Switching from Marketing to HR: Is It a Good Career Move and How to Prepare?

Hi All, I have 5 years of work experience in Marketing. Now, I would like to change my career path to HR. Is it possible? If yes, could you please provide me with some suggestions on how to prepare myself and update my resume? Also, I would appreciate your input on whether this would be a good move for my career.

Thank you.

Switching from Marketing to HR: Is It Possible?

Five years in the world of work in Marketing and you wish to switch over to HR! There must be very strong reasons for this change! What are these? Have you done some introspection that perhaps justifies this change?

In any case, I would like to know your qualifications, i.e., if you are already trained for HR! If you are, you may still have to be prepared to be equated with freshers! However, if you are not already trained for HR, I would like to know if you are willing to pursue a full-time course of instructions in HR or if you would be content with a part-time course, as leaving remunerative employment to pursue a new qualification is a rather difficult decision to make. The danger is that perhaps the potential employer may not respect a part-time course. They will also have to be convinced about your desire to change track in function after five years!

Kindly provide relevant facts about your candidature and answers to the questions raised here. Only then we may be able to take the matter further for any fruitful outcome.

The questions of resume preparation will follow clarity on the above points.

Do you agree?

Regards,
Samvedan
May 31, 2011

Hi All, I have 5 years of work experience in Marketing, and now I would like to change my career into the HR field. Is it possible? If yes, please give me some suggestions on how to prepare myself and update my resume.

Also, suggest to me if it is a good move in my career.

Thank you!

Hi, I am an MBA with 6 years of industry experience. My question is, will I be eligible to appear for NET in Labour Welfare/Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/Labour and Social Welfare/Human Resource Management, considering I have majored in Marketing? It would be great if someone could let me know the same, please.

Thank you for your quick reply, Mr. Samvedan. My qualification is a B.Sc in Mathematics. I work in the education industry as a Senior Officer in Counseling. The kind of work I do here involves not only taking care of marketing activities but also addressing student-related issues. Rather than focusing solely on business, I am more interested in being involved in student issues. I feel a career in HR would provide me with more exposure to develop my career.

Regards

If Human Relationships and Interactions are what you would like to adopt as your career, it is best that you acquire a formal qualification from a reputable institute in HR, seek work opportunities in the industry, and develop your skills.

If, however, HR per se is not your preference but counseling is, you still need to acquire a suitable qualification in HR with an emphasis on "counseling."

Career Path Options

In the first instance, an MBA-HR from a good institute would be quite helpful, and in the second instance, a graduation (preferably post-graduation) in psychology or industrial psychology, or alternatively, a postgraduate degree in social work (MSW), would lead you to your desired career path.

In either case, entry is possible, and your success will depend on what you achieve.

I have a feeling that you need to introspect further and sharpen your focus for an ideal career. Maybe then we could discuss the subject better!

Regards,
Samvedan

June 1, 2011