Should I Accept a Low-Paying HR Role in India to Eventually Work in the Middle East? Seeking Career Advice

Let me introduce myself first. I completed B.Tech (IT) in 2011 and worked for an online shopping company for 1.5 years as a Business Analyst. In 2013, I pursued an MBA from Middlesex University in London. I couldn't extend my stay in London due to visa restrictions. Now, I am back in India, hunting for a job with good pay. I am searching for a job in Business Analysis or HR in any specialization. Since I completed my MBA in London, I have a substantial debt that I need to repay to the State Bank of India within 5 years. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any employers in India offering salaries in lakhs to help me repay my loan amount.

Therefore, I am considering moving to Singapore or Dubai where I believe I can better manage my financial needs. However, due to my limited work experience, I feel hesitant to enter those markets at this time. Thus, I have decided to work in India for a couple more years before considering a move to those countries, especially given my age of 25.

Current Job Offer

I currently have an offer from Standard Chartered - Scope International as a Senior Officer in HR Shared Services. Although the pay offered is 3 lakh per annum, which I find insufficient, the role involves handling employee benefits for the bank's staff in Singapore and Dubai.

Seeking Guidance

I would like to seek your guidance on whether I should accept this offer. Will it be beneficial for my career to work in the Middle East? If I gain experience there, will I be able to secure a higher-paying position in the future to repay my loan? Is this career path challenging and fulfilling? Where could I potentially reach in the coming years?

I kindly request your valuable suggestions to help me realize my dreams. Thank you very much.

Regards,

Hey Mitra, thank you for your suggestion. I would like to ask one more question. Will it be possible for me to switch roles within the HR domain? For example, if I start in HR Operations, would I be able to transition to roles like HR Generalist or Recruitment in the future?

[QUOTE=ukmitra;2185893] Hi, Pradeep, join them and keep seeking openings in Qatar, Dubai, Oman, and Saudi. Good Luck. Ukmitra

Hey Mitra,

Thank you for your suggestion. I would like to ask one more question. Will it be possible for me to switch roles within the HR domain? For example, if I start in HR Operations, will I be able to move into roles like HR Generalist or Recruitment, etc.?

Attribution: https://www.citehr.com/509604-workin...#ixzz3HFIGEH3w

The switch shouldn't take you long. However, you can apply for the HR processes at JP Morgan, ADP, and other companies that run large business units. The roles are different from what a Generalist HR might be in terms of application and geographies. At HRSS, you will gain a deep understanding of HR processes, laws, and technologies used mostly in the US.

You may take a long-term view and switch to Generalist HR once you have gained enough experience. This will also save you from starting your career as a recruiter, which most HR professionals are forced to do. Recruitment helps in getting placed easily as the jobs are plenty, but the switch is equally difficult. Hence, I echo U.K. Mitra and suggest you take this role for now. Later, you can join a smaller firm as a Generalist HR and proceed further in your career.

Hope that helps. Wish you all the best!

I do not understand why you are looking for low-paying HR jobs when you have experience and skills that will directly get you much higher-paying jobs. You have a B.Tech, which may not be as popular as a BE but is still recognized as an important degree for software development jobs. In addition, you have 18 months of experience as a business analyst in a portal. Your MBA will be the icing on the cake.

Opportunities in E-commerce

Do you know how many new positions are being created at just a single company like Flipkart? Add to that the massive growth other e-commerce companies are facing and the scramble for talent. Future just announced their e-commerce play. They will add 150 developers. Flipkart is recruiting about 1,200. Where is the trained talent? Do apply there and check. Call their HR, and you will get the info you want.

Thank you, Swata, for your great inputs; I will think in that way from now on. I need some more clarification as I have only gained 18 months of experience as a Business Analyst. Many firms like Flipkart and Amazon are looking for 2+ years of experience. Furthermore, the company I worked for is a small concern where they used to pay me in cash. Additionally, my MBA from the UK is not widely recognized in India. Many employers say it's just a one-year MBA from London. Despite having a B.Tech in IT, I lack exposure and experience in IT. Therefore, I have decided to shift my interest towards Human Resources. I am good at managing and possess strong leadership qualities.

Career Path Suggestions

Please suggest a career path for me to move forward. I am interested in any management profile that is challenging and offers learning opportunities. Eventually, I aim to move abroad, preferably to Singapore or Dubai.

Looking forward to your response.

Thank you.

Pursuing an MBA in the UK or USA for Work in India

Doing an MBA in the UK or USA to work in India is generally a waste of money. No one gives credence to what you have done there, and no one would bother to pay a premium for it. In most cases, it adds little value. However, with other things being equal, having an MBA degree gives you an edge where the qualification and experience are otherwise equal. While firms may ask for 2 years of experience for some posts, they also have positions at lower levels. In any case, with the scramble for talent, people are willing to compromise on their exact requirements if you can otherwise convince them of your abilities.

If you have decided you want to follow the MBA path to go abroad, then you have no option but to follow the path you have already chosen and stick to it.