Am I on the Right Path to Transition from Safety Engineering to HR Management? Seeking Your Advice!

I have completed a Master's in Industrial Safety Engineering this year, and I will be working as a safety engineer in the HSE department of an organization very soon. I am 24 now, and I plan to do an MBA in Human Resource Management at a reputed college when I am 28.

Background and Interests

I am interested in psychology and read psychology articles to pass my leisure time. I love listening to people, and it is always thrilling to notice the micro-expressions of people from all walks of life. I also have a passion for learning English, and I must confess that my communication skills are not excellent! However, I believe my passion will drive me toward excellence. I love interviewing and recruiting. I am also good at resolving interpersonal conflicts as I can understand everyone's viewpoint. As a safety engineer, I need to know the nitty-gritty of the Factories Act, Factory Rules, and other HSE laws. I won't have a hard time studying law either.

My Queries

1. Do I have the traits for an HR professional? If not, could you brief me on the skills I should develop?

2. Where can I take up my MBA? XLRI, Jamshedpur, or any foreign universities? I can work abroad only for a few years, and I will return to India at some point. Please suggest a few colleges!

3. I need to specialize only in human resource management. I don't think finance, procurement, or logistics would suit me. I have already worked for almost a year in the procurement team of Coal Commercial after completing my bachelor's. Are there courses specifically designed for HR? Please suggest some.

4. I need to work as a safety engineer for at least three years, and I am eager to practice HSE. Is three years of experience sufficient to get a seat in a B-school?

5. In the meantime, I would like to take up a few courses in correspondence:

- Diploma in Labour Law
- One-Year Part-time Post Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management, Industrial Relations & Labour Welfare (PGDPM) offered by one of the Productivity Councils
- An organizational psychology course. Since there is no such course in India, I may pursue a B.Sc. in Psychology.

Do I sound very ambitious? Is it necessary to take up these courses before pursuing an MBA? I just want to excel in HR!

6. What is the package that would be offered for a fresher in B-Schools? I inquire because I have a good academic record, and I will be a successful HSE professional after a few years in an MNC. I think I will be getting a salary of at least 50,000 rupees. Is an MBA economically fruitful?

7. Lastly, if I start my career as an HR executive in my thirties, will I end up as an HR head in my forties?

I thank you profusely for spending your valuable time reading my queries. Thank you!!

P.S. Please refrain from commenting that I am too old already. Age is just a number, and it's the zeal and love that matters!

Regards

You definitely have the traits of an HR professional, but more than the traits, it's the ambition that drives you.

Institutions for HR Studies

XLRI is a very good institute to study HR. You may also consider TISS and Symbiosis. When it comes to foreign universities, there are many factors to consider apart from specialization, so a blanket advice might not suit your needs in this regard. There is plenty of material available online about foreign education. I recommend doing your own research and being your best judge.

Courses and Career Path

There is no need to do correspondence courses before applying for an MBA in HR. Good management colleges do not select based on past academic certificates; they assess you based on aptitude and attitude. In my opinion, instead of pursuing many courses, you should focus on excelling in your current job. This can be a tangible way to present your capabilities to interviewers. If you have excelled in one job, it suggests you may excel in another, especially for experienced candidates.

Salary Expectations

Salary package should not be a limiting factor when graduating from prestigious colleges like XLRI.

Career Progression in HR

The term "HR head" is vague. You could become an HR head in a small company within 5 years, but it might take 20 years to reach that position in a large global company. Rather than aiming to be an HR head, consider focusing on becoming a skilled HR manager by the time you reach your forties.

I hope these insights are helpful to you. Good luck with your career aspirations!

Regards,
[Your Name]

You have taken me back by about 25 years in my life. After working in paper/packaging technologies for about 8 years, I started feeling that I should be an HR professional and yielded to the ways of my heart against the advice of many of my well-wishers. Now that I have retired, I look back and would like to share with you how I feel now. Had I not changed my role to HR at that time, probably I could have gained a higher designation and a lot of money with undisturbed growth in the specialized field.

I could command excellent regard from all levels of colleagues in a couple of organizations, but definitely not money and designation. Also looking back, I can tell you that the ideal HR does not exist in any business organization. Maybe some of the promoters want an excellent HR climate, but the executives there are not translating it effectively. In most places (including Wipro and Infosys), the HR professionals are considered disablers (rather than 'enablers') by the general employees. They are inaccessible when needed by their colleagues.

I have no grudge in the way I have gone through my career in HR. If you find this input useful for your thought process, please go ahead and consider a career in HR.

Thank you.

You have a fair amount of clarity in your thinking. Your background, coupled with an intent to do an MBA in HR from a reputed institute like XLRI, will certainly help you in your career plans. In my opinion, you will be able to contribute more to Industrial Relations (IR) in a large manufacturing environment. However, you need to remember that experience is probably more important than qualifications for one's growth. By this, I mean that you will have to join as an entry-level executive and slowly outshine others with an aptitude to learn the practical realities of managing HR. Let your organization utilize your strengths; you must remain highly dedicated to the job assigned to you.

Remember that people with 30 years of experience or more often share with me that they are not fully exposed to all aspects of HR. Even very senior persons heading the HR function are unable to understand how to use HR technology to manage human capital. All I wish to convey, without scaring you in the least, is to concentrate on learning at your workplace and acquire more and more knowledge. That is the only way to ensure personal growth. Never allow your qualifications to boost your ego; remain humble, and you will grow in whichever area (IR/HR) you get into.

Regards