Feeling Stuck in HR Career Choices: Should I Pursue a Ph.D. or Explore Other Paths?

Hi, I am Prerna. I graduated with a degree in BBA (Hons). Currently, I am pursuing an MBA in Human Resource Management as my major and Marketing as my minor. I also specialized in Marketing during my BBA. Due to my lack of experience, I am finding it challenging to secure a job in the HR field. The job offers I receive are mostly from consultancy firms, which is not where I want to work. I am considering pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Resource Management, but I am unsure if it is the best option for me. I feel lost and would appreciate guidance on the right path for me. Should I pursue a Ph.D., or is there another path I should consider?

In today's competitive world, it is very tough to land a corporate HR position with a Distance/Executive MBA degree. Every company today looks to hire regular MBAs because of the abundance of candidates. Hence, it will be difficult for you to land a full-time company job as a fresher unless you have good references to support your credentials.

With your current education, if you are not willing to work in consultancies, then you will have to try joining a very small company, maybe a local firm, to start your career. Then, as you gain some experience and exposure, start building your network to land a full-time HR job.

Ph.D. as an Alternative Path

Now let's take a look at the other option; this is not going to be easy either. It is difficult to appear for a Ph.D. entrance with a Distance/Executive MBA. You may not be able to do it from the university of your choice. However, if you are able to find a professor and start your Ph.D., your career option will be to get into the teaching line. So, ask yourself if you are a good teacher or if teaching is something that interests you. If your answer is yes, then go for it with all your heart. There is good demand for Ph.D.s, and it surely will last for some time.

Regards,
K

You have completed an MBA through distance learning, which may be causing these difficulties. If you truly want to pursue a fresher, full-time job at a reputable company, you will need to obtain a full-time MBA degree from a well-known institute. If you are considering further studies to obtain a full-time MBA degree, it is advisable to do so before it is too late.

Regards,
RD

I personally feel that if you are getting an opportunity in a consulting firm to start with, then you should take it up. Being in a consulting firm, you will get good exposure to the recruitment process, which will help you in getting a job in a corporate setting. Also, consulting companies put a lot of effort into training a fresher, which will be beneficial for you.

Regards,
Vineet

Since you wish to avoid working in a consultancy, I suggest you look at startup organizations. You will learn a lot and build up your HR skills faster. The distance MBA you have completed may not be of much assistance in getting into a proper HR role.

All the best. Feel free to write to me offline if you would like to know more.

Regards,