MBA HR Freshers: Should You Start in Recruitment or a Generalist Role?

Hi All,

I just have 2 quick queries.

1. As the topic suggests, which, according to the professionals here, would be a better place to start a career for an MBA HR fresher?

Would it be as a recruiter in a recruitment consulting firm (a well-established firm) or as a recruiter in a direct company? (Let's say, an IT company - small level).

My view is that when it comes to a company, the person has a chance to witness/take over some other generalist/post-recruitment activities as well, but this would be limited when it comes to a recruitment firm that focuses on placements alone and strictly behind targets from multiple clients.

2nd question. Is it better for an MBA HR fresher to start his career as a recruiter or with a generalist profile? The market scenario shows more of openings on the recruitment side only. Is it really worth waiting for a good generalist opening to come up? Does the generalist profile have an advantage over the recruitment profile for freshers in terms of future career prospects?

Please give your suggestions. Thank you.

Hi,

To start your career in HR, both options are good. As an HR professional, you need to have very good communication skills.

First, you need to decide in which area of HR you want to specialize.

If you want to pursue a career in recruitment, starting with a consultancy is the best option for a year or so. Then you can search for a recruiter position in a company because during this year, you can build good relationships and maintain contacts with recruiters working in your client company. This networking would help you secure a job in that company in the future. As a fresher, it is relatively easy to land a consultancy job. However, recruitment also entails a lot of pressure, and you may feel irritated over time. This job is challenging, ensuring you never get bored.

On the other hand, if you prefer other areas in HR such as ER, Training, or Payroll, you may need to wait for the right opportunity, which could take some time. In these roles, you might find yourself doing similar tasks repeatedly, but without the pressure of meeting targets, making it a comfortable option if you prefer working without excessive pressure.

Ultimately, the decision is yours on which path to pursue. Whichever path you choose, you will likely need to invest 3-4 years in the HR field to secure a good job with a reputable company and a competitive package.

All the best!

Regards,

Chitra

Hi Chitra,

Thank you for your inputs. So, you are suggesting that it's better for me to start a recruitment career with a consultancy rather than a company. I agree with your reasoning. However, is it still worth joining the consultancy itself if the company is offering me a few thousand extra? Is the trade-off acceptable?

Thank you.

If you are getting a company job, it is well and good. I wanted to say that if you are not able to get the company job, a consultancy job is not all bad. If you are getting offers from a medium-sized company and consultancy, I will suggest you go for the company job.

Regards,
Chitra

Thank you both for the insight. Can anyone suggest which consultancy is good? Can you name a few because there are so many, and I doubt which one is better.