Will Starting as an Accounts Assistant Affect My Future HR Career Path?

Respected Seniors, I am an MBA HR fresher and am going to start a job as an accounts assistant. My question is, if I do this job now, will it hamper my career when I search for an HR job in the future? Additionally, I have completed a one-and-a-half-year course on financial accounting systems. Please advise me accordingly.

It may hamper. If you look for HR jobs later, the employers may not count this experience, and you may have to start from scratch. Secondly, it may reflect poorly on your aptitude for HR and your uncertain views about your career. These are the factors that may raise doubts in employers' minds while screening your CV. Even if you start with a recruitment consultant, it may be relevant to HR. Try for a generalist HR position or a recruitment job with a sprinkling of administration. That will be found relevant when you go for core HR jobs later.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advisor
Mumbai

Yes, I totally agree with Mr. B. Saikumar. I would like to add one more thing. Instead of pursuing a career in Finance and Accounts, you have the best option to choose the HR field. The HR field is more interesting than Finance and Accounts. If you have a degree in MBA HR, it is more preferable. When looking for jobs in Finance and Accounts, many companies prefer Chartered Accountants over those with an MBA in Finance.

So, I encourage you to consider HR as the best career option.

Regards,
Vaibhav Patel

Saikumar ji and Vaibhav ji, both of you are right. I am interested in an HR job rather than accounting, but I have been attending many interviews for the last 6 months and have not been able to secure any opportunities in HR. Some are saying I am a fresher, some are commenting on my communication skills, and some consulting firms are even asking for money. Sir, what should I do now?

Do not get disheartened by 'fresher' remarks. All those who are experienced now were once freshers too (saas bhi Kabhi bahu thi). Therefore, you will definitely get your chance. You need to make some efforts from your side. In my view, you can take the following steps to improve your chances of employability.

Steps to Improve Employability for Freshers

1) Be positive. It may sound empty. Why you need to be positive is unless you are positive, you will not keep expecting good, and unless you keep expecting good, you will not make efforts, and unless you make efforts, you will not hit your target. Remember, for every fresher, there is a place to work. You need to find it through your efforts. You will find the thing you want unless you seek it. By harboring thoughts like 'freshers cannot find jobs,' you will stop making efforts. An employer needs different kinds of manpower to suit different needs. It is not that they only need experienced personnel. An experienced person may not be willing to do an entry-level job or trainee's job, and therefore an employer needs freshers to do entry-level jobs. Therefore, bide your time, you will get it.

2) You must have received some feedback about yourself from the interviews you attended. For example, someone told you to improve your communication. Start working on it. In HR, communication is an essential tool. Work on any other feedback received by you.

3) Someone said sincere people work and smart people network. But be sincere and smart too. Contact your friends who are already in some company and inquire whether they can refer your case. Also, go through your inner circle to find someone who has the right connections with HR, like any relative. If so, try to activate the network.

4) See whether your professors in the college are of any help.

5) If you are not getting any core HR job in a reputed company, try small companies where it is relatively easy to get in. Do not focus much on the pay package now. Money will flow to you later.

6) Public sector banks, insurance companies, and other public sector undertakings are regularly advertising HR posts. Apply for them.

7) Kolkata is a big metro, and there will not be any scarcity of posts and people. It is a great advantage for you to be in Kolkata when compared to people graduating from smaller cities. Make use of this advantage. It is half the battle won for you.

All the best.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
Mumbai

Listen to me. It is not a question of whether HR is a good field or Accounts is a good field.

My Story: Transition from HR to Accounts

Listen to my story which is very well related to your story. In 2004, I completed my BCom and was searching for a job, doing all odd jobs like small secretary/office assistant roles. Then, I got an opportunity with a very big MNC as an HR assistant and joined that company. The HR department motivated me to complete my PGDHRM from Symbiosis through distance learning in just 2 years on my first attempt. However, my struggles began after that. I was not able to secure a proper HR job; almost all HR positions were filled, or openings were filled internally. In reality, there is not much in HR – anyone can do HR, but not everyone can do accounts.

After working as an admin/secretary assistant and feeling frustrated with my job, as I was unable to land a good HR job or HR generalist role despite my HR experience, I, like you, found an opportunity in accounts. I applied and now work as an accounts assistant in a government organization. My basic qualification, BCom, now provides my bread and butter. Over the past year, I have learned a lot about accounts, taxation, salary matters, and everything else related to accounts. My pay is good as well.

Advice on Career Choices

If you don't have a job at hand, instead of waiting, consider trying a different job. If you don't like it, you can always make a change. Accounts is not a bad field; accountants have significant authority in processing bills and payments. If the salary in an accounts job is good, you should consider taking it.

Vaibhav mentions that finance companies prefer CAs, but that is only one aspect of accounts. Not every accountant is a CA; accountants can hold qualifications like BCom, ICWA, CA, CS, MCom. Similarly, not all HR professionals have an MBA from IIMs; some have backgrounds in BCom, MBA, PGDHRM, etc. I hope this clarifies things for everyone.

Preparing for PSU Jobs

Regarding jobs in PSUs, it would be wise to start preparing for competitive exams.

Kind regards

Dear Sahelly,

I have gone through your dilemma and the discussions. I have noted that you "...have done a one and a half-year course on a financial accounting system."

Inquiry About Qualifications

I would like to know - What is your basic qualification? Have you taken Commerce in your graduation?

Being an HR professional, I agree with B. Saikumar's opinion in principle. However, as it is a matter of your career and livelihood - both in the short and long-term perspective; it is advisable to have an open and practical viewpoint.

Considerations for Career Path

There is some merit in what Kravi has to say, especially the following:

"I was not at all able to get a proper HR job, almost all jobs in HR were full or whenever an opening comes, it gets filled up internally. Actually, if you see, there is nothing in HR; any person can do HR, but not all can do accounts."

There is some truth in it. The perception of people about HR as given here is correct. So, being a fresher, there would be tough competition as small organizations think (erroneously) that anyone can do an HR job. Whereas, it is true that not everyone can do Fin/Accounts.

Short-term Strategy

So, since you have a relevant degree in financial accounting, you can opt for it as a 'filler' / short-time engagement as you keep looking for a proper HR job. A short stint in Fin or accounting shall make you sharper and acclimatized to the working of an organization; and hopefully dilute the label of a 'fresher.' Being employed in Fin/Accts would look better on your CV than drawing a blank.

Do work hard, and you'll understand the linkages of HR with Finance, which will benefit you later in your career.

Warm regards.

Thank you very much, Raj Kumar ji, for spending your valuable time. I know Sir Saikumar ji rightly said.

Sir, I've completed my graduation in Geography (H). After that, I took admission in GIS (Geographical Information System) and also made a significant deposit. However, the course has still not opened, so I took admission in an MBA program. Sir, you're saying if I take this job as an account assistant, the results will be positive when I search for an HR job in the future.

Yes, any positive work shall never bring any negative result. But you must be convinced of your own actions. During an interview for HR, when asked why you chose Accounts, you should be able to give an appropriate reply with conviction. I do not think any good HR or Interview Panel of a good company shall ever take your decision negatively.

Warm regards.

Dear Kraviravi, you mentioned that any person can do HR jobs, but not all can do accounts. This is correct, but at some point, the HR job can also become more challenging than an Accounts job. Accounting jobs can be done by B.Com graduates. However, for HR, an MBA in HR, MSW, PGDHRM, PGHRM, or a labor-related course is required because there is a need for knowledge of the Factory Act, Labour Act, etc. For an HR Generalist role, an MBA in HR is necessary for good presentation skills, communication skills, knowledge of performance measurement, performance appraisal, etc. This type of knowledge is typically possessed by HR professionals rather than Accounting and Finance professionals.

Regarding the pay scale, it depends on knowledge, experience, and the company's market value. In HR, you can also earn a five-figure salary compared to Finance and Accounts.

To work in the Finance and Accounts Department at a high-profile level, such as Deputy Manager, Manager, or Senior Manager, a Chartered Accountant is required rather than an MBA in Finance. Rarely do some companies want MBAs in Finance. A Chartered Accountant degree is significantly more valuable than an MBA in Finance.

Regards,

Dear All,

Even though I have dual specialization in MBA (HR & Finance) and I am currently working in the accounting field as an Account Executive, my job profile includes monthly billing, managing minimum wages, handling labor audits, PF and ESIC related tasks, and overseeing the payroll process. I believe all these responsibilities fall under the HR role. Through this job, I am in contact with various HR professionals from different companies. Based on my experience, I prefer working in the HR field rather than in Accounts and Finance.

Seeking Career Advice

I seek your advice on the right direction to take. Should I pursue a career in HR, or should I consider learning something new in the Accounting and Finance field to focus solely on Finance and Accounting?

I appreciate your guidance.

Regards,
Vaibhav