Should I Accept an HR Executive Role in a Hospital or Choose Retail for Better Growth?

Dear HR Experts,

I'm at an entry-level HR position with 2 years of experience, all in contract jobs from two different employers. My responsibilities include:

Employer 1 (Power Generator – Type of Manufacturing Company):

• Personnel Record Maintenance
• Time Office Management
• Recruitment of ITI candidates as apprentices
• Joining Formalities
• Inducting new joiners on their date of joining
• Conducting CSR Activities
• Organizing Employee Engagement Activities
• Facilities Management

Employer 2 (BPO/ITES):

• Initial Screening for all walk-in candidates
• Coordinating with training & operations teams to complete the interview process
• Employee Database & Personnel File Maintenance
• Offer release with the help of PeopleSoft
• Handing over the offer letter to employees
• Completing joining formalities & onboarding
• Generating the Employee ID for new employees with the help of PeopleSoft
• Coordinating with the FMG department (Admin) to distribute ID cards & access cards
• Conducting Employee Engagement Activities on a weekly basis

I'm eager to learn everything in HR. However, I have received an offer as an HR Executive in a reputed hospital in Tamil Nadu. The hospital is planning to implement/start an HR department. Should I accept the offer?

Query 1: What about the growth/future of HR in the hospital industry, and in the future, will I be able to switch to another industry?

Query 2: For HR, which industry has better growth prospects: the hospital industry or the retail industry? I also have another offer from a reputed mobile retail company.

Regards.

Any field in HR is challenging. A hospital environment is also equally challenging, providing you with ample opportunities to advance your career. Nowadays, hospitals incorporate various functions of HR, including dealing with unions. As you mentioned, they are in the process of establishing an HR department, which will expose you to aspects such as licensing, policy development, payroll, statutory requirements, and more. This hands-on experience will cover all areas of HR.

There are no restrictions in HR when it comes to transitioning between sectors. If you are well-versed in HR functions and current trends, you can easily pivot to different industries, including manufacturing. While you may face challenges in the initial phases, your learning curve will be exceptional, paving the way for a prosperous future.

Additionally, the decision between the two offers you have ultimately depends on your preferences. If you prioritize working within existing functions, the retail sector may be the better choice. However, if you aim to build a strong foundation in HR, joining the hospital could be more beneficial.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Recession in the hospital industry is very minimal, and it's a good place to learn too.

Regards,
Godwin SR.

Getting into any industry is not easy in the current HR market. My advice would be, since you have experience in both recruitment and generalist roles, you can easily transition to a new environment with a different domain to work in. Wherever you go, the same HR functions will be performed, so you have a good opportunity now to enter the hospital setting. Go ahead with confidence!

Regards,

It is nice to have one executive in a hospital to open such a discussion. Don't focus solely on recruitment and initial processing. As the human factor in the healthcare delivery system is so prominent, you should concentrate on training. Previously, hospital management took many unfair steps to retain employees, but that period is gone. Now, a place to learn and progress in the profession will keep employees with an organization. Motivating people by providing the best opportunities for growth is the only way in the healthcare industry for retention of talents. I could not find any alternatives for this in my 17 years of service in hospitals.

Wishing you all the best.

Regards,
Benny Thomas
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