Choosing Between IT and Manufacturing: Which Industry Offers Better Growth for HR Beginners?

Hi, I am pursuing an MBA in HR/System at one of the B schools in Tamil Nadu. As a beginner in the field of HR, which industry is more challenging and offers opportunities for growth: the IT industry or manufacturing?

With Regards,
HARI

If you are someone who likes to acquaint yourself with a wide spectrum of core HR functions and challenges, you can choose the manufacturing sector. The HR in the IT sector mostly concerns recruitment and retention but has little room for hardcore HR functions like industrial relations (IR), motivation, performance management systems (PMS), training, employee engagement, discipline management, employee welfare, and statutory compliances, which the manufacturing sector offers.

Regards,
B. Saikumar

Thank you, sir. If I want to shine in the manufacturing sector, what additional skills should I possess? Also, could you please suggest some certification courses related to labor laws, etc.? Thanking you.

With Regards,
HARI

Essential HR Skills for Any Sector

The basic skills required for an HR professional in any sector are the same. However, since you deal with a workforce that operates machines rather than using a pen or keyboard, I believe the following skills will be helpful to you.

• Empathizing Skills
You need to develop a sense of understanding workers and see the issues from the right perspective.

• Listening Skills
Be patient and listen to them, but don't dismiss them merely because they often come to you with a variety of problems, ranging from the quality of food to the quantity of work given to them. Address grievances promptly. Delay may lead to a potential industrial dispute.

• Interpersonal Skills
You need to be an outgoing and extroverted person rather than one retreating into a shell. Spreading warmth in the work environment is essential to help managers identify cracks in relations among team members and harmonize them.

• Communication Skills
It does not mean being talkative. It means conveying things clearly and meaningfully without causing any hurt to the other party.

• Visualizing Skills
Develop the ability to anticipate the consequences of your decisions/actions and be proactive in nipping any trouble in the bud.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
B. Saikumar