Choosing Between SAP HR and Advanced Diploma in HRM: Which Path Boosts Your HR Career?

Dear all,

Greetings for the day. I would like to introduce myself as a normal human being on this wonderful planet who, like the rest of others, gets confused at some point in time.

My point of confusion is rather professional, hanging between two situations:

I am an MBA-HR graduate (2009) and currently working as an HR recruiter for the past 4 months. I have plans to transition into core HR activities, and for this reason, I have decided to join some finishing schools that provide practical experience in all HR-related activities.

Among the two options I have to decide on the better one. The options are whether to join:

1. SAP HR, or
2. Advanced diploma in HRM.

In terms of fees, the former is five times more expensive than the latter. However, if the certification and experience gained hold value, then money is not a factor at all.

My objectives for pursuing the course are:

1. To get involved in core HR activities.
2. To climb the organizational ladder quickly, or even the fastest.
3. To be honest, to secure a better compensation package.
4. To position myself at a strategic level within the next 3 years.
5. Additionally, as I am planning to go international at some point, I am seeking an effective option.

Waiting,

Prateek

I feel that launching yourself as a fresher for SAP-HR Certification will be a premature decision. I suggest that you should gain good corporate experience in your functional domain for at least 1 year to develop subject matter expertise. Your work experience will help you gain momentum in acquiring the skills that are essential for your SAP-HR certification.

But by doing SAP HR, you will land in the technical field, not in core HR activities. I think you should consider another option.

Hi Prateek,

You have a flair for both money and the leadership. To be precise you are interested in the advantages that are associated with HRM role+good money. If you can assess how deserving you are for what you flair for and come out with an honest answer, you will be able to decide it firmly. Below are some of the things related to HRM and SAP HR

SAP HR:

1. Is technical and needs functional expertise.

2. Many such profiles can be under a single roof

3. Career path - not vertical

4. Compensation - Decent

5. Managerial Advantage - Can get after crossing a certain career milestone

6. Can have an international exposure even being a Jr. Executive

7. Needs continuous skill development

8. Career is associated with performance and promisingly predefined by the organizations.

HRM

1. Totally managerial, needs state of the art leadership abilities and many more managerial fundas right from the opening of the career.

2. Less number of similar profiles under a single roof

3. Career path - vertical in most cases

4. Compensation – Decent – depends on personal ability

5. Managerial Advantage - immediate many times

6. International exposure - may/may not

7. Needs continuous skill development, industry awareness….much more like best practices in hiring, training, performance evaluation, grievance handling, emp engagement, recognition, current laws on labour, tax, esi, pf etc etc

8. Personal ability plays a key role in career enrichment

These are some but not all the criterion which I feel should be considered to choose your career.

Hope it helps you

Regards

Shyam