Torn Between HR and Marketing: How Do You Choose the Right Path for Your Career?

I am a management student currently interning in HR, and I am confused about which specialization to opt for. HR was my area of interest before starting my degree, but I developed a liking for market research during that time. While interning currently, there are times when there is no motivation to work, or the work is very slow and mundane.

Kindly provide some insights, as I don't have much experience in marketing but am updated with current trends in digital marketing, PR, and market research.

HR as a People Management Function

HR is a people management function where marketing skills need to be employed. Employees are your internal customers. You need to sell management expectations reflected in its vision, mission, and policy statements to them and motivate them to buy into them and fulfill them. As a hiring manager, you need to find talent in the job market and be able to sell a suitable position to them in the company, which is no easy task now, given the war for 'talent' in the market. Once you have secured talent, you need to work daily to keep them satisfied and engaged to ensure they stay with you through activities such as employee engagement and offering rewards and recognition for their performance.

Marketing as a Product Promotion Function

Marketing is a product promotion function where you need to employ people management skills in finding prospective customers, selling products to them (motivating them to buy by explaining how it meets their expectations), and retaining them to protect your market share as your competitors may try to lure them away at any time.

Now, only you can decide which path to pursue by assessing your passion level for each, your preferences, and which one you enjoy doing.

Regards, B. Saikumar HR & Labour Relations Consultant