Strategies for Advancing in the HR Field and Overcoming Career Challenges in Banking Sector

I did my MBA in 2010 and lost in an interview because of less than 60%. I got an offer, but due to not being interested in marketing, I didn't join. Afterwards, I really prepared hard for 'HR' in the banking field, but unfortunately, did not succeed. I have had some interviews for PO posts in banks, but not for 'HR'. Now, I really feel a fever of fear about my condition. How can I build my career in the 'HR' field? Is there any chance of starting over, or is my career over?

Nothing is over until you accept it as over.

Three things:

a) Why are you so fixated on HR? Find out the reasons - you haven't really worked in HR, so you don't know what it is like. Most of it would be from what you'd have heard or read about HR jobs. Everyone doesn't like carrots, and you don't know if you would like it until you have actually eaten one. If you refuse to eat anything else until you get a carrot and the carrot takes time to come - you might end up starving or at least going hungry for a long time.

b) You could join marketing or any other area and then try to shift to HR. People have done it. Of course, there are no guarantees. This, however, seems to be the smartest strategy to me. You will get a job sooner and with it, your confidence back. Plus, you will get another day to fight and come back to HR.

c) You could also go for some additional certification or diploma (HR veterans can guide) and keep pushing for the HR job.

Hi there,

To get things straight, I suggest you join a small company. Your MBA would help you in getting a job. In such a company, you will get exposure to the Personnel department. You can also join a consultancy and do hardcore recruitments if you are interested in it. These two jobs are comparatively easy to get and have decent profiles for beginners. After gaining experience, you could secure a job in a reputed organization.

As far as a gap is concerned, if asked during an interview, I suggest you tell the truth rather than making up a story.

Hi,

What Gurpreet has said is correct. You can start with a small company or consultancy where you will have more to learn and good exposure. These jobs are easy to get and are meant for beginners.

You can also continue to grow your knowledge in the subject you are interested in. I am damn sure that by the time you finish that first job, you will be a person with very good experience.

Believe in yourself.

Don't lose hope.

Joining a smaller company and being more open to other opportunities should be the solution.

C) You could also go in for some additional certification or diploma (HR veterans can guide) and keep pushing for the HR job.

Thanks for the reply. Could you suggest some courses?

By the way, I can't help but appreciate your idea of spoken English on the phone.

@Gurupreet and Yasuni

Thank you so much for your advice. I felt some energy, I'm not alone here, and my life gateway is not closed. Thanks again.

Hello HR-Love,

HR is a living thing, and it's not easy to learn by studying any courses or study materials. Instead of learning through courses and materials, it is better to try to find a job in HR. As my seniors have mentioned, gaining exposure in a small organization can help you progress to the next level.

Hi, I think you should find out more about the PO posts at the banks. As mostly after working in the PO post for some duration, they conduct internal exams for applying in other departments of the bank. You might get through in the HR department on clearing the exams. Also, as an HR professional, you need to understand the operations of the bank. Working at this level, you will get to learn about the sector by the time you get the desired HR position. Hope this helps you.

Regards,
Anu

@HR-Love: Thanks for the appreciation :)

A certificate or a diploma gives you credibility in the market, which often works as an entry point to a career. Remember how a BTech or an MBA opens up career opportunities for you, though most of your learning would still happen AFTER you join the job.

The risk of joining a small company is that a) their processes and practices might be unprofessional and not well-defined, so you may not learn much, and b) it may be very difficult to break out of the small company zone into a reputed company.

Another good piece of advice was what @Anu_Hr said; it could be the smartest option:

Absolutely!

Hi,

I agree with you that a small company will not have well-defined processes and practices, but it is a place where you can explore more and have your own strategy. You can accomplish your processes and procedures and bring professionalism to the area where you are working. In contrast, in a reputed company, everything is well defined and planned, and the only thing you have to do is follow them. There may be opportunities to use your ideas in this company, but there may not be complete authority given to you to make decisions.

It is also true that sometimes you may not be able to switch from a small company to a big one, but that totally depends on you, the company you have chosen to work for, and how you make decisions. To become an HR professional, you can take some short-term courses, but it is the experience in the HR field that will make you good at it. I also find Anu_HR's idea to be good. You can try it out.

Hey there,

If you want to take some courses, consider enrolling in a Safety course, a Law course, or pursuing LLB as these are interconnected with HR.

Regards,
Gurpreet Aidhen