Feeling Stuck as a Receptionist: How Can I Gain HR Experience and Move Forward?

Hi, I have 5 years of experience in Delhi as an Office Coordinator (Receptionist). I need advice from you. I completed PGDHRM from Symbiosis, Pune through Distance Learning in 2011. I informed my HR head that I completed my MBA and I want to learn about HR activities. For the past 2 years, I have been working here. The issue is my HR Manager is not assigning any work to me. I come to the office daily but do not have any tasks to do. I am not satisfied with the job. I have asked him many times. I also spoke to my director, and he requested the HR Manager to assign me work, but at those times, he says yes. I don't know whom to report to. If I don't know how to gain experience in HR, and if I apply to other companies, they consider me as a receptionist. What should I do? I don't know if I am an experienced person or a fresher. I don't know how to start. Please advise me. Thank you.

Regards,
Renu

If you are not satisfied with your current job and your request is not being considered after a long time, you should inform the senior authorities directly about the HR Manager's behavior. If this doesn't work, then try to look for HR jobs outside. I would suggest that before talking to the seniors, you should approach your HR Manager formally or informally and discuss the issues he is having with you regarding providing HR-related work.

Office Assistant Job Profile

An office assistant job profile is not a low-profile job; it also requires administrative abilities. You can provide valid support for having an MBA degree along with your current job profile, which is enough to demonstrate your abilities. You can apply as a fresher in any company, and if you are not comfortable, you can go with recruitment agencies or consultancies where you can advance your career in HR.

Regards,
Sushma

Thank you, ma'am, for your kind suggestion. I have completed all the necessary steps, and now I am searching for a new job. However, everyone is considering me only for a receptionist role, which is the problem. I would like to know how I can make a change. I have some knowledge of HR activities such as onboarding formalities and leave management.

Regards,
Renu

I would suggest you try to impress your seniors with your allotted job or prove to them that you are capable enough to undertake HR activities. Also, add more HR activity details to your profile rather than receptionist work if you are looking for an HR job.

As other experts suggested, you should speak to higher authorities and your seniors. Since you have completed an MBA through distance learning, getting a job directly in a company may be a bit difficult. What you can do is learn recruitment from a consultancy, preferably a good one like Mofai, ABC, etc. Once you gain experience in recruitment, you can then apply for a job in a company. They will consider your experience.

Regards,
Abhilasha

Hi Renu, that's the problem with the HR profession. Anybody in the organization wants to do HR, but before heading into HR, have you proactively learned what HR means? Are you clear on that? Instead of waiting for somebody, update yourself on HR trends and knowledge. Take small initiatives like coordinating employee engagement events, arranging interviews, speaking with a few employees formally or informally, conducting surveys, and submitting the results to your HR manager.

You really need to understand your HR Manager and build trust that you can handle HR activities.

Regards,
Vinod Bidwaik

You can do one thing - take the initiative for some HR activities at your end and discuss them with your senior to implement. You need to showcase your inner qualities. Before all this, ensure whether they require any HR in their company. Only then will your efforts be fruitful. Otherwise, you should look for another place for your career growth.

For any other suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks,

Regards

Generally, in smaller organizations, it takes time for a change in job profile even though you may have upgraded your skills or knowledge. Currently, there may not be any openings in HR, hence your present organization is unable to accommodate you in HR. I think you should have patience. I am sure the HR manager knows your aspirations and will give you the opportunity when a position comes up. There is a flipside as well; even if you get an opportunity to work in HR initially, you may end up doing some part of reception and some part of HR work, which may not be very motivating to you.

I suggest that while you are waiting to get an opportunity within the same company, try for opportunities outside as well. If there are openings on a temporary basis also in recruitment or HR, grab them. Once you get into HR or recruitment, you can grow from there on.

Hope this info is useful.

Thank you, Priyanka. But how can I impress him if he is not giving me any work? And what HR activities should I add?

The information given by you is quite short, as you have been working for the past 2 years. You should be well aware of the strengths of HR in your company. Do you also believe that there is a heavy workload in HR, but your manager is avoiding assigning tasks to you? If so, it would be better for you to directly communicate with senior management. If you still do not feel satisfied, it might be best to start looking for a new job.

Thank you.

Yes, but I am facing so many problems. Everyone is considering me as a receptionist, but I want to leave this role and work in HR.

Hi Renu,

I can give you one simple idea.

Understanding Existing HR Policies

Firstly, take note of existing HR policies: attendance, recruitment, employee engagement, performance management, etc. Do this first for your knowledge. Being an HR in the firm, you should know them anyway, right?

Analyzing Employee Data

Secondly, study the graphs and study your people. How many of them are on time? How many people take many leaves? Who has been the employee of the month? Who has been performing consistently, etc.?

Sitting idle and asking your supervisor for tasks is not helping you at all because:

- You would not learn.
- If you plan to switch, you would be taken back to a receptionist role.

HR involves more proactive activities. Honestly, if you think there's nothing much HR does, I myself sit idle many times. But in those times, I increase my knowledge, help people out, study my firm, study my people, and because of these idle times, I've been able to proactively suggest my employer a few ideas.

I had been the only HR with no one to guide me. I had to perform on my own. No one knew what to do, including me. I have been through your situation. It's perfect, relax.

Just suggest ideas to your HR Manager on how to improve the performance of your people or something like that.

Always remember, in today's time, proactive people are appreciated and valued, rather than people who'd wait for someone to give them something to work on.

Prove your worth and your knowledge by deciding what is right for you. At the max, you'd be claimed wrong, they'd disapprove your suggestion, you'd fall, but eventually, you'd rise. You'd know how things work. Theory is much different and easier than practical life scenarios.

Wish you luck & all the best. 

Regards

This is a common problem that many people face these days. Here, you need to observe two things. Firstly, you are not learning anything from your current employer. Secondly, why is your manager hesitant in allotting work related to HR?

I suggest you talk to your director and explain the problem you are facing or demonstrate that you can handle tasks effectively to impress him.

I have already informed my director, but every time my manager says "yes" in front of him. However, behind him, he never asks me a single word. I don’t know what to do.

Thank you.

Dear Reenu, There's been quite a brainstorming session regarding your situation. I have a few questions in addition to them. Have you mapped out HR in your firm and checked what areas you can develop? I understand you need to work through the processes to familiarize yourself with them. What view have you gained so far, even as an observer?

Even if you were managing the processes, you would mostly have a view of only the tasks you are managing. Myopia is dangerous when one is delivering in a role and yet remains blind to the big picture. Views are obstructed unless one has an end-to-end responsibility or an extremely open culture for knowledge sharing. The fact that your tasks don't limit your vision opens up for a bigger vision.

You need to learn the most in your existing role, and take my words, nothing stops you from that. Please recall all the escalations that have been handled since you joined and how they were solved. Add this to the information you have collected from the business processes on how they could be solved better. No one will ever ask you for your opinion, and you don't need to share it until asked. You merely need to be prepared when the moment to act calls for you. Observe every problem-solving incident as closely as you can. Let this extend beyond HR. Speak to other leaders who can contribute to your business acumen. If nothing else, you get to sharpen your thinking process.

You can consider obtaining certification in HR to add to your credibility. Start responding to queries in forums such as this. Your responses may not be accurate all the time, but the effort to learn through helping others will eventually make you an expert.

When your knowledge and acumen are unparalleled, the best opportunities will find you. Wishing you all the best!

Hi Renu, Things are not very clear from your posting, but still, based on my understanding, I would like to suggest the following:

Consider a Job Change

You completed your PGHRM in 2011 and are still waiting for your company's HR Manager to assign you some HR work. I think it has been a long time you have been waiting. It's time to consider a job change because if he had to assign you work, he would have done so a long time ago.

Sometimes, it could also be the manager's issue because he cannot assign you work that belongs to someone else, especially if he already has a team to handle that.

Current Role and Perception

As you mentioned, people still treat you as a receptionist. The scenario is unlikely to change unless they hire someone else for that role and communicate the change.

Opportunities in HR

Given that you have been working as a receptionist for a long time, most interview calls you receive may be for similar roles. However, don't lose heart. You can still land an HR job as a fresher through job portals or references.

I agree with Ms. Abhilasha's suggestion that you could join a reputable consultancy to kickstart your HR career. However, ensure you research the consultancy before joining as some may have payment delays.

Additionally, if you are involved in any admin or employee engagement work, make sure to highlight that in your resume.

Compromise and Career Start

Initially, you may need to compromise on the company size or salary offered, possibly earning less than your current position, to begin your HR career.

I hope these suggestions are beneficial to you. Best of luck!

Regards,
Gunjan