello everyone. I am Aastha from Pune. I am a graduate in Pharmacy, and recently I have completed my MBA in HR. However, now I find myself feeling guilty about potentially jeopardizing my pharmacy career by pursuing an MBA, as I realize this combination may not be feasible, a realization that came to me rather late. I would appreciate any guidance or advice on this matter. Thank you.

Hi Pooja,

Having seen your query, it doesn't seem that you are bad at all in English. A little practice will make a big difference. I have seen a lot of HR heads who don't have an HR degree, but good communication skills have taken them to the heights of their careers. Therefore, good communication is a must for HR professionals, regardless of having an HR degree.

Hi Pooja,

Please check your mail, I've sent you a material. I hope it can be of some help to you.

Best wishes,

Please send me anything if you have in your mind. I have to make an FSMS policy with the following points covered in that. Please help me out; otherwise, I will be left blind.

This work has been assigned to me:

FSMS Policy

Policy to be drafted stating:

1. Ingredients Quality

2. Processing Measures

3. Product Safety Review

4. Statutory & regulatory Requirements

5. Customer Satisfaction

Hello Pooja,

You have enough experience, and it will help you in getting a job. To add more strength to your resume, try to obtain a professional degree related to HR or communication skills. You can pursue it from a distance education school, and it will also aid in your future professional growth.

Regards,
Sarah_9

Leadership Management

Dear Pooja,

I think you write very well, and that's what communication is about! You have a zeal for HR, which means you are a patient listener and can understand empathetically. Verbal communication and body language are other aspects... I think more than 80% of the battle is already won by you.

God bless you

Hi Pooja,

Let me just relive what my boss had told me some 6 years ago in my first company: "The value of a person to an institution is not based on what he has done in the past, but what he is capable of." You should first realize your strengths, which may not be present in others around, making you unique.

See, stand tall. You have such a great span of experience in HR; four years, which is good enough for you to gain an edge if you're looking to move to a new company.

We may not necessarily be doing the same job related to academics. That's just luck and sometimes ends up in paradox contrarily.

Let me provide you with my own example in case it might boost your morale. I'm a college dropout, and now I'm working as the Marketing Head and strategist of a company in the Middle East. It was all because I believed in my capabilities and paved the way forward.

Take care, Pooja... Good luck.

Zubair

Hello Nazir,

Thank you for posting the file related to communication skills. I have gone through it, and it is very helpful for beginners and intermediate level individuals. I consider my communication skills to be average, but I am eager to learn a neutral accent. Kindly assist me in this matter by providing guidance on what materials to refer to and what steps to take in order to achieve this goal.

I am also interested in listening to the speeches of foreign leaders online to help me practice and develop a neutral accent. Could you recommend any websites where I can access such content?

Thank you for sharing the information.

Regards,
Rehan.

Dear Pooja,

Your awareness that you have limitations itself is great. When you acknowledge your limitations, you can start developing yourself. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Your honest effort to learn English, enthusiasm, and above all, as Lord Krishna says in the Gita, the "Interest to learn" will do good, and within one year, you will be able to speak good English. Therefore, read English more, noting carefully how the language is used, and above all, listen to those who speak good English. Listen, listen, and listen more. Set apart some time to practice before a mirror and don't be ashamed of your mistakes. Know that you are making mistakes, and this should help you to correct yourself. Do all these with interest and regularly, and one day, I am sure you will write on this site that you have become good in spoken and written English. But then, don't forget me and to distribute sweets!

M.J. Subramanyam, Chennai

Thank you, Hameed Hayat,

This PowerPoint presentation is being used for a basic training session lasting two hours. I have programs that span up to two days, but they involve more exercises than just discussions.

Nazir

Dear Arati,
Thanks alot really it works i already started from my side no w looking for best.
Hope the same valuable advices in future also.
Regards
Pooja

Hey Zubair,

I read your email. It's a really valuable thought which you shared with me. I also admit that if I want from my deep heart, I will do it. Nowadays, during communication with different experienced people like you, what I feel, where I have zeal to do something different, something unique from others. I want to start my own business in placement and training, and I know if I get valuable comments from my seniors, then I will do it.

Thanksss once again.

Regards,
Pooja

Dear Sir,

Thank you a lot for the wishes. Definitely, if I get such kind of wonderful support from experienced and senior members like you, then I will do it.

Regards,
Pooja

Hi Pooja,

You can get enrolled in some courses that would help you grow, such as a diploma in training and development from ISTD. This will help you in the HR area.

Thanks,
Pakhi

Thank you, Pooja, for asking this question. I am facing the same problem as well. I am also trying to improve my communication skills and letter drafting. I have completed MSW in Labour Welfare & Personnel Management. I have the degree but struggle to express myself.

I am grateful to all the seniors who have provided valuable suggestions to you and people like me. Best of luck!

Pankaj B

Hi Puja,

How are you? Are you developing your communication skills? I have the same problem. How could you develop your communication skills? Please help me. I want to improve my communication skills. Thank you. I am waiting for your answer.