Feeling Stuck in My HR Career: Should I Stay for Growth or Seek New Challenges?

Career Journey and Dilemma

I completed my MBA (HR) in 2007 from a reputed institute. I was picked during campus placements by an MNC in the IT sector. I worked there for 2.5 years. My profile was that of a Business Analyst, and I was working on an HRIS product. However, core HR activities were minimal in this profile. I had to talk to clients, gather their HR-related requirements, configure the product accordingly, and pass it on to the implementation team.

I had an intention of appearing for the civil service examination then. So, I was doing my preparations along with my job. I gave the first two attempts while I was on the job but was not able to make it. So, I resigned from the job for better preparation and gave the next two attempts. But still, I was not able to make it.

After the civil service fiasco, I joined a small company in my hometown. Earlier, I was working in a metro. Since I was jobless, I was desperate to get a job. Fortunately, I got through the interview and was posted as the HR Manager of the company. However, the salary was almost 35% less than my last salary. I had to compromise since I was fresh from a break and had to come down to the salary standards of a small town and an SME in the IT sector. However, this proved to be a welcome break for me. There was a tremendous learning opportunity. I was instrumental in building a performance management system, T&D practices, competency mapping model, compensation benchmarking, change management, etc. These systems were literally non-existent. So, I had to build from scratch based on my own primary and secondary research and common sense. There was no one to give me any guidance initially. However, six months after I joined, we got into an engagement with a highly experienced external HR consultant. He was happy with what I had built. Even now, we are running with these systems with minor tweaks as and when requirements come.

After the initial 1 to 1.5 years of excitement, things started to become more routine, and I felt as if my passion was leaking. On the personal side, there were also a lot of changes. I got married, my mother retired (my father died long back), and I became the sole breadwinner. So, the salary package started to pinch me. Now, I have a feeling that I have to gain more experience in these areas and get a feel for standard operating procedures practiced elsewhere. Now, after 2 years in my current designation, I have started to feel an urge for a more challenging profile. I am looking for a similar kind of profile and salary on market standards.

Now, we have a new marketing consultant coming in, and there are pretty good growth prospects for the company. So, I am in a dilemma on whether to start looking out or not. Can you please advise me on this?

It's really nice to see someone of your age and experience thinking in such a mature manner—not many can do it, if you go by the many postings in this very forum. Coming to your dilemma, I think there are multiple ways of looking at it.

Firstly, you mentioned that the company is likely to grow—business-wise. Due to this, you expect the salaries to rise, which would handle your current family obligations.

Secondly, you mentioned that you 'feel' that you have gotten yourself into a 'routine' mode at your core HR job.

Combining both the above aspects, do you think that your core HR job role, responsibilities, and, more importantly, the opportunity to keep learning will also undergo an improvement along with your salary? If yes, just stick with the present job. If no, then maybe it's time for you to move on.

Quite often, both factors [Salary and Job Satisfaction] may not necessarily be directly proportional. I have seen cases where companies simply scale up whatever procedures/processes exist to cater to the enhanced employee strength—just because they have worked well so far. Nothing wrong with that approach, per se. But that would be from a company perspective. You will need to look at it from your perspective.

Your decision would also depend on what your priorities are at this point in time. For example, if you change jobs, would your family move with you [sometimes such aspects are 'taken for granted' before the individual realizes there's tough resistance from the family]?

Hope you get the point.

All the best.

Regards,
TS

I feel it is very important to weigh all pros and cons before arriving at a final decision. It is crucial for you to first decide what your personal and professional priorities are. Is it better compensation and/or more challenging work? To achieve better compensation, are you willing to reset your career goals? With your qualifications and experience, I am sure you will find a good opportunity in a metro or a bigger city, but this may require relocation and aligning your personal goals.

I suggest exploring opportunities within your current organization. Even within your current scope of work, you can create more challenging tasks for yourself by automating HR processes, creating an employee dashboard for management, etc. Since your company is on a growth path, the staff strength is likely to increase, allowing you to develop futuristic systems/processes that will support business expansion. While doing all this, you can discuss your expectations for better compensation with management.

There are many choices available to you. Make a decision that best aligns with your priorities.

ALL THE BEST,

Gia

All said and done, if you find the offer lucrative and exciting, there is nothing wrong with going for a change. Probably, if and when you resign, you might be offered a better package by your current employer and could end up in yet another dilemma—whether to quit or to continue. All the best.

Thank you all for your advice. I am one of the members of the core management committee of the company, so I understand its current financial strength clearly. Knowing this, I don't think the company is in a position to offer me what I want. Learning prospects are a good motivator to stay back; however, personal commitments seem to be more pressing.

Regards,