Transitioning from IT to HR: Can My Tech Experience Help Me Land an HR Job?

I am currently working in the Java field at a reputed IT company, with 2 years of experience. Now, I feel my interest lies in the field of HR, and I am planning to move from a technical to a non-technical background. I am opting for an MBA degree in HR via a Distance Education Program.

While pursuing the course, do I have the possibility of landing a job in HR (with 2 years of experience in IT)? If yes, what would be the minimum expected salary? Please provide some guidelines. Your help would be most appreciated.

Moving from a purely technical area/function to HR has significant advantages. However, a very big "but" depends on the reasons for your choice.

Why Transition from Technical to HR?

Why do you want to move from a technical line to HR? Your mention of "Now I feel my interest lies in the field of HR" conveys a two-mind scenario—more of a 'feeling' than any concrete reason(s). Please elaborate.

Also, getting an HR job while doing the MBA could be tough—for obvious reasons [no relevant experience]. The best bet for you would be to get into HR-related activities while you are in the technical line—like taking technical interviews, etc. That could add value when you go for HR jobs after the MBA.

However, as I mentioned above, you first need to be clear on why you want to enter the HR field. Otherwise, this could turn out to be a costly experiment in your career.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Thank you for your time. It is not just a feeling, but I am passionate about being a part of HRD. The HR activities in recruitment processes and employee relations have given me a positive sign towards HRD. When I graduated from Engineering, I immediately got an IT job and stepped into it. Now, I have an opportunity to explore what HR is all about, and I am confident that I can give my best here.

Reason for Career Shift

One reason for shifting from the technical line is that I am not very comfortable with programming. I want to know if I am making the right decision by shifting my career from a field I am not comfortable in to one that I am passionate about. Please share your viewpoints.

Like the saying goes: In such things, there are no 'rights' or 'wrongs'... only consequences (this is with regard to your line: '...if I am moving towards the right decision...').

It all depends on one's aptitude—again to quote Zig Ziglar: "The altitude you reach depends on your attitude & aptitude." Where there is a will, there is always a way. Hope you get the point.

Like I mentioned earlier, the transition period (between the shift from IT to HR line) will definitely be quite tough—a sort of testing phase by... let's say nature... to check if you really mean to change. However, if you really feel very strongly for HR, you will definitely make it.

How to Transition from IT to HR

Coming to the "how" part, I have already mentioned the possibilities—getting into HR activities while you are a programmer. You haven't mentioned the size of your company. Usually, in small/medium-sized companies, the opportunity to 'help out' in other functions is higher. So if there's any chance for you to get involved in HR activities (of course with the OK from your superiors), that would be the best-case scenario (meaning lesser transition trauma) for making the changeover.

Another way to get the 'feel' of the HR function is to make friends with HR professionals—that would enhance your exposure to various HR-related aspects/issues. In a way, until you get into HR formally, 'think HR', 'eat HR', 'drink HR'...

Yet another way would be to get into a regular MBA course in an established college, where there are campus placements—that way you are, by and large, assured of an HR job after the MBA, and with your technical background becoming a plus.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

A better option for you is to enroll in a full-time MBA program from a reputed institute. You may choose HR (as Major) and Marketing (as Minor) areas of specialization. Added to this, your two years of experience as a software developer (in JAVA) can possibly get you placement in the Business Support role as 'HR Analyst' in an IT company selling HR products.

However, if your interest is in Core HR, your prior experience shall not count, and you will have to join as a fresher. Your growth can be faster if your company has all their HR processes automated since you can take on the additional role of 'HR Administrator' to maintain and manage their HRMS platform.

In either case, your focus should be more on migrating to the field of your own choice rather than looking for pay packages (which vary from job to job and company to company).

But one thing is sure: only relevant experience counts in salary fixation. To that extent, continuing as a JAVA programmer may offer better remuneration if you focus on sharpening your skills in this area.

Transitioning from a Technical Background to HR

The shift from a technical background to HR is:

- Difficult (yet not impossible).
- Requires effort (to be sustained during the transitional period).
- Requires clarity (why HR?).

As you said you're passionate about HR, I think you'll find a way out. I'll share my experience. I'm a graduate in IT just like you. I shifted to HR. While pursuing my full-time MBA, people told me that being from a technical background and having a better understanding of concepts, I should be taking up finance. Also, since the majority of my class were engineers, and most of them were taking up finance, they all advised me the same. We had three classes, and in my class, I was the only one to take up HR. People mocked me, saying there would be difficulties getting a job, as it was also known to us that HR students were a little difficult to place. They brainwashed me to the extent that I was in two minds. I literally had to stop and think, "What do I want?" and walked the HR path. And it was not over there.

With this, you'll also need perseverance, determination, and most importantly, patience.

After I completed my course, I was at home for more than six months before I got something to start with. A consultancy picked me up. I took it up but wasn't happy as I wanted a generalist profile. I was determined to get one, and today I've got one of the best profiles one could ask for. But those six months were difficult when you see your friends going on jobs and, most importantly, all those people who advised you not to take up HR would come to you and mock you, saying, "I told you so." But I feel all that was worth what I've got now.

Look at all pros and cons. This transition is not as simple as it seems on paper. It would require real guts to stick to what you said, knowing the fact that you can land up perhaps nowhere.

Wish you luck.

Hope it helped.