How Can I Transition from Secretary to HR Generalist Without Prior Experience?

Hi friends, I'm an MBA in HR, but presently, I'm working as a secretary. Previously, I worked as a counselor for 1 year and as a recruiter for 4 months. My question is, until now, I don't have any generalist experience, but I want to work as an HR Generalist. Can you suggest and guide me on how to prepare for and secure a job in that field?

Hi Preethi, since you have already worked in various positions for about 2 years, it may not be easy to transition into a generalist role. If you are truly interested in making this change, you should focus on learning Core HR activities, Payroll, Statutory Compliance, and other relevant modules. By gaining expertise in these areas, you may increase your chances of becoming an HR generalist.

I observe that you want to break into an HR-Generalist profile, but you have been in three roles so far, which are neither connected to each other nor to HR. This indicates that you seem to be unclear about the direction in which you want to take your career and thus did not lay a clear roadmap. When you sit in a taxi/auto in your city, the first question the driver asks you is, "Madam, where do you want to go?" If you reply, "I do not know," the auto driver may drive you round and round until the gas is exhausted. Similarly, if you are unsure of your goals, you will be doing all kinds of jobs and piling up years of experience that will add no value to your CV. Therefore, be the driver of your career and ask the question, "Where should I go in my career?" The answer to that question determines the direction in which you need to take your career. At least now, you seem to be clear about it since you want to break into an HR-generalist profile.

I do not know how much you can bank on your previous experience to break into the generalist profile. However, I can suggest the following:

1. Find out whether, as a counselor, what skills you have employed.

2. Find out whether, as a recruiter, you have also performed tasks such as matching CVs, background checking, preliminary interviewing, etc.

3. As a secretary, find out what skills you are using, whether convening meetings, minuting proceedings of meetings, etc.

4. See whether there is any chance, if you show initiative, to acquaint yourself with salary administration in your current job.

5. Try to align those skills to HR functions like training, grievance handling, salary administration, convening employee meetings, recruitment, etc.

6. Revamp your CV accordingly.

7. In the meantime, do some short-term certification courses in the generalist profile to supplement your chances of success.

You need to do all this. A child needs to crawl first and then make an effort to stand before actually starting to walk.

All the best for your future.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advisor
Mumbai