Feeling Stuck in a Small HR Role: Should I Move to a Bigger Company for Growth?

Dear Friends,

I am an HR Executive in an IT company. For the last three months, my company deals with IT hardware products. In my company, there are only 32 employees, and I am the only person in the HR department. I feel that there is not much opportunity for me to gain extra knowledge as I want to learn more things related to my profile and enhance my knowledge. Currently, I am involved in limited processes such as recruitment, salary details, attendance, and conflicts handling.

In comparison to other corporate or MNCs, I feel that my knowledge is not growing. In this situation, I am contemplating whether I should take a step towards moving to another organization.

Thanks & Regards,
Sapna

Hi,

I would suggest changing your job. First of all, please focus on your core job and identify your expert area. Then, wait for the right opportunity to come. When it comes, discuss the profile and grab it.

Good luck.

Dear Sapna,

I would like to suggest that a job change may not be a good decision for you at this time, considering you have only three months of experience in the current role. HR is a continuous learning process, and you will have the opportunity to learn many new things by navigating the changing environment within the company and working with different employees. I recommend staying a bit longer, enjoying what you are currently doing, trying to push your limits, and taking on challenges to enhance your work using new methodologies.

Since you are the sole HR personnel in the company, this presents a valuable opportunity for you to introduce innovative practices to the HR department.

Regards,
Pankaj Chandan

Hi, Janat. You said you have 30 people working there, so you have to deal with their PF, ESI part. Being a new beginner with 3 months of experience, try to learn that too. Slowly, the team will increase, and many new things will come for you to focus on. Try to focus more on the maintenance of the employee database, and later, you will handle bonuses and leave encashment as months progress. This profile is also good to learn as a learner. It's good you are alone there; whatever problem comes, you have to face it alone. Go through their State Shops & Establishment Act too. It will help you in the future. For any help, you can email me.

Ratikanta Rath (HR Manager) [Login to view]

Dear Sir,

In my company, PF and ESI processes are handled by the accounts department. In this situation, how can I improve my knowledge? Please tell me by what means I can enhance my skills. Most of the time, I have no work, and I am sitting without any tasks. In this situation, what steps should I take?

Thanks & Regards,
Sapna

Dear Sapna,

Don't move because you are working only three months. This is a very short time, and moving is not good for your future. Don't worry about learning there, and after 1 year, consider leaving your current employer. I will help you find a new job.

Thanks,
Amit Sharma
Email: amitsharmaji@rediffmail.com

I had the same situation as you two years ago when I joined my current company as an HR staff member. I felt so tired and felt like there was no growth in my job. My teacher advised me that I should stay there for at least 1.5-2 years. I followed my teacher's instruction and have stayed there until now.

My experience has shown me that we can learn many things from the people around us: our colleagues, our bosses, and others. All experiences are valuable!

I had the same situation as you two years ago when I joined the current company as an HR staff. I felt so tired and felt there was no growth in my job. My teacher advised that I should stay there for at least 1.5-2 years. I followed my teacher's instruction and have stayed there until now.

My experience is that we can learn many things from the people around us: from colleagues, from our boss, and so on. All experiences are valuable! Let's think carefully before making decisions.

Best regards, Nguyen

Hey Sapna,

Well, you just saw that Satheesh, a BE and MBA graduate, is ready to take up a job with you.

This shows how in-demand your position is, and you are the lucky one to have it.

So, my suggestion is to relax. In due course, you will slowly add value to your organization. In fact, I must say you are lucky to have such a small team to start with. Take it from me, it's much easier to experiment with a small team than with a big team.

If PF/ESIC is handled by accounts, so what, you can learn from them by assisting them in clerical work. Take it from me, one becomes a master by doing things, and this applies to all HR activities like PF, ESIC, Bonus, OT calculation, payroll submission, employee welfare activities, employee skills upgrading, and skills mapping. Besides, you can also be a partner in the business by evaluating the sales staff and staff in general on their performance vis-a-vis the business targets/requirements.

Important Note: HR is all about human relations and not just learning tools and techniques; sometimes, these only benefit the system, not humans. You can master human relations only by being with them. Think about that.

Wish you all the best.

Regards,

ukmitra

True. As you are the only HR person, try to collect the policies that your competitor companies follow and make better or the best policies for your own. This could be related to office administration, attendance, or for motivational purposes.

Hi,

This is not the right time to change jobs as the markets are really bad. Regarding learning, consider starting new initiatives in your department, such as employee engagement. Additionally, talk to your seniors (management) and ask for more responsibilities. Keep on reading and updating yourself by surfing the internet and more. Don't worry. Be patient. Try this. Good luck.

Regards,
Sara

Hi Sapna,

Since you have only been with this company for 3 months, you may not find your job interesting yet. Once you get along with your staff and start interacting with your management, you will really find your job enticing. I suggest you stay for the next 6-8 months and then reconsider if you still feel the same. Check your company's profile, see how the growth graph of the company looks. If you feel it is okay, then please don't look for a change. Since you are the only HR in the organization, take control, Sapna. HR is the core of the organization, and you will hold a key position in the coming days if you perform well. Unless you get a really good job offer, please continue.

Regards,
Swapna.

Amit Vaishnav (Gujarat):

I read all the suggestions given to Sapna. I am also working as a personnel assistant, assisting my seniors in PF, OT calculation, and Leave calculation. I have been working for the past 3 months. All this information and suggestions are very useful to me too. Thank you very much, dear seniors and colleagues.

Hi Sapna,

As suggested, I would also advise you not to change your job at this point in time. Moreover, when discussing HR jobs, it's true that after recruitment is over, we may feel there is nothing to do. However, this is actually the right time to keep yourself updated about your competitors and new trends in business.

I always believe that an HR professional must have knowledge of the business, understanding current processes, and being aware of upcoming changes. This knowledge will allow you to be more proactive and effective in your role.

While these efforts may lead to some interference in the Operations department, you can explore indirect areas, such as interacting with people, to gather information and insights.

Have you considered the training and development opportunities in your area? Taking initiative in this area can significantly enhance your knowledge and skills. In the HR field, we often receive limited guidance on what we should be doing, so being a self-starter in various aspects is crucial.

I hope this advice proves helpful to you. If you have any further questions or need more guidance, feel free to reach out.

Best regards, [Your Name]

Dear,

There is an opportunity in every difficulty. One way is to simply find a new job. The other option is that (this is only if your CEO/Owner has a vision or can understand and is willing to change), start taking initiatives in your spare time. Develop processes/SOP/Flow Charts, HR Handbook, HR manual, develop an orientation program for new hires, do salary surveys, TNAs, performance appraisals, etc. and share the end results with your boss. See what happens!!

Regards,
Dawood Qaseem

I find that to be the best opportunity to learn. Share your experiences with others so that you can introspect yourself and learn from what others do in a similar situation. It's good that you are alone.

Regards,
Hrishikesh

Hi,

I am working as an executive assistant to the Managing Director in a medical equipment MNC. I have recently completed my MBA in HR from ICFAI University. I have a total of 6 years of experience and now would like to start my career in HR.

Do you think I will get a job with a good package? If yes, what should be my approach to getting a job? Please suggest...

Thanks,
Swati

Good Afternoon Sir,

In my company, there is no designation process and chart. My company has given me the responsibility to create the designation and grade for each employee. However, I am the only person in my HR department, and nobody can assist me. Please advise me on how to prepare the designation chart and grade process. In my company, we have sales, service, finance, admin, and HR departments, and we deal with IT hardware products. Please consider this and guide me on the designation process.

Thanks & Regards,

Sapna Saini HRD

Oh, there it goes, Sapna.

What I see now is that you are a new baby chick just about to learn to fly. But suddenly, you are being thrown out of the nest and being asked to learn to fly yourself without the wings fully grown. I must say you are very honest with yourself. No worries, here is some help.

Here are a few attachments which I hope will help you. These were provided on Citehr by our experts. Please also check for downloads in the download section. Also, check on Google for the job descriptions and grades of other companies with the same business model as yours.

Devise your own work model and make the owner/business sales head/HOD of the company involved and approve all that you do, so they are part of this development.

All the best,

Ukmitra

Hey Sapna,

Here is one more attachment. I hope this is helpful.

Regards, UKmitra

Dear Sapna,

Thanks for creating the opportunity to provide inputs. These are my thoughts on this situation.

1. Employee strength is 32:

Find out the organization's vision and plan to grow the business. HR is a critical player in ensuring the organization's goals are achieved. Also, every organization evolves (unless there is a leadership vacuum) and thus new challenges are created. This in itself provides an opportunity for learning.

2. You are the only HR person:

While it's possible to feel left behind, it's also easy to focus on the opportunities that this situation provides. I would look at it as a position of strength (considering the degree of freedom this creates). Since you are the only one representing the HR function in the org, what is the impact you are creating beyond the assigned/expected duties that you are carrying out?

3. Change job or not:

While the first thought that pops up in the mind is to quit and move to another job, it's not always the best thing to do (especially when you are just 3 months into this job). Changing a job should never be a hasty move. I have some questions for you here. While you may choose not to answer these on this thread, do take time to reflect on these and, more importantly, on the answers that you find within yourself:

- In this situation, what are the other options you have considered (apart from a job change)?
- What learning opportunities are you creating for yourself in the current job?
- What programs are you, as an HR person, driving in the organization?
- What are your short, mid, and long-term career goals?
- How does the current job contribute to your short, mid, and long-term goals?
- How will a job change now enable you to meet your short, mid, and long-term goals?

I am sure with a little bit of strategizing, you could easily be using your current situation to enhance your experience.

Cheers,
vinkrish

Since you have been with this company for only 3 months, you may not find your job very interesting yet. Once you establish good relationships with your colleagues and start interacting with the management, you will likely discover your job to be more enticing. I suggest staying for the next 6-8 months and then reassessing if you still feel the same way. Take a look at your company's growth trajectory; if it seems promising, it might be best to stay rather than look for a change.

As you mentioned being the sole HR person in the organization, remember that HR is at the core of any company, and you will play a key role in the organization's future if you perform well. Unless you come across an exceptional job opportunity, I recommend continuing in your current role.

Regards,
Swapna

Dear Sapna, don't make hasty decisions. As you mentioned, you have plenty of time to learn and develop. Therefore, engage yourself in HR-related tasks and familiarize yourself with the work. While you may understand the subject, true growth comes from implementation. So, acquire basic books on statutory laws and read them. If you have any doubts, feel free to reach out to me.

Afterward, consider transitioning to a different industry.

Good luck.

Regards,
Yagniah K
Manager - HR
Sri Chakra Cement
Hyderabad
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]