Feeling Stuck in My New HR Role in Mumbai – Should I Change Jobs or Career Paths?

Dear Seniors,

I have two doubts -

The first is as follows:

I am an MBA HR from a good institute working for 4 months in a reputable firm in Mumbai.

There was some uncertainty about my location, as I was being sent to Delhi earlier. Due to this, I did not have much work, as the HR boss in Mumbai did not want me too involved in the matters here.

Now I am in Mumbai for sure, thanks to the HR boss in Mumbai. I had told him that I do not want to go to Delhi and he forwarded my case at the head office and got it done. I was very happy and all.

Now the challenge for the HR boss was to give me some work, which till now he was doing all by himself. He was reluctant at first and some 15-20 days went by, me continually asking him and trying to assist him where possible.

But the problem is here... even after these many days.... he is not exactly open about what he wants to do, how and when. One time he gives me an open field to work in, and then the next day he is like "no, not like this, do it like that," etc.

I am new to Mumbai and the city is also not working out for me.

Should I change my job so early in my career?

The second problem is:

I don't think I can do this kind of HR job for years together. Should I try and change my field, if so how do I go about it?

Please help, as I have been thinking about this for a long time but am unable to come up with answers....!

Regards,

Pallavi

Hi Pallavi,

I am an MBA HR from a reputable institution, currently working for 4 months at a good firm in Mumbai. There was some uncertainty about my location, as I was being considered for a role in Delhi initially. Due to this, I did not have much work, as the HR boss in Mumbai did not want me to be too involved in the local matters.

Now, I am certain that I will be staying in Mumbai, thanks to the HR boss here. I had expressed my preference not to relocate to Delhi, and he took my case to the head office and managed to secure my position in Mumbai. I was very happy about this.

However, the challenge for the HR boss now is to assign me some meaningful work, which he had been handling all by himself until now. Initially, he was hesitant, and about 15-20 days went by with me continuously asking him and trying to assist wherever possible.

The problem lies in the fact that even after all this time, he is not clear about what he wants me to do, how, and when. One day, he gives me an open field to work in, and the next day, he changes his mind and guides me differently. As a newcomer to Mumbai, I am also struggling to adjust to the city.

Should I consider changing my job so early in my career?

Pallavi,

Don't get disheartened! We understand your frustration with having a boss who seems indecisive. It appears your boss may not be managing the situation effectively or may be struggling with office politics. In either case, we recommend that you remain patient and try to support and assist him/her.

Use this opportunity to help your boss improve and develop your own skills in the process.

Another concern I have is that I am unsure if I can continue in this HR role for a long time. Should I explore switching fields, and if so, how should I go about it? I have been pondering this for a while but haven't found any answers yet.

Once again, don't give up. It's too early to base your decision solely on this recent experience. Assess your strengths, skill sets, and identify areas where your boss may need support. Utilize this situation to your advantage.

Remember, dealing with a challenging boss can be seen as an opportunity to grow and overcome adversity, which will benefit you in the long run. Be patient and consider making a change when the time is right.

As the famous saying goes, "Winners never quit!" Have faith in yourself.

Cheerio,
Rajat

Hi,

I saw your mail. You have good qualifications, and since you are already in the field, do not think of changing it (as Rajatji has rightly pointed out!). These are initial teething problems one faces. So be brave and face it! I am sure that things will work out for you. The sky is the limit in this field. I suggest that you stick on for some time and analyze what is going wrong. If there is no improvement, then try another job in the same field. By then, you would have added some more experience in terms of the timeframe to your CV. Since you are located in Mumbai, the economic capital of India, there is no dearth of good companies there! In case you feel that the city is not working out for you, then Delhi or Gurgaon/Bangalore will be the ideal choices to pursue your career.

Regards,
Sadashiv

All the best to you.

Hello Sadashiv ji and Rajat ji,

Thank you for your guidance. It seems a bit hard to follow, but I am trying and will try harder in the future. However, the problem still stands as it is. We do not have an HR department as such, it's just the boss and me. So, I guess I am kinda lost. The boss provides advice and all, but, well... I guess what you say is right, time and effort are required. I hope I can make something of it at least! I shall keep you posted on other major developments!

Thank you once again! I will always remember - "winners never quit" :D :D 8)

Cheers,
Pallavi

Hello once again,

I had one more query. There are some reasons due to which I want to shift to Pune. There is no real hurry, but the sooner the better. The profile that I have here encompasses recruitment, training, and database management. However, the calls I get from Pune are only recruitment-centered. If no other offer comes my way, should I take an only recruitment profile? Also, the salary I get here is good, but what I will get in Pune will be lower than this... So, in short, I am confused (IN BOLD CAPITALS!!!). Help... advice, guide... get me a job! :D

Cheers,
Pallavi