Feeling Stuck in Executive Assistance? How Can I Transition to an HR Role?

Dear All,

Presently, I am working as an Executive Assistant in the government sector on a contractual basis. I have a total of 9 years of experience as a personal assistant or executive assistant. I have completed my M.Com. and a 2-year diploma in Secretarial Practice. Additionally, I have also obtained an MBA in HR from IGNOU, and I am very passionate about HR.

Career Transition to HR

The problem I am facing is that I want to transition my career into the HR field, but my past experience has been as a personal assistant or executive assistant. However, I am determined to pursue opportunities in HR or as an Admin Executive. Can I change my past experience and responsibilities to reflect HR/Admin Executive roles, rather than my previous positions?

Despite having many offers as a personal assistant or executive assistant, my goal is to secure a job as an HR/Admin Executive. I am not interested in continuing in roles as a personal assistant or executive assistant.

Please suggest what steps I should take and guide me accordingly.

Regards,
Abhi Sharma

Dear Abhi,

It is not possible for you to change your past experience as an HR/admin because both responsibilities differ. If interviewers ask about the HR areas in detail, you will not be able to answer. Moreover, you might be caught during the background verification.

Show your past experience as it is, then try for HR. You will get the job. Explain to them why you want to choose HR, but make sure it is your career. Don't let anyone else decide. Think and act because it is your life.

All the best.

Dear Abhi,

Why can't you try from a different angle? Please approach the HR Department in your company politely. Offer to assist them with filing, typing their correspondence, and preparing the HR manual if it is not yet ready in your organization. Politely request the HR manual from the department, and once you have it, start reading it in your free time. Enhance your knowledge by asking more questions in the office. Utilize Google to find answers online on platforms such as CiteHR and other relevant websites.

Keep searching. If you search thoroughly, you can even find what seems impossible. Surely, you will receive the opportunities you deserve.

All the Best,
Abhi.

Transitioning to an HR Career

I too agree with Bharathi regarding your suggestion about projecting HR experience rather than your actual experience. More than the strong probability that you would be caught sooner or later, I would suggest that you TOTALLY BANISH such thoughts from your mind since ONE JUST CAN'T CARRY A FAKE EXPERIENCE FOR LONG. You will not only NOT get what you wanted [a career in HR], but most likely even lose what you have in hand.

Steps to Enter the HR Field

Coming to 'what you can do' to get into the HR line, apart from the line of action that S. Bhaskar mentioned, you can also try for such openings which are a combination of PA/EA PLUS some admin activities/responsibilities. This way, you will still carry your actual experience along AND can utilize your MBA to get an entry into HR THROUGH the Admin Role route. I have seen companies that admit such a combination. But ALL THE WHILE, please remember that your final focus is to get into HR—which would be easier through the Admin route. Hope you get the point.

All the Best.

Regards,
TS

Dear Sir, Thank you very much for your advice. I am very grateful to you. The first thing is that I have completely changed my CV to Executive (HR/Admin). Currently, I am shortlisting for the position of Manager/Dy Manager, which are not handled by me. Kindly suggest what I can do. Can I change my CV to an Executive (HR/Admin)?

Best Regards,
Abhi

If you change your CV to HR Executive, you will be considered a fresher. Nowadays, most companies are looking for experienced HR professionals, and only a few small firms will hire fresher candidates. Both Manager and Deputy Manager positions are good; in fact, they are more challenging than HR roles. Furthermore, you can establish a stable career. My suggestion is to pursue your field as starting as a fresher might be challenging. Make your final decision based on the points I mentioned earlier.

All the best.

Gaining Experience in HR

First, learn all HR facts and procedures from an experienced HR professional before falsifying experience. Just as we obtain a driving license to drive, a young boy working in a garage may drive without a license but with experience. Life works in a similar manner, my friend.

If only faking experience could be as easy as suggested by Dead Soul. I think he still lives in some other world where there are no reference checks, background checks, and other such stringent things...

Abhinav, my question to you is: why do you want to enter HR? Is it so you can hire people with fake records and documents? I would suggest getting serious about life and career. It's not all about a bed of roses as it may seem or as advised by Dead Soul...

The rest is up to you. All the best.

Regards,