Is Sticking with an Admin-Focused HR Role Worth It for My Career Growth?

Hello Seniors, I pursued BBA and MPM. Whereas, I have experience working in the service industry, specifically in a private firm where my role was in Admin. After that, I decided to transition to the HR field and left that job to fully concentrate on MPM. Currently, I have been selected through a campus interview in another service industry company. As an HR professional, I prefer not to disclose its name.

In this new company, I have been assigned the role of a trainee for the first month, which will then convert into an "HR and Admin officer" upon completion of my 6-month induction and training period, provided they find my performance satisfactory. During the induction, they pay 7000/-, and during the training, 9000/-. Money is not a priority for me; what matters most is the HR learning experience. My Key Result Area (KRA) here solely focuses on the Admin area, excluding recruitment, payroll, legal aspects, training, and motivation.

So, dear Seniors, what would you advise me to do? Should I continue here or seek another opportunity? Considering that despite gaining one year of experience in HR here, my KRA is limited to admin responsibilities, which might be a concern when applying for future roles.

I would appreciate your guidance on this matter. Thank you.

Congratulations, firstly, on having secured a job in this challenging job market. All the best for your new role.

Understanding Your Role and Responsibilities

One of the most important qualities that an HR professional needs is patience. How long have you been in this job? I presume it has been 1 month based on your post. Kindly correct me if I am wrong or have misunderstood.

Now, as you mentioned, your designation upon completion of your induction and training will be HR and Admin. Admin activities may seem easier, but they are not as simple as they appear.

When I joined my organization as an HR professional about 8 months ago, I started purely with HR responsibilities. Now, I am also sharing administrative duties. This is not because they found me idle, but because they recognized my ability to manage tasks effectively.

Seeking Guidance and Career Development

Do one thing: ask your senior about your role plan. How are they planning to train you, and how will they transition you from just admin to an admin + HR role?

To be honest, HR and Marketing are practical fields, whereas Finance tends to be more theoretical. A Finance person can be productive in a short time by revising sections and brushing up on fundamental formulas. In HR and Marketing, the theory we learn from books is idealistic, and practical training is essential to handle real-world situations. New challenges will always arise.

In my view, you should sit with your senior and discuss your dilemma about how to proceed.

All the best again.

Thank you, Ankita, for your reply. MPM is a "Master in Personnel Management," different from an MBA. The subjects are a little bit similar, but MPM is a 2-year HR specialized course only.

Coming to the point, it's been 1 month since I started working here. In this month, I have not only analyzed the overall environment, Ankita, but also contacted previous employees. You won't believe that three girls who were working here left their jobs on the same day, which created a requirement for us. When I personally contacted them, I found out that, according to them, the boss is not at all supportive but rather a demotivator. That is the reason I felt it was better for me to leave earlier. I know our profession requires a lot of patience, but we can work and grow in a supportive environment, right? Now, there is only me, a girl working here, with inadequate facilities like no fan, etc. Even though I discussed this with them, they never take us seriously, which was also a complaint of previous employees.

Thank you, Ankita, for your reply. MPM is a "Master in Personnel Management." It's different from an MBA; the subjects are a little bit similar, but MPM is a 2-year HR specialized course only.

Work Environment Analysis

It's been 1 month since I started working here. In this 1 month, I have not only analyzed the overall environment, but I have also contacted previous employees. You won't believe that 3 girls who were working here left their jobs on the same day, which created a requirement for us. When I personally contacted them, I got to know that, according to them, the boss is not at all supportive and is a demotivator. That is the reason I felt it was better for me to leave earlier. I know our profession requires a lot of patience, but we can work and grow in a supportive environment, right? Now, there is only me, a girl working here, with inadequate facilities like no fan and all. Even though I discussed this with them, they never took us seriously, which was the complaint of the previous employees as well.

Challenges with a Non-Supportive Boss

It is indeed a challenge to work under a non-supportive boss. Being in HR, educate your boss that it is his responsibility to provide a workable environment. Inform him that there are certain basic requirements that need to be fulfilled. If not, and if someone complains to the labor officer, they would be in trouble.

Communication Between Employees and Employers

Secondly, when it comes to communication between employees and employers, there will always be a blame game. Employers may blame employees, and vice versa. However, as employees, we should give emphasis to all our staff and consider different perspectives.

As HR professionals, the communication link, it is likely that both employees and employers will try to align you with their side. Nonetheless, you should remain fair and understand all aspects.

Job Market Considerations

I must warn you that the job market is very weak right now, so resigning from your current position and seeking another job may not be advisable. If you start seeking a job while still employed, people may question why you want to switch jobs so soon.

Another option is to search for a job while keeping your current employment status confidential. However, resigning before securing a new job is not recommended, especially in the current job market conditions.

View the situation at your firm as a challenge and an opportunity to learn. Perhaps you can gain valuable experience for future reference.

Regards.

There is not much to add, as Ankita has responded adequately, while pointing out the solutions and pitfalls. I would just like to point out the difference between HR and Admin jobs. In small companies or small setups, both are clubbed together as a department; though at the operational level, they may be handled by different people.

Functional Operative Level

At the functional operative level, HR requires specialized study, and under the Factories Act, those working as Labour Welfare Officers need to have recognized degrees; whereas Admin can be handled by any graduate. Admin becomes a specialized job at the senior level, especially in big companies like IT and ITES companies, where the operation is manpower-intensive, or in Hospitality, where services are the basis of operation, etc.

A beginning and longer tenure as an Admin person may restrict the career choices in the long run, given today's scenario, if one wants to join the HR department.

Warm regards.