Feeling Stuck in a Construction HR Role: How Do I Navigate This Career Dilemma?

Dear Seniors, Currently, I am working in a construction company as a Jr. Site HR for 12 months. However, there is no job satisfaction at all. The HR aspect is minimal, and there are too many other nuisance activities that do not align with my qualifications and experience. My immediate reporting authorities are mere puppets; they do not support me and instead harass me. After becoming fed up, I submitted my resignation, but they have not accepted it. I am unsure of their intentions. Given the shortage of HR jobs, I am completely confused about what to do.

Thank you.

Job Satisfaction and Involvement

Job satisfaction does not come automatically but is based on one's involvement. Pon

Job satisfaction definitely doesn't come automatically, so why should you go and make the strategy for involvement and engagement? You should think with a creative mind and explore new ideas to improve the environment so that you can do the same for yourself.

Please don't leave the organization; it will not be a positive sign.

Thank you.

Dear Ashish, the industry is basically unorganized, and there is a lot that can be done with involvement to bring it under control. Try to interact or meet with HR professionals from other construction industries and learn about their strategies to meet daily requirements.

Regards,
Kannan R

I can understand your problem because I'm also working in the construction industry. In this industry, many people will tell you what you have to do and what you should not do. Generally, they perceive HR as only providing service.

But don't lose your patience. You need to gain command over statutory work like the Contract Labour Act-1970, BOCW Act-1996, and other HR responsibilities. If they disturb you—for example, by not providing proper accommodation facilities, food, or facing attendance issues where employees are absent but their seniors claim they were present—you can address these problems. For attendance issues, talk to your Head and Project Manager and suggest implementing a biometric machine. For accommodation and food problems, request your Project Manager to recruit individuals in the facility department. Keep yourself busy with completing statutory work.

I kindly request other senior members of Cite HR to suggest another way for Mr. Pandey to feel satisfied and successfully implement HR policies at the site.

Thanks and Regards

There are two aspects to consider in your scenario. Please forgive my bluntness, but I want to help you. Either your capacity to handle issues is lacking (I'm not judging; you are your best judge), or you need a way out of this issue.

Steps to Address Your Situation

The first step towards a solution is to ask them confidently about their expectations from your profile. Secondly, express your own expectations. If you find that these expectations do not align, you can request to be released from your services since you cannot work if you are not happy. If this approach does not yield results, consider the consequences of absconding as an employee if that is the only option.

Keep in mind that every decision you make should be logical, legal, and ethical, not emotional.

Regards.

At such a young age, you can't expect miracles to happen. You should be a patient learner. Further, it is not necessary that you should look for job satisfaction only in respect of HR activities. Look around, and you will find a lot of other opportunities on the same job site, which you may start liking as well. It is not necessary that somebody should tell you to do only a specific work. You can start helping the Stores Manager or Logistics Support. If some Admin activities are there, you can help with those as well to keep yourself busy and also to learn something new and different. Who knows, one fine day, such exposure will give you an opportunity to get into newer avenues as well.

Keep your eyes open and look around, and you will find something different. Also, use your spare time to learn new things in HR itself by reading articles, the latest developments, etc. If you have access to a computer, download articles on HR and save them. Read at leisure and improve your knowledge.

Don't lose hope so soon... The world is big, opportunities are abundant.

Best wishes

Please do not feel frustrated with your job. I think you may have misunderstood the nature of the job at construction companies. It is not a white-collar job, but rather a blue-collar one. Promoters and builders of any company are not professionals. To put it simply, they often lack basic manners and use inappropriate language in the office and elsewhere. Manhandling can also be a frequent occurrence. Salaries may not be paid regularly. You may find yourself doing more of a policing job in the name of HR management. There is no sense of time at all. Once one project is completed, another will come up. The above are simple guidelines and indicative for you.

Await a good time. Learn as much as you can, even if you do not love this job. Similarly, there are many industries in India. Nobody seems to address the issues. Money is the only motive for the promoters.

Why do I say all the above to you? I also underwent such a situation when I began my career in the Personnel department as a Personnel Officer, with my Law Degree. I did all the unpleasant and thankless jobs. I had an acute local language problem too, being a South Indian and working in Bihar.

Do not worry. Be positive. The Man Management function takes shape gradually, not suddenly.

Best wishes.

I hope you might have figured out a way already, knowing the responses from seniors. However, when I read your query, it seemed either incomplete or too open and vague to be concluded in any way one wishes to.

[QUOTE=Ashishjobseeker;2044190]Dear Seniors,

Presently, I am working in a construction company as a Jr. Site HR for 12 months, but there is no job satisfaction at all. The HR part is minimal, and there are too many other nuisance activities that do not align with my qualifications and experience.

What do you mean by nuisance activity not related to HR? What is your qualification? How many years of experience do you have prior to this job role, and at what level or designation? Again, job satisfaction is a vague term. It would mean something to you and something else to me. So, I would like to ask what would make you satisfied with your job—better pay, a specific profile (if so, what), recognition and appreciation, etc.

Can you elaborate? What do you mean by "Manager harassing me"?

Do you have an appointment letter? What does the separation policy of your company say? Notice period, notice buyout, etc.

Different people will give you different advice based on their understanding. But ultimately, it should be you who decides.

Honestly, I found your post incomplete to the extent of the above-mentioned questions, that even if I want to help you, I am unable to advise you on anything.

I agree absolutely with Ankita1001. Your email lacks crucial information.

I personally feel that you are too young to make comments like your "immediate reporting authorities are mere puppets" or that they don't "support" you and "harass" you. The problem with young professionals is often a lack of patience and the motivation to learn from experience. The moment you enter the professional field, you want to be part of the decision-making team because otherwise, you feel that you are involved in "other nuisance activities" which do not suit your qualifications and experience. Please understand that there is learning even when you staple a sheaf of paper—the manner in which you staple can either convenience or inconvenience people who are reading it.

Your experience in the construction industry, with whatever nuisance activities you may be doing, is preparing you for tougher management or employee relations jobs. Recruiters know that if you have survived in this industry for a certain number of years, then you can handle any tough situations. Please do a SWOT analysis first—it will help guide your next steps. Never lose respect for your seniors, as they don't gain anything by harassing you. Lastly, there is never a dearth of jobs for the best in the industry—have that confidence in your "qualifications and experience."

I apologize if I hurt your feelings with my "un-sugarcoated" advice.

Best wishes,

Dr. P. A. Alam

I appreciate all your valuable suggestions and advice, but I strongly object to Ankita's advice. Kindly reconsider that position, and you will realize the situation. Have you ever worked on-site? What do you mean by nuisance activity not related to HR? The work of a safety officer, despite a safety officer being appointed by the company. What is your qualification? MBA in HR. How many years of experience do you have prior to this job role, and at what level or designation? 1.8 years.

Thank you.

Firstly, I do not know if I should congratulate or offer condolences on your leaving the job. However, I am happy that you left it with respect. Self-respect is the ultimate thing that means a lot to us.

And for that matter, I would like to correct your statements that you've made about me:

Surely, I have not worked on SITE, and hence I asked you what you mean by a nuisance activity as I wanted to know. But I guess, out of your frustration, ego, or my blunt reply, or whatever, you picked up the wrong end of the stick. That's all I wish to say to clarify any doubts.

Sure, in the labor industry, there are different safety officers, and though I do not have any experience, I am vaguely aware of that. The reasons behind me asking those questions were actually made clear in my post that it seemed incomplete to me, and I didn't know what to conclude.

If you were offended by it, I don't think I can help because it wasn't offensive at all. Nonetheless, I believe in practicing what you preach. I was trying to help; if you found it otherwise, I apologize (and that absolutely doesn't mean I was wrong).

Regards