Feeling Stuck After MBA in HR? Seeking Advice on Next Steps Before Moving to Saudi Arabia

Hello Friends, I'm a 2010 MBA HR graduate, and right now, I am confused about what to do next. I am considering pursuing ERPs like SAP HR, Oracle HRMS, etc. I have 2 years of experience in the HR field before joining MBA, where I was primarily involved in duties such as recruiting and training.

Now, I am unsure about what to do next as I will be relocating to Saudi Arabia in the next 3 months. Please help me and suggest something.

Thank you.

I would suggest that you go for a job and focus on your career at this moment. I also appreciate your interest in pursuing the SAP HR course. However, I recommend opting for it after you have at least 5 years of work experience.

While there are many institutes offering SAP courses, always choose the best institute recognized in the industry. This will add weightage to your resume and help you secure a good job or profile.

I hope this advice sheds some light for you.

Regards,
Ankit Chaturvedi
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
[Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]

I completely agree with Mr. Ankit. Since you already have 2 years of experience and have completed an MBA course, you should consider pursuing a new job and aim to stay stable in your career for the next 3 years. In other words, try not to change jobs frequently.

In my view, after completing an MBA, it is better to search for jobs with minimum MS Office knowledge and full subject knowledge. After joining a job, you can learn anything through training because training is mandatory in every company.

Requirements for HR Position

For the HR position, the main requirements are leading capability, decision-making capability, the ability to convince everyone, and the capacity for others to listen to HR words. If I were to sum up HR in one sentence, it would be "Heroism"; just like the role of a hero. In SAP or any other platform, you can learn how to prepare salary statements, payrolls, etc., but heroism is learned through reading books, studying the public, understanding body language (which helps in gathering insights during interviews about a person), assessing capabilities, and attitude. An HR person decides if a particular individual is suitable for a post or work based on these factors. This skill set is not only useful during interviews but in all aspects.

Qualities of a Suitable HR Candidate

In my opinion, a person with high percentage marks is not the only suitable candidate for an HR job; one needs to possess heroic characteristics such as daring, decision-making capability, the ability to convince others, proficiency in English, Hindi, and mother tongue, honesty, leadership, motivation, authority, self-confidence, innovative and technical thinking, idea generation, environmental observation, and the ability to satisfy everyone, and more. If you possess these qualities, learning computer skills or anything else is not a challenge. With these qualities, one can learn within a week. Therefore, while completing your MBA, focus on developing your personal skills.

I wish you the best of luck.

Regards,
Sudha Ch.,
HR Executive.

I am also an MBA-HR with 1 year of experience. Should I go for SAP-HR? I am not getting the right exposure and opportunities in HR yet. Please suggest.

Dear Sara and Sudha, I would like to suggest that you take your first step in recruitment. Joining any consultancy or recruitment firm will help you specialize in one core function of HR. Recruitment can boost your confidence and enhance your communication skills.

Regarding SAP HR

From my understanding, it varies among different companies. Therefore, if you pursue SAP HR, you will grasp the basics, which will be beneficial for enhancing your profile and recognition.

I hope you understand my point. Best of luck for the future. Please share your experiences and stay connected with Cite HR.

Regards,
Deepali

Dear mraz4u, No need to do SAP. Just read Saudi labour and immigration rules as you said you will leave for Saudi. In the Gulf, you need to keep employee personal records, allocation records, joining and salary details, visa, medical, passport, labour permit. These are the fields which you need to maintain and coordinate with the P.R.O. there. Also, keep a performance record. So, learn the format for the same. If there is any ERP system in the company in Saudi, then they will teach you.

I think first you need to identify your passion— in which area are you interested? SAP HR is an excellent career path for any HR professional, but you need to plan how to build your career. Planning your career is very important.

So, please think about your passion and where you want to work. Then you can move forward.

It is well and good if they get their career in a generalist profile. However, based on my personal experience, I started my career in recruitment, and only then did I get the chance to put my efforts into a generalist role. I have worked in many companies, and this is where I stand now – you may call it a success. I have been through many interviews in my life, and every company asks about the functions where you can confidently contribute. It is not always easy to get a chance in a generalist profile, which is why some choose to start with recruitment.

Thank you.