Feeling Stuck Between HR and Academia: How Do I Choose the Right Career Path?

Good Evening All,

Once again, I am writing with a question, or we can say a confusion, regarding my career.

I worked for almost 3 years in Recruitment and General Administration. I left my previous job without anything in hand only because of no job satisfaction; I was jobless for more than 3 months. Recently, I appeared for an interview at a reputed education institute, a management college for Lectureship. They offered me an admin executive's post initially, but later confirmed a Placement Assistant position with a promise to give me a chance to enter into lectureship. However, they offered a significantly lower salary, i.e., half of what I was earning previously. Despite this, I joined. At the same time, I received an offer from a small industry where only one HR is working, providing a practical scope of work. They asked me to handle Recruitment, General Administration, and salary processing, offering me the same salary as the college. This company is a small manufacturing company.

The Main Problem I Am Facing

I left my old job only because there was no work or value addition, although I had favorable conditions like salary and other benefits, but no job satisfaction. I am very eager to learn HR practices, with my career destination set on Academics. However, I am confused about what to do now.

I have committed to the Management of this college that I won't leave the institute if I receive any good offers. But, can one be a good Academic/Lecturer without any industrial experience? I am quite shy and sometimes feel awkward and find it difficult to meet placement targets, as it requires a lot of interaction with company personnel and aggressive target closure. I cannot leave this institute because if in the future I am able to pursue a career in lecturership successfully, with experience and all, they might not consider me due to the fear that I broke my commitment once. With this fear, I am unable to decide whether to stay or leave this institute. I respect the management who appointed me here, but I aspire to work in HR as well as pursue a career as a Lecturer.

What should I do? I am feeling very anxious. Please suggest.

Regards,
Awanthi

You haven't mentioned your qualifications. But that aside, let's try to understand your problem a little more clearly, shall we?

1. You worked in an organization for 3 years in Administration and recruitment. You also have not mentioned what kind of organization it was. In those 3 years, you decided that you were not satisfied with what you were doing. So, you left your job abruptly. Now, think about it...

- What was your problem - the organization or your function?
- If it was your function, was it admin or recruiting?
- What was the real reason for leaving your job? Was it truly lack of satisfaction or excess of frustration?
- What was the actual source of your frustration?
- Did you leave your job because of the organization or your boss?

2. Now, you feel that you should pursue academics.

- Why?
- Is it because your initial experience in the corporate/private sector was negative?
- What makes you think that in lectureship you will not be able to communicate (since you are shy)?
- Why do you believe you will succeed in academics?

3. You have a job with an institution as a Placement Assistant with a promise to consider your preferred posting later.

- Will the promise be kept?
- What if you do not perform well as a placement assistant?
- Will they still offer you the opportunity in lectureship?
- What if they don't?

There are many questions that need to be thought about and answered. But the bottom line is simple.

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION!!! FOLLOW YOUR HEART!!! You are young, so you can experiment. Don't worry about mistakes and failures. Both of them only make you better.

If you need my help to decide, email me and let's connect.

Regards,
Navneet

Navneet Chandra Kulshrestha - India | LinkedIn

Absolutely valid comments by Mr. Navneet. You should not have left your first job without having anything in hand, as then you cannot negotiate for a better salary/profile. Nevertheless, such experiences teach us lessons.

If your heart is in teaching and if your gut feeling says the institute will allow you for a lectureship one day, you may continue. (You can better assess and judge). By the way, has the institute committed any time period for that? You may ask them the timespan politely.

Consider Your Personality Traits

The second aspect, considering your personality (you mentioned you are a shy person), think along the lines that you will have to make efforts to be aggressive, assertive, and talkative, which I feel are essential for lectureship. Prepare yourself accordingly.

HR Generalist Profile Opportunity

If you aim at establishing yourself in an HR Generalist profile, the small manufacturing unit will offer you more scope and experience for the same.

Now, it is upon you to think and decide on your priorities and preferences, financial aspects, and your interest area. Don't get confused; write down on a paper the positives and negatives of each option and select what appeals to you most.

All the best!

Regards,
Vaishalee Parkhi