Is HR a Good Career Choice Given the Tough Competition and Limited Roles?

Hello to everyone, I just want to know if HR is really a good option as a career. I found that even in a well-established company, they want a maximum of 10 HR employees. Students who are pursuing their MBA in HR or have completed it often find themselves in consultancy rather than in a company. In a class of 60, hardly 4-5 get placement in a company, even from well-known universities or institutes. 90% want to go to a company. I think there is cut-throat competition in HR more than in anything else.

Really, is HR a good career?

Every function has its own pros and cons, but entering a specific function depends solely on one's interest and courage. I agree that the supply of HR professionals is slightly higher than the demand in the market, but the opportunities for HR in the market are also increasing significantly in various forms. Companies are now recognizing the impact and importance of HR functions and are giving them a special place within their systems. The significance of Human Resources in today's corporate world is continuously rising.

Prevalent HR Job Opportunities in the Market

Below are some prevalent HR job opportunities in the market:

1. HR Recruiter
2. Executive - Training & Development
3. Executive - PMS
4. Executive - Compensation & Benefits
5. Executive - Time Office
6. Executive - Payroll
7. Executive - Employee Engagement
8. Executive - OD
9. HR Generalist
10. Sales HR
11. Plant HR
12. Executive - People Services
13. Executive - IR or ER
14. Counseling & Grievance Management
15. Executive - Welfare
16. HR/People Consultant
17. Executive - HR Strategy & Policy Formulation
18. Executive - CSR & Industry-Institution Interface
19. Trainer/Counselor
20. Talent Acquisition Executive/Manager
21. Consultant - Legal Compliance/Liaison, etc.

Studying HR does not limit you to working for other companies. You can also consider starting your own business and being your own boss. The knowledge gained in HR during college will be beneficial when starting HR-related ventures like Manpower Recruitment Consultancies, HR Training, OD Consulting, Compensation & Benefits Management, Employee Engagement Consulting, etc.

However, theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient for success in business. Nowadays, numerous HR consultancies worldwide offer ample job opportunities for freshers. These small consultancies provide a solid platform for newcomers to gain essential HR insights and eventually venture into entrepreneurship or join established organizations.

Freshers and entry-level executives often have high expectations at the beginning of their careers without realizing the need to equip themselves adequately. Many overlook opportunities in HR consultancies or smaller companies due to misconceptions that working in such environments may hinder their career progression in HR, which is untrue. In reality, these experiences can serve as stepping stones for success in the HR field.

Upon graduating, individuals have lofty expectations and dreams regarding HR careers, often fixating on large corporations or esteemed HR professionals. When they face challenges securing positions in their desired companies with ideal roles, they may become disheartened and propagate misconceptions about limited HR opportunities.

In my view, there are abundant HR opportunities for those who enhance their employability skills.

Regards,
M. Kannan

Dear all,

It's all about your passion and interest; the field you choose will be beneficial for career growth. Please watch "3 Idiots," a perfect example. I kindly request everyone not to pursue a career solely based on market value or demand, or just because someone is doing well and earning high. Follow your passion, as it can lead to a lot of glory and money.

HR as a Career Choice

Coming to HR, yes, HR can be a good career choice if you have passion. Nowadays, HR plays a vital role in business development and is equally important in developing businesses. Strategic HR has evolved, with HR professionals becoming part of the Board of Directors and even CEOs.

Hope this provides enough insight.

Regards,
B. Anand Kumar

HR is all about experience, as you tend to deal with human psychology. People who want to pursue a successful career in HR need to be patient in the initial stage and gain valuable experience (at least for 5 years). After that, you can expect a boost in your career in any field.

Just like in the movie "3 Idiots," where a character mentions, "Knowledge comes in various forms; acquire as much as you can."

Thank you.

Well, it's an interesting field with a lot of opportunities. It's all about being given the opportunity and exposure to learn on the job. Making mistakes and correcting them is the surest way to gain practical experience in the field of HR. One of the most interesting points is that most traditional organizations are now beginning to understand the need for HR's role, hence the effort in separating corporate administration from HR, especially in government and state-owned institutions. The future is bright!

Regards,
Bright (Ghana)

As you pointed out, "they want max 10 HR," do you know why? Today, there are many automated software tools that can efficiently handle the repetitive HR work, such as creating salary slips, invoices, etc., once the data is entered into the system. This means that a couple of HR professionals can manage thousands of employees.

How to Succeed in a Competitive HR Environment

To carve a place for yourself in such an environment, academic knowledge alone is not sufficient. You should:

1. Learn about the real-time challenges that HR faces despite having automated HR processes.
2. Learn how to manage and handle some HR software applications.
3. Learn how to add value to such an environment by improving your soft skills.
4. Learn about human psychology and law (such as labor laws, legal complications, and their implications).

Relying solely on academic qualifications can make it very challenging to progress in a competitive era.

Another crucial fact is that only larger companies can afford to purchase and maintain such software due to their high costs. Therefore, there is a higher chance of being employed by smaller companies. Once you get a career break, it is up to you how you nurture it.

Thanks,

Vikas

Exploring the HR World

The way you have started exploring things using Cite HR and similar resources is the way you can actually learn and understand how the current HR world is working. Usually, all companies state that the HR Department is a support function as it is non-productive. Therefore, every time you are in HR, you have to justify the costs you are incurring to the companies, which is logical. Most of us think that the market is not stable; who doesn't want to make a profit? Similarly, companies will also consider cost-cutting. However, as long as you can justify your work and your importance to your organization, your job will always be safe, and you will keep growing.

All the best. Folks, please share your views on this.

I totally agree with you. Except for recruitment, there are fewer opportunities for people who wish to make their career in HR. It's specifically applicable when you have prior Admin experience. My active search is going on for an opportunity in Pune, but unfortunately, I was not able to find good openings in MNCs. This is not to demotivate you but to give you a clear idea of the current market position. Appreciate your point and all the best for your career.

Regards,
Prajkta

Well, no doubt about it, often companies hire fewer employees in the HR department to manage HR functions compared to other departments or divisions. Additionally, if a company has a strong HR team, the recruitment for candidates/employees in other departments is continuously growing, but for the HR department, it is rare as they mostly hire to replace employees who are leaving.

Reasons for a Limited HR Team

The major reason for having a limited team for HR functions is the use of advanced HR and payroll software. This software makes HR and payroll processes easier, eliminating the need for a large HR team to handle various functions, as the software has different modules to manage all areas of HR functions. Therefore, whether a company has 10 employees, 1000, or even more, there is no excess work needed other than inputting details into the software, as the software manages the rest.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having experience with various HR or payroll software, along with professional qualifications, can prove to be a plus point and help you secure a good HR job soon.

Regards,
Couvery.

Parth, perhaps you are barking up the wrong tree. What is your idea of HR? Are you looking at a limited scope and functions? Have you looked at Industrial Relations?

The Growing Importance of Industrial Relations

IR is a function that is absorbing more and more people. Unfortunately, few are opting for it as a career choice. Instead, they want to do HR. Most of the people who are in IR today are there by default. They wanted HR, but they were kicked into IR. As we move from a manufacturing focus to a services focus, IR is now called ER. But the matter remains the same: managing relations between the company and employees, ensuring a smooth flow of business, identifying the problems before they become issues, and tackling the same.

Consider IR as a Career Option

Take a re-look at IR as a career option. You will find it easier to get into large companies if you say IR is your interest because they do not get worthwhile candidates interested in IR as opposed to HR.