Choosing the Right Industry for an HR Career Start: Manufacturing, IT, or Banking?

Industry Guidance for HR Career Start

I am a final-year postgraduate student in HR who is on the verge of placements. I need your guidance at this critical stage of decision-making. Which industry could be the best to start with? Is it manufacturing, IT, or the Banking and Financial Sector?

I heard from many of my seniors that even though the IT industry offers handsome perks, when it comes to experience and exposure, manufacturing is the best. Is this just a myth? Which one should I go for? HR is my passion, and I want to explore and experience more at the beginning of my career. Kindly guide me.

Regards,
Edwin Thomas

As you mentioned that HR is your passion, I believe you should consider starting with a reputable manufacturing company. This will provide you with exposure to core HR activities, including employee relations, statutory compliance, labor cases, and more.

Regards,
Vishal

Just to add to your question, because you need to think about the future too, not only where you start. Also, check if you start your career in a manufacturing company; after a year or so, will it be easy to shift to any other sector? If the possibilities are high, then you can go ahead with your interest. Hope this helps. If not, please ignore.

Regards,
Radha Yermal

Apart from the industry, I would look for the brand name of the company and the kind of span I shall have. If you pick up an organization where things are all set, you will get to learn the systems well. If you pick up a company that is still developing, then you will get firsthand experience. I fail to understand how a manufacturing company can provide vast exposure.

HR Function Across Industries

Please note that HR as a function is industry-independent. All HR processes, such as:

- Recruitment & onboarding;
- In-service management, including Leave/Attendance Management, Payroll, Performance Appraisal, Employee Compensation management, Training & Development, Discipline & Code of Conduct, Employee Welfare, Complaints & Grievances, etc.; and
- Separation/Exit process

are to be followed whether you join Infrastructure, Retail, Manufacturing, IT & ITES, or any other industry vertical. However, the employee categories may include industrial/non-industrial workers in some labor-intensive organizations. In such industry verticals, such as manufacturing & infrastructure, you get exposure to Labor laws, compliance & Industrial Relations (IR).

It is basically your interest that should decide your preferences. If your interest is to work in a 'white-collar' environment, IT/ITES, Telecommunications/BPOs/Retail may be some of the choices. But if your genuine interest is to learn about industrial relations, a manufacturing setup may be a better choice.

I always suggest you go for manufacturing industries like food, FMCG, FMCD, durable goods, cement, etc. There is a lot to learn from all of these industries.

Regards,
Prasobh Chandran

As a fresher in HR, the best way to kickstart your career is to embrace the opportunities that come your way initially and commit to them for at least a year. Your future trajectory will be shaped by your understanding of HR as a science, your adaptability to the work environment, and your effective contributions towards achieving the organizational goals by the end of this period. In conclusion, it is essential to consider the management practices and culture of the employer, rather than focusing solely on the industry they operate in.

Best wishes,
Pipalia M P

Insights into the Manufacturing Sector

In a large manufacturing organization, such as those in the steel or power sectors, you can observe how rules and regulations are established for personnel, financial, and industrial relations, and how they are implemented. You also gain insight into how certain problems arise and how they are tactfully resolved.

However, simply joining such organizations is not enough. One must study the compendiums related to different departments, which serve as a guide and assist in thinking towards prosperity and career development. I hope this information will be helpful to some extent.

Regards,
Eswararao Ivaturi.

Dear Seniors, I respect you and express my sincere gratitude for all the valuable guidance and information. After taking all your valuable points into consideration and conducting some research, I have come to understand that joining a quality manufacturing brand with an extensive and full-fledged HR portfolio should help me move up the career ladder easily by acquiring substantial knowledge. It appears that most IT and ITes companies outsource processes such as statutory compliance and payroll to consultancies, which may limit the exposure I could gain. I am not entirely sure if this understanding is correct, but it is my humble interpretation.

Thank you,
Edwin Thomas

One factor that you need to consider in choosing an industry is the role and job content that affords more learning opportunities and allows HR to play a critical role in organizational development. In the manufacturing industry, with a unionized work environment, blue-collar workers, and many health, safety, and welfare compliances to be met, it is undoubtedly all sweat and toil. However, it is the roles, not the names, that should matter in selecting your industry. All the best.

Regards,
B. Saikumar