Feeling Stuck After an MBA: Can I Still Start a Career in HR Banking? Seeking Advice

I did my MBA in 2010 and lost an interview opportunity because I had less than 60% marks. I received an offer, but I didn't join because I wasn't interested in marketing. Afterwards, I prepared diligently for a career in 'HR' within the banking sector, but unfortunately, I did not succeed. I have had some interviews for PO positions in banks, but not for 'HR'. Now, I feel a sense of fear about my situation. How can I build my career in the 'HR' field? Is there any chance of starting over, or is my career over?

Regards

Life is Just Beginning!

You seem to have given up all hope and, regrettably, all efforts! If you keep passing up opportunities because you would like to only work in HR, I suggest you need to rethink!

"Less than 60%" did not explain anything. You also need to tell us something more about basic graduation (college, university, city, etc.), MBA (autonomous or university awarded, institute, city, etc.).

In the absence of any relevant information, all I can say is:

1. Life has not come to an end, nor has the world!

2. Every day is a new day that brings along new opportunities and possibilities.

All that one needs to do is:

1. Not to lose hope or efforts and

2. Create a strategy to achieve your goals and to keep on reviewing the strategy for its efficacy in the operating environment!

Cheer up, you are young. You have a long way to go in life, and your youth has a lot of energy and zest! Don't let these rust!

Ask more questions if you like/need to but keep the efforts at a high intensity.

Regards,
samvedan

February 3, 2013

Educational Background and Career Aspirations

I have achieved over 70% in SSC and +2, but less than 60% in my BSc in Computers and MBA in HR. I completed my MBA at a university, not a business school. Despite this, I try to embrace each new day with optimism. I have a great appreciation for life and enjoy seeing its beauty. However, as a member of a middle-class family, there is always concern about being unemployed. Writing fiction is another interest of mine.

Navigating Career Challenges with Confidence

More than the marks becoming an obstacle, I am afraid your focus is either hazy or influenced by some factors that you have not been able to resolve. Or, you find it difficult to make up your mind due to many "pressures" like family expectations, middle-class compulsions, and the reality that your love (writing fiction) is unable to impress those around you that it could be a worthwhile occupation. In our country, to a large extent, this is TRUE!

Your mainstay in life has to be economic strength (to be able to take care of yourself and your dependents in a world where "comparisons," unbridled inflation, and there are always few opportunities and too many takers). One has to develop and acquire a strong economic base, and only thereafter is one able to pursue his/her heart's desires!

Sad but true, the only way is to try and take command of your reality. If fewer marks have become obstacles, you may have to start "lower" than even your colleagues and build your way up with growing competence. Marks are a valid consideration (not in my personal/professional opinion though) only at the entry level. Thereafter, your growth has a strong positive correlation with your knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Now I suggest that you read my earlier mail along with this mail and face the future with supreme confidence (without caring excessively) about what others say!

Cheer up and good luck to you and your efforts!

Regards,
Samvedan

February 4, 2013

Enhancing Your CV and Interview Skills

Spend time on your CV; review it again and again, focusing on using business language. Build your personality, which will reflect on your CV. In education and after education, there should be no gaps. Just concentrate on what you have done and how you are demonstrating it.

Mastering the Art of Interviews

An interview is an art and a form of education. Keep appearing for interviews, face people and problems, identify gaps after interviews, and work on covering those gaps. In HR, there are many terms; study human resource management and project management. Practice using tools and techniques, watch training and inspirational videos, and follow your seniors and successful classmates.

Engage yourself with problems because you are the only one who has the solutions to those problems.

I can understand the state of your mind. Don't think this is the end of your life or career; there is a lot more ahead of you. Many great people have been utter failures in the early stages, including Narayana Murthy. Maybe you could be one among them over time.

Reality Check for MBA Graduates

Yours is a typical case of MBAs who have high aspirations, a larger-than-life image, and a poor connection with reality on the ground. There is a belief that an MBA means you are a different species and that it takes care of everything. Such an aura and hype have been created by the media and sporadic cases of great success from some IIMs/IITs.

Introspection and Focus

You need to introspect on who you are, your likes and dislikes, strengths and constraints, and what you want to do. Have a focus, be ready to do some hard work, and don't expect the moon to land on you immediately. Be realistic and practice keeping a cool but focused, resolute mind. Don't get swayed by what your friends might say about you. What is needed is presence and strength of mind. Believe in yourself. Things will work out for you. I am sure several years from now, you will share your experiences and be a mentor for others. Failure is not bad, but not learning from it is. Wish you good luck.

Navigating Job Offers After an MBA

I have seen many MBAs make the mistake of rejecting offers that come their way, expecting more or better offers. Unfortunately, colleges often exacerbate this issue by suggesting that jobs pay higher than what the market is actually willing to offer. This gap is problematic because employers are hesitant to hire someone who hasn't worked immediately after college. However, this is not true for all companies.

You will need to lower your standards and take up any HR job that you get, even if the salary is poor. You need to gain experience and then switch to a better-paying job. There are smaller companies that need people and are willing to take a risk with a "Gap," provided you are willing to work for less than the market rate. Remember, as a fresher, you will receive entry-level salaries anyway.