Feeling Lost in HR? Seeking a Mentor to Guide My Growth and Validate My Path

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am an Assistant HR Manager working at a small IT/ITES firm in Chennai. I completed my MBA in 2008 from a reputable B-School in Bangalore, namely Acharya Institute of Management & Sciences. Achieving this goal was a significant milestone in my life.

I have 3 years of experience in HR, with 2 years spent in IT & non-IT recruitment at a consultancy serving various companies across different domains. I performed exceptionally well in that role. Currently, I am working as a Generalist HR at my current company, handling responsibilities such as Employee Grievances, Employee Retention, SOP, Facility Management, Recruitment (End-to-End), Manpower Planning, Training & Development, and more. I report directly to the CEO, without a HR Manager supervising me.

Lately, I have felt the need for a mentor to guide me in developing advanced HR skills and tactics. I have not had the opportunity to learn from an experienced HR professional who excels in Human Resources and is willing to mentor me.

In my current organization, I am solely responsible for all HR activities. There is no one to provide feedback on my work, leading to occasional confusion about the correctness of my actions. While I make efforts to read HR-related books and articles to enhance my knowledge, I believe that self-learning is not enough. I am certain that guidance from an experienced mentor is essential for me to become a HR Specialist.

I kindly seek your advice on how to proceed and fulfill my aspirations. Please confirm if my intuition is correct or incorrect.

Thanks and Regards

Dear Vikna Prakash.S and Siraj,

Thank you for your reply and valuable suggestions. A special thanks to Mr. Vikna Prakash. S. My brother is interested in writing drama, films, and stories. Could you please suggest where he should send his work? His English skills are not strong, so he writes only in Hindi. He was considering going to Mumbai, but I prefer him to stay in Delhi. He is now fully prepared to be with me in Delhi but is still searching for a job. He is a quick learner and good at problem-solving.

Thanks,
Saleem
Social Researcher
New Delhi

Dear Hrtech,

You have good qualifications as you are qualified from a reputable B-school and possess vast domain experience in a consultancy firm where you have worked in various domains like IT, ITES, Pharmaceuticals, Constructions, Cement, Oil, Gas, and Chemicals. You performed your job well.

Let me clarify that the role you are currently performing is that of an HR executive who oversees all aspects of HR activities, including recruitment. In a company, HR plays nearly more than 54 roles.

Your past experience primarily focuses on recruitment in consultancy, which is essential for every HR. However, the role of an HR executive differs significantly from that of an HR recruitment executive. Unfortunately, you lack guidance from a superior to navigate the many rules and regulations that come with the role.

On a positive note, you have achieved the position of Assistant HR Manager in a short span of your career, which is an accomplishment worthy of recognition. If you are finding it challenging to work accurately without proper guidance and are considering a job change, it implies that you prefer to focus solely on recruitment, which may limit your growth potential.

No one becomes proficient without proper guidance. Drawing inspiration from the story of Ekalavya in the Mahabharata, it is evident that the pursuit of learning is crucial for success. In today's technology era, you have access to vast resources online to enhance your knowledge of HR practices and procedures.

Embarking on a challenging journey, like navigating an ocean, can lead you to become a leader in the world, whereas sticking to the familiar, like a dip in a lake, may offer temporary ease but limited growth opportunities.

I hope I have addressed your concerns regarding your current situation.

Regards,
G. Vinay Kumar
Certified Master Trainer (HR)
[LinkedIn Profile](http://in.linkedin.com/in/vinaygajula)