Feeling Stuck as an HR Coordinator: Should I Stay or Seek New Opportunities?

Dear Friends and Seniors,

I have completed my Bachelor of Science in Management from an International University and spent a lot during my bachelor's, but I really don't regret it, as the standard and exposure they provided have really helped me learn and grow.

Thus, I decided to work during my master's and chose to do a distance learning program. Now, I have almost a year of experience where I have gained good knowledge of recruitment and coordination.

Recently, I joined a company as an HR coordinator. They have not made my job responsibilities clear to me. They are just keeping me engaged by asking me to create modules for training, which I am enjoying, but they are not giving any input on them or implementing them.

All I am doing is conducting telephonic interviews for different profiles, and I feel that I am not learning anything. I feel like a secretary to the HR; there are only two people in the HR department.

What do I do? Please suggest. Can I stick with this company? How can I make things better?

Please help.

Regards,

Have you met an education or career counselor prior to deciding to pursue a Bachelor's in Science in Management, especially given the high costs involved? I accept that each one of us is a born manager—efficacy issues aside. Yet, education per se (I mean conventional in natural sciences, science stream, or commerce) is always desirable. At that age, adding management subjects to the load is slightly tough. You have two years after graduation to prepare and undertake some high-end management program. That way, the industry respects you as you have learned deeply and matured more, at least relatively!

Ultimately, a management qualification is like obtaining a driving license. Many obtain it, but only a few really drive safely and economically. I suppose the counselor would have told you these or similar things if given the chance!

But all that is water under the bridge—it has flowed out. Let us look at the present scenario in which you find yourself.

• You still feel the need to do a proper management program for two years, albeit through distance learning as you are now in a job.
• On the job, your employers do not seem to tap your management knowledge and are asking you to do things that a smart and slightly experienced graduate could do!
• Your employers have not given you a proper job profile and have really left you to do only that which you are instructed to!

As I see it, you are being exploited! There is an urgent need for you to stop working altogether (if you can afford it) and give up this distance learning halfway, if necessary!

Look, there is no substitute for a regular management qualification from any of the IIMs, Symbiosis, ISB-Hyderabad, JBIMS, etc. When you get into any of these institutes, you will realize the difference between two worlds.

In my personal opinion, management is not a discipline that freshers can or should learn through distance learning. This is such a sensitive discipline that there is no alternative to face-to-face interactions and hands-on work on real issues!

I am aware this is a long reply, but it may help others too. If I sound harsh (even rude, for that matter), please understand that it is not my intention but my concern for youngsters that drives me to adopt virtually an absolutist stance on certain matters!

I hope you may still be able to usher in corrective actions. However, if you can’t, then please remember the story of Eklavya from Mahabharata!

I will be happy to answer any further questions you may have if you care to raise them.

Regards, Samvedan
November 19, 2010

Thanks a lot for all your suggestions. Taking every note of the advice and suggestions, I would want to let you all know what I have planned for the coming days. Please let me know also if the steps taken are right. I don't want to look back and regret whatever steps I have taken. I am pretty satisfied with the course content and exposure that I have learned during my bachelor's, and my decision of choosing a distance learning course from Symbiosis was only because I wanted to learn more practically about all the aspects that I had learned and that I will be learning. That's what I am doing, I guess! No organization is perfect. Everyone has some flaws. My point is taking each opportunity as a challenge.

I might not have mentioned one big thing - "the office is under renovation," and thus it's not really in a position that more responsibility could be given for the time because the functioning might not be easy.

The Importance of Talent Over Degrees

What Ms. Priya had discussed earlier is a serious problem that we face in India. Why do we give merit to degrees and colleges more than one's credibility and knowledge? Every organization should be more talent-oriented. Thanks for the support there, Dear Priya and Virchand.

I am planning to work here for at least a year so that I can see what aspects I can contribute to and also learn through my experiences. Moreover, the organization I am working with is in the initial transitional phase, trying to be "corporates." It's really a challenge, and I take this chance with courage so that I can put in effort to bring in change here.

THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN! :)

LET ME KNOW WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK!

Thank you very much for all your suggestions. Taking note of all the advice and suggestions, I would like to inform you about my plans for the coming days. Please let me know if the steps taken are correct. I do not want to look back and regret the steps I have taken.

Satisfaction with Course Content

I am quite satisfied with the course content and exposure I gained during my bachelor's degree. My decision to choose a distance learning course from Symbiosis was solely because I wanted to gain more practical knowledge about the subjects I had learned and will continue to learn. That's what I am doing, I guess!

Current Work Environment

No organization is perfect; everyone has flaws. My approach is to view each opportunity as a challenge. I may not have mentioned one significant point - the office is currently under renovation, making it difficult to take on more responsibilities at the moment.

Issue of Prioritizing Degrees Over Talent

The issue that Ms. Priya discussed earlier is a serious problem we face in India. Why do we prioritize degrees and colleges over an individual's credibility and knowledge? Every organization should focus more on talent. Thank you for the support, dear Priya and Virchand.

Future Plans and Organizational Transition

I plan to work here for at least a year to understand what contributions I can make and to learn from my experiences. Furthermore, the organization I am with is in an initial transitional phase, aiming to become more corporate. It is a challenge, and I am approaching it with courage to make efforts for positive change here.

Thank you all once again! :) Please share your thoughts with me!