Feeling Stuck in a Small HR Role: How Can I Find Growth Without Leaving?

I have joined an IT company last year in Nov '10 as an Assistant Manager – HR. The strength of this company is only 30-40 employees, and there is not much to do. I am the only person in HR. Earlier, I was in a company that had a strength of 800 employees. Whatever I learned in that company (the earlier one) has been implemented here, e.g.,

- Recruitment process
- Induction PPT
- Employee handbook
- Payroll sheet
- Performance review format
- Other useful formats

I haven't found more learning opportunities here. I can't leave this company because I have not even completed one year of my service here.

Can anybody suggest what I should do?

Regards

Working as a single person in HR, especially after coming from a company with 800 employees, is very challenging. One can feel degraded. Get complete knowledge about every aspect of HR, especially the legal part, and then shift to a better job.

Regards,
Rajeev Dixit

Objective for Joining the Company

What was your objective for joining the company? Obviously, you would be aware of the company and its area of operations and employee strength before joining.

Regards

Everyone joins a company with some objective. If your objective is fulfilled, then start searching for a new company. Otherwise, have patience and try to achieve your objective and fulfill the company's objective as they have also hired you with something in mind. 

Dear Preeti, I could step into your shoes to realize the saturation point you are at now. Well, I feel that the number of staff does matter towards your activities and responsibilities. However, at the same time, I should also look for the company's growth in the near future by doing my analysis...

Questions to Consider

What type of company is it? How has it been constant in the market since its venture? What will it be in the next two years? If the growth is visible and practical, how will my role be? Do I foresee any team that I can lead? At the same time, how will this impact my compensation factors/benefits, etc.?

It's easy to advise you, but I strongly recommend doing your analysis on these points. It's just been 8 months since you joined; compare your experience with your analysis. If you are spending time there with a calculation of completing one year, trust me... you are not going to stick there for a long time.

HR performs a strong role in employee management towards attrition and retention. Being in this profile, I am sure that you understood the hidden contributing factors for this statement. You will just get answers based on assumptions for your thread, but I recommend you work on your goal against your career and field of interest.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

I am in exactly the same situation as Preeti is currently. However, I switched companies because the contract with the previous company ended. So, I had to look for another option and join immediately without any gap. But, I feel the same way as Preeti is feeling.

Thank you for the prompt reply. Previously, I was working in an insurance company where most of the employees were not well-educated (graduates or undergraduates, immature). I wanted to shift to an IT company where I could find more intellectual people.

Moreover, at the time of joining, I was informed that there were around 100 employees across India. However, this turned out not to be the case, and since I had already left my previous company, I did not have any other option. I decided to streamline all their processes. During this period, I have worked on the following:

- Employee Database (Master Data)
- Employees' Leave/Attendance records
- Recruitment Process
- Induction PowerPoint
- Payroll Database
- PMS forms and processes
- Association with new clients to deploy our resources (employees)

Currently, I am working on the HR Manual, modifying it. I anticipate looking for another job within 8-9 months, which may raise questions about my stability.

My main concern is that I am working here as an Assistant Manager and need to justify what I have learned in this year as I aim to progress to the next level after a year. There is no senior in HR to guide me, so I am implementing what I have learned in my previous job.

Regards

Hi Preeti, there are certain organizational ethics that your current employer has not upheld by hiding or lying to you about employee strength. I suggest you leave this organization once you find a better one because your employer may not even give you any relieving certificate after one year, and you will be in trouble as well.

Regards,
Zent

Hi, I have been trying to switch, but as of now, I couldn't find a good option. If I don't get any option for another few months, what should I do to add value to my skills? It has only been 8-9 months since I started. How can I justify switching from a company so early?

Regards

Dear Friends, I am working in a manufacturing unit where I am the only HR person handling two production units. We have a total of 180 employees, including contract laborers. However, all the processes related to attendance are managed at the corporate office. I am only involved in HR and legal documentation tasks, which are sent here for processing. I am eager to gain practical experience, so please advise me on what steps I can take.

Regards,
H Ram

Hi Friends, I have been trying to switch, but as of now, I couldn't find a good option. If I don't find any suitable option in the next few months, what should I do to enhance my skills? It has only been 8-9 months since I started. How can I justify switching from a company so early?

Regards

Company Size and Systems

Company size doesn't matter as long as systems are in place. Implement the best practices and systems, and automatically you will be recognized. I prefer to be a big fish in a small pond.

Regards,
Pon