Is It Too Early to Decide My Career Path at 20? Seeking Your Thoughts and Regrets

Hello everyone,

This is just something I wanted to know since the time I have decided to make a career in the field of HR.

How old were you when you decided your career goal?

I am 20 now, and I know I want to become an HR manager.

I was confused before between HR and something in the field of IT (maybe software engineering).

I don't know how, but somehow the will to do something in the field of IT disappeared, and I just chose HRM.

And the passion for it has grown ever since.

I have heard of people indecisive at the age of 35 about their career goals, and then there is me, who has already decided until retirement.

Is it strange?

The other day, our college professor was discussing the career cycle and its importance and stuff.

She took a poll to see how many had decided their future after BMs.

I raised my hand and found just 4-5 more hands up in the class of 40-45.

Is it too early for me to decide?

Please do give feedback.

And do any of you have any regrets? This is the main question.

PS: The topic "serious dilemma" is just to get your attention; I am just curious.

Hi Sunayaa

We understand your plight very well..

Great ..at 20 you made up your mind that u wannna be HR Mgr..wow at your age i didn't know what i wanted to be!!

Well, i would suggest that BMS is little too early to decide your career goals..after this course work for a while in HR field to validate your chosen passion field..in case you like it then do MBA - HR ..

at your age ..i wanted to be a doc!! as am interested in mind-body connexxions...during MBA - majored in Marketing & Finance..as Sales & Marketing esp advertising was my passion at that time..after working with FMCG as Sales Officer for three years..realized that my passion lay somewhere else..drifted in HR ..again waz finding it little monotonous till i went to IIM - Ahmedabad for a weeklong workshop on Creativity in HR which gave me an insight about the scope ..now i have donned the role of trainer-Creativity alongwith with Corporate HR functions..

The point is our career goals to some extent depends on intrinsic factors..the breaks you get which broadens one's horizon or something which you find while working - gives you a sense of satisfaction...

I know a person who waz among the top five at IIM-A yet at the placements he turned down the offer of 20 Lacs - went to Mumbai to work with street kids...other examples are Rashmi Bansal of JAM magazine..person who started Eklavya magazine..

so don't worry..if you have HR to be your goal..work in this field for sometime - as sometimes academic world is very different from work reality..

Meanwhile you check it out the comperetencies of HR vis-a-vis your present skills which you percieve to have...

Cheerio

Rajat

HR COMPETENCY MODEL

Relationship of HR roles in the model

Leader

HR Expert

Business Partner

Change Agent

HUMAN RESOURCES COMPETENCY MODEL

Role Competency Demonstrates Activity

STRATEGIC PARTNER

•Organizational Awareness

•Problem Solving

•Customer Service

•Stress Tolerance

•Oral Communication

•Understanding of public service environment

•Knowledge of agency's mission

•Knowledge of organizational development principles

•Understanding on client's organizational culture

•Knowledge of business system thinking

•Understanding of business process & how to change and

improve efficiency and effectiveness

•Innovation & encourages risk-taking

•Interacts with customers in a way that demonstrates customer concerns and

problems are heard, builds confidence and trust

•Links HR policies and programs to the organization's mission & service

outcomes

•Applies organizational development principles

•Adapts HR services to the client's organizational culture

•Designs and/or carries out HR services that incorporate business system applications

•Uses HR principles that change business processes to improve its efficiency and effectiveness

LEADER

•Decision Making

•Planning & Evaluation

•Conflict Management

•Self-Management

•Self-Esteem

•Oral Communication

•Analytic, strategic & creative thinking

•Knowledge of staff & line roles

•Knowledge of business system and information technology

•Acts decisively

•Manages resources e.g. human, funds, equipment

•Applies conflict resolution methods in organizational situations

•Uses consensus & negotiation coalition building skills to improve overall

communication

EMPLOYEE CHAMPION

•Flexibility

•Teaching Others

•Learning

•Interpersonal Skills

•Oral Communication

•Develops employee & agency's relationships

•Understands, values, & promotes diversity

•Balances both agency's & employees' demands & resources

•Develops other's talents to maximize human potential

•Mentors individuals to develop talent

•Assesses & balances competing values e.g., policies & mission needs

•Builds trust relationships

TECHNICAL EXPERT

•Technical Competence

•Legal, Government, & Jurisprudence

•Personnel & Human Resources

•Information Management

•Arithmetic*

•Mathematical Reasoning*

•Customer Service

•Writing

•Reading

•Memory

•Attention to Detail

•Oral Communication

•Knowledge of human resources law & policies

•Knowledge of work-life & organizational plans

•Knowledge of information technology

•Applies expertise in the full range of the HR arena to support agency's

mission and business needs

•Uses surveys and other tools to provide information to help create an

effective & efficient work environment

•Adapts information technology to HR management

CHANGE CONSULTANT

•Teamwork

•Reasoning

•Influencing/Negotiating

•Integrity/Honesty

•Creative Thinking

•Oral Communication

•Stress Tolerance

•Organizational development principles

•Understanding of marketing

•Representation of HR products and services

•Understanding of team behavior

•Assesses the readiness for change & identifies appropriate change strategies

•Designs & implements change processes

•Applies organizational development principles

•Applies innovative strategies including identifying and recommending

solutions to various personnel & HR issues

•Uses consensus, consultation & negotiation/consensus building

•Influences others to act

•Practices & promotes integrity & ethical behavior

•Works in teams

•Communicates well

The competencies are not limited to the particular assigned role. In reality, competencies will be fluid among the various HR roles. This model is a compilation of IPMA, NAPA, and OPM models. Also included are

concepts from Human Resources Champions by David Ulrich. Italicized competencies are unique to this specific role; the other competencies are applicable to more than one role.

*These competencies are required for some classification and staffing work.

ADVANCE COPY

The Emotional Competence Framework

Personal Competence

Self-Awareness

• Emotional awareness

• Accurate self-assessment

• Self-confidence

Self-Regulation

• Self-control

• Trustworthiness

• Conscientiousness

• Adaptability

• Innovation

Motivation

• Achievement drive

• Commitment

• Initiative

• Optimism

Empathy

• Understanding others

• Developing others

• Service orientation

• Leveraging diversity

• Political awareness

Social Skills

• Influence

• Conflict management

• Change catalyst

• Collaboration and cooperation

• Communication

• Leadership

• Building bonds

• Team capabilities

*Adapted from the works of Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence and Working with Emotional Intelligence.

Appendix D

DOD HR COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK

Staffing Specialist

Human Resources Generalists

Labor Relations Specialist

Employee Development Specialist

Classification Specialist

Personnel Systems Manager

Personnel Support DoD Manager

Business Management Competencies

• Business Process Reengineering

• Change Management

• Contract Management

• Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Customer Relations

• Financial Management

• Marketing

• Negotiating

• Organizational Awareness

• Organizational Needs Assessment

• Outcome Measures and Evaluation

• Project Management

• Strategic Human Resource Practices

• Strategic Planning

Professional Competencies

• Coaching and Mentoring

• Communication

• Conflict Management

• Decision-making

• Ethics

• Facilitation

• Interpersonal Relations

• Problem-Solving

• Self Management

• Teamwork

• Technology Application

Technical HR Competencies

• Appeals, Grievances, and Litigation

• Attendance and Leave

• Benefits

• Career Development

• Compensation

• Discipline and Adverse Action

• Employee Assistance

• Equal Employment Opportunity

• Human Resource Management Fundamentals

• Instructional Systems Development

• Instructional Technology

• Job Analysis

• Labor Management Relations

• Organizational Development

• Organization and Position Design

• Pay Administration

• Performance Management

• Personnel Assessment

• Personnel Systems Management

• Position Classification

• Reduction-in-Force

• Rewards and Recognition

• Staffing and Recruiting

• Succession Planning

(PRIVATE SECTOR) INTEGRATIVE MODEL OF HR COMPETENCIES

Emerging Structure Competency

1) Corporate HR leaders Core Leadership

2) Senior HR Generalist at the business

unit level Core Leadership

3) HR specialist in shared service

centers Core HR Expertise

4) HR experts in centers of expertise Core

Consultation Leadership

HR Expertise

HR EXPERTISE

•Knows best practices

•Designs & delivers HR

•Applies technology

•Measures HR

LEADERSHIP

•Leadership skills

•Leadership abilities

•Change advocacy

CORE

•Business knowledge

•Communication

•Systematic perspective

•Credibility/Integrity

•Negotiation skills

•Customer

•

CONSULTATION

•Influence skills

•Consulting skills

•Change

•Collaboration/Team

Hi Sunayna,

I have also just started my career in HR, and I am already in a state of rethinking. However, I think it is more because of the kind of boss I have here rather than any dislike for the job. I really think you are very lucky that you have your plans fixed! I am seriously thinking of shifting my line or at least my company!

Cheers, Pallavi

See... this is what my point is. Isn't it too young for me to decide? I am so sure about joining HR that it scares me.

Yeah, I am planning to do that next year from XLRI (if I can) or TISS or Symbiosis.

lol... you'll laugh if you know what all I've wanted to become. Well... when I was a kid, like most children, I wanted to become a math teacher. Then at one point in time, a social worker, then at 8th standard when I read my first John Grisham, I wanted to be a lawyer more than anything else in my life. At 11th, I was inclined towards finance, so wanted to do CA. I soon learned that CA is not my cup of tea or water or anything. I joined BMS because I thought B.Com would be boring, and then there were so many options. I liked psychology because people and their behavior fascinate me. And then ever since, I'm aiming for HR. My psychometric test tells me to take up something in human relations, public relations, or service and stuff like that. My friends too agree, and I think it's the best that I can do with my skills and will give me a sense of satisfaction...

And Pallavi, dear,

I think your boss is human (no one's perfect). I don't know about you, but I would take it as a challenge. Hihi... my boss's boss at my summers, I thought he didn't like me. He never smiled back at me and gave... it really annoyed me. But he was actually impressed by me, and it was a happy ending, so you just hang in there, okay? You know... if you change your career and go do something else, imagine, okay... 20-25 years from now, you dislike the job you're doing, and then you wonder what would have happened if you would have taken Sunayna's advice and stuck to HR. I mean change the career you want because of your boss?? Too much, yaar. What if your boss moves with you? Or your future boss is worse?

It's never too early to set goals, providing you don't close your mind to unexpected opportunities. I am doing work now that is miles removed from my original career goals, but I am happy in what I am doing as it utilizes my skills and has developed competencies that I never realized I had.

Dear Sunayana,

It is not too early to decide. At your age, I also thought like you, and after 10 years, I became the HR Head for a pharmaceutical firm. You need to be decisive, clear, and focused towards the goal that you have decided on. You will definitely attain the goal.

Regards,
Srinivasu

Sunyana,

There was a bit of anxiety at first, but it didn't take long to find out that many of my skills really were transferrable. The best thing I've done for a while.

Hi numerouno,

Well... I guess I'll continue my plans for HR as a career and keep asking other people. If I feel like changing (which I don't think so), then I'll leave it to fate.

Hi Srinivasu, do you have any regrets?

Dear Sunayna,

My name is Sadashiv Rao, and I am based in Kuwait as an Executive HR. Your letter is interesting, and you are a very intelligent individual. I feel that you have already made up your mind to pursue a career in HRM. Let me tell you one thing – you are a focused individual.

At your age, there was nobody to guide me, and I did not know where I was headed. Do what is in your mind and what it tells you, but remember it is also good to ask senior people (as Rajatji has replied to you). My opinion is that you are already on the right track, and you have a full life ahead of you, plus you have made an early start. This is a very vast and interesting field, and my suggestion is to learn as much as you can (there is no age for learning: always remember this!). All the very best to you, and I do hope that after receiving so many positive views, your dilemma has been resolved. God Bless you!

Regards,
Sadashiv Rao

Dear Sunayna,

My name is Sadashiv Rao, and I am based in Kuwait as an Executive HR. Your letter is interesting, and you are a very intelligent individual. I feel that you have already made up your mind to pursue a career in HRM. Let me tell you one thing: you are a focused individual.

At your age, there was nobody to guide me, and I did not know where I was headed. Do what is in your mind and what it tells you, but remember it is also good to ask senior people (as Rajatji has replied to you). My opinion is that you are already on the right track, and you have a full life ahead of you, plus you have made an early start. This is a very vast and interesting field, and my suggestion is to learn as much as you can (there is no age for learning: always remember this!!!). All the very best to you! I do hope that after getting so many positive views, your dilemma has been cleared from your mind. God bless you!

Thank you so much. This is quite an inspiration. I just want to ask you one question... what made you choose HR? Yes, you are right. I have made up my mind, but I am just scared if it is too early to do that. Thanks again.

Regards,
Sadashiv Rao

Is there any option of studying Retail Management and HRM together? http://indiaretailing.com <link updated to site home> (THIS IS WHAT I MEAN BY RETAIL MANAGEMENT).

I'm a little confused, again. I've been advised to keep my options open by a very good friend, and it does make sense. My second preference for a career is - Retail Management...yes, it may be a small job in the beginning, but I'm sure I'll be good at it too. Probably I could join the HR department of a shopping store or something. Please comment.