New to HR and Feeling Lost: How Can I Be Productive Before Our Store Opens?

I don't have any experience with HR; this is my first HR job ever. I just put my foot in the water to try and learn something new, but the reality is, I'm really struggling. There are a lot of reasons why I'm struggling, but I will let you know as we go on with the discussion. I badly need help because, in the company's eyes, I'm really useless. By the way, to be exact, I'm working for a Home Depot company that is not open yet. They are planning to open this July. I'm not sure what to do since the store is not open yet.

The fact that you have been recruited surely indicates that you have a role to play in the scheme of things that the company is planning. However, since the company is yet to get into the operational business, as of today, you are perceived as having little or no work.

In fact, this is a rare opportunity for you to prepare well for your role and impress your management with how diligent you are, the leadership qualities you possess, and your strategic thinking skills. With this objective in mind, you can attempt the following:

- Read up and make notes on the HR systems that other competitors have developed and how you can implement/improve the same.
- Plan out templates for various requirements, e.g., recruitment, appraisals, appointment letters.
- If your Home Depot is part of an existing setup, try to learn about the existing systems.
- Read and make notes on the recent trends in HR as well as the trends specific to your industry.
- Use this time to prepare questions to clarify doubts and gain a better understanding of your role and responsibilities.
- This is also a good time to outline for yourself the role you have to play in the organization, prepare your job description and key result areas, and get them approved by your superiors.

Of course, taking a cue from the above, do use your imagination to utilize your time productively to demonstrate to your management your seriousness about your job, your interest and aptitude for the role, and how valuable you will be to the organization.

Best Wishes

Thank you so much for your response. I appreciate the help as I am just starting out. I hope that everything you said can be applied to my company.

Challenges in My Role

Another issue is that the company doesn't see the need for an HR specialist alone. What they really want is an all-rounder. They always mention that there isn't much for HR to do. They want me to handle accounting, deal with stocks, and even lift and put stocks on shelves, etc. This is why if I want to study and take notes about HR systems, I can only do it at home. I wish I could implement everything you mentioned in your post.

Regards

Hello Ironick, A Home Depot is a very big store where goods are purchased and stored in bulk and sold at a reasonable rate to customers. It is good that you have been told to count, measure, handle materials, etc., and assist people in the formation of the store. Your HR work has already begun without your knowledge. Since you do not have any exposure in HR, begin in earnest immediately. It will be a twin learning process of HR and Materials.

Have cordial relations with your peers and superiors. Learn from their experience and improve yourself. As Mr. Jacob has nicely put it, begin systematically. When you are beginning your career or joining a new department, some extra time is required to gain insight.

Right now your vendors must be coming to Home Depot. Establish a good network with them. Later, customers would come to Home Depot. There is a lot to learn, and all you have to do is begin.

Good luck,

Regards, V. Raghunathan