Returning to India: How Can I Transition from Engineering to Technical Recruitment?

Brief Background

I am a mechanical engineer and 36 years of age. I have a total working experience of approximately 13 years. Out of these 13 years, 7 years of experience is in the manufacturing field in India, where I have worked in multinational companies like Hindustan Lever Ltd, Wrigleys India Pvt Ltd, and Gujarat Guardian Limited. I have worked in these companies as a production officer/executive. My job mainly involved meeting the production targets set by the management by making use of my technical, production planning/scheduling, and man-management skills. These are FMCG companies, and I was involved in the production of soaps, chewing gums/candies, and glass over a period of 7 years.

I moved to Australia in 2007 as a permanent resident and have been working in one of the major electricity companies here - Endeavour Energy. I have been working here as a meter data analyst/billing analyst from 2007 to date. During this period of approximately 6 years here in Australia, I have gained a lot of invaluable international exposure and experienced and learned the different working styles compared to India. Due to certain circumstances, however, I could not continue working in the production field here as I was doing in India.

Career Transition to Technical Recruitment

Again, due to some personal circumstances and family issues, I have to return to India permanently in the next few months. I want to take up a career in technical recruitment when I move back to India. My strengths are my production/technical experience gained in India, my overseas working experience here in Australia, my good verbal and written communication skills, and my sincere, honest, and hardworking attitude. I want to make use of my skills, experience, and attributes to match the right candidates with the companies in the manufacturing field. I do not have any HR recruiting experience, however. Ultimately, I want to be my own boss and work independently, and I believe I can do it. I am looking for the right guidance and direction so that I can start putting my efforts into the same. Also, if I need to do any courses, etc., to enter this field.

I would greatly welcome any views/suggestions on the same so that I can pursue my ambition with great confidence.

Many, many thanks in advance.

Warm regards,

Karan

The background you mentioned about yourself is indeed very elaborate and helps in understanding the larger picture. Considering your strengths—'production/technical experience gained in India, overseas working experience in Australia, good verbal and written communication skills, and a sincere, honest, and hardworking attitude'—there is one aspect that doesn't quite align: WHY TECHNICAL RECRUITER? Your traits could be suitable for various career paths, including that of a technical recruiter, even if you are considering a mid-career change.

While your lack of prior HR recruitment experience may pose a challenge, it is not a barrier to entry into this field. Given that you are not a fresher, I am confident you understand the importance of considering both capabilities/abilities and interest when choosing a career. While you have addressed the abilities aspect, I suggest elaborating on the interest angle a bit more—specifically, why choose to be a technical recruiter and not pursue any other path that aligns with your traits? In essence, what drives your interest in this field? I hope this clarifies the point.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Dear Taj, Many thanks for your reply. I would like to explain why I want to become a technical recruiter in India.

I want to do something that gives me the power to make my own decisions, learn from my mistakes, and improve. While working in India, I experienced a lot of office politics that was very unsettling for me mentally and frustrated me a lot. That's the primary reason I left India and opted for Australia. Australia gave me a lot of freedom to work with peace of mind. The working atmosphere here was not as stifling as in India. Despite breaking many production records multiple times and suggesting/implementing process improvement activities, I never felt duly credited for the same. Instead, there were people ready to pull me down at the first available opportunity. I hate politics, but I realized that to survive in the work atmosphere in India, I have to be very smart and anticipate people's moves against me beforehand and then defend myself. However, as my mindset is truthful and honest, and politics is nowhere in my personality makeup, I found myself to be a misfit in this work culture.

I do not want to dwell on that unpleasant past. As I am forced to move back to India now (due to family circumstances - old aged parents), the only job that comes to my mind where I can do justice to my qualifications is being a recruiter. I want to be a technical recruiter and help deserving and hardworking candidates achieve their goals in life. I am confident that I can do utmost justice to this job by working sincerely and honestly. I know it's not a cakewalk by any means, but I am ready to work hard and learn and improve. However, I do not want to work again in India in the same office/factory environment where politics, links with the bosses, and cunningness play a major part in one's success rather than truthfulness and sheer hardworking attitude. I want to be an independent recruiter, and I believe I can do it.

I would very much appreciate your views on this.

Warm regards,
Karan

I appreciate your careful analysis and independent decision to choose a career. Yes, recruitment is not rocket science; anybody with passion and dedication can learn and become a specialist in due course. To start, you may join an established/reputed consulting firm as a Domain Specialist, where you can utilize your experience in manufacturing/production to evaluate/interview candidates and slowly begin to source CVs from the portal. In the next couple of months, you can become a technical recruiter.

While on the job, keep learning how the business is acquired, serviced, and how to interact with clients, etc. One day, with a decent investment, you can start a consulting business.

Thanks,
Narayan

To establish yourself as a recruiter, you need to have confidence and passion. This means that 50% of the job is already done. To accomplish the remaining 50%, you need to work hard by collecting clientele data, traveling around Australia to meet companies, understanding their requirements and terms, grasping other relevant issues, and immediately start sending people to Australia and other countries upon your return to India. Collect the contact information of international recruiters. While in India, stay updated by going through local newspapers to understand market requirements and develop strategies to meet deadlines. Gain exposure in your chosen field, understand the trade, and keep progressing without halting, which is crucial. Additional insights can be obtained from other professionals in the same field. Wishing you all the best.

Remember, God helps those who help themselves.

Phone: [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

I don't want to divert you from your idea of becoming a recruiter, but I feel you can utilize your extensive experience and potential in a better career than as a recruiter. Why don't you try to become a Domain Specialist, Business Analyst, or Functional Consultant in ERP?

Since you have core experience in Manufacturing, there are plenty of opportunities for functional consultants in large corporations for big-sized ERP implementations. You might have used some ERP systems during your tenure in Manufacturing. You might have come across MRP, PPC, SCM, Logistics, Costing, Shop Floor, Project, and CRM. You can take a course for any ERP like SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics AX, and you will be able to pick it up quickly. In my experience, Microsoft Dynamics AX is easy to learn and offers ample job opportunities. Many of my friends who started as recruiters are now working as ERP-HR Functional Consultants (SAP/Oracle/AX).

All the best.

Regards,
Ahamed Minhaj.A

Many thanks for endorsing my decision and providing a lot of encouragement to go ahead with my plans. I would definitely like to keep in touch with all of you and share ideas in the future.

Guidance on Joining a Consulting Firm

Dear Narayan, could you please guide me on how to join a reputed consulting firm as a Domain Specialist in the manufacturing field? Where can I see these jobs advertised? I would greatly appreciate your guidance on the same.

Working in Australia

Dear Vivian, thanks a lot for your great ideas. However, I was thinking that to work here in Australia, employers do prefer candidates with permanent residency/citizenship. It's easier for people to secure a job if they are permanent residents of Australia. Nevertheless, I will explore your idea with enthusiasm and energy, believing that something positive can definitely come out of this.

Exploring New Avenues

Dear Ahmad, thank you for providing me with other avenues to explore. I will definitely look into them with great interest.

Once again, my sincere thanks to all of you for taking the time out of your busy schedules and providing your valuable suggestions. I wish all of you the very best in your careers. God bless.

Warm regards,

Karan

Hello Mr. Karan, Your posting makes for interesting reading. My view mirrors those expressed by Mr. Taj Sateesh. In the beginning, you should concentrate on a larger area rather than confining yourself to Technical Recruitment. In my view, you should start working on related areas as well and keep an eye on your passionate field.

Considerations for Your Checklist

1.0 You have mentioned that your core branch is Mechanical Engineering. Are you equally at home in other Engineering disciplines? When you are recruiting, you will have to interview other domain specialists.

2.0 Generally, candidates can be grouped into two categories: Freshers and Experienced. Recruiting freshers requires a different skill set. They will have to be assessed in academic knowledge, project work, seminar papers presented, trainings undergone, extra-curricular activities, etc. Accordingly, your preparation should be there.

3.0 When you are a Technical Recruiter, there will be an eventual client who would hire the candidates, and their say will count finally. Your success will be measured by the acceptability shown by the ultimate hirer.

Wish you good luck in your new endeavor.

Regards, V. Raghunathan, Navi Mumbai