Transitioning from Real Estate to HR: How Do I Answer "Why HR?" in Interviews?

I am a graduate student with 4 years of experience in a real estate company as a junior operations manager. Now, I want to transition into the field of HR. Many multinational companies are asking me, "Why HR?"

What is the appropriate answer for "Why HR?"

Who knows better than you about why HR?

As you changed your field from operations to HR, you had thought about this before.

"Why HR?'' A good question to ponder over.

I am in HR because I like working with people. I am enthusiastic and optimistic, creative and spontaneous, and I enjoy coaching and counseling.

Dear Team Kritharth, the question to the interviewee is why did you choose HR and not what is the importance of HR. Your reply is more for the latter than the former.

As far as depreciation of assets is concerned, human resources also depreciate. Otherwise, the concept of retirement would not have been there.

Your argument that humans bring creative and intelligent solutions to stay competitive is absolutely valid. Nevertheless, the other side of the argument is that it is humans that deprive value from other humans. When managers demotivate juniors directly or indirectly, they reduce the value of other humans. This does not happen in the case of other assets.

For Asima

You have worked in a real estate company as an operations manager. Therefore, you understand the intricacies of operations better. You can utilize this knowledge in recruitment, training, and other employee development activities. You have an edge over other HR professionals. Your weakness could be that you may not know the "personnel" side of HR, i.e., knowledge of labor laws. You can supplement it with hardcore operations knowledge.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

Every step in an organization involves HR. Right from recruiting the suitable candidate to training, performance appraisal, compensation, and finally, the exit interview. Hence, HR is termed as the backbone of any organization.

Personally, I like communicating and convincing candidates as well as clients the most.