Feeling Stuck in Low Salary: How Can an MBA in HR Break Free from the Standard Pay Hike Cycle?

Hi all, Could someone help me in finding out the pay scale for an MBA - HR with 1 year of experience? I am working as a Management Trainee - HR in a construction company. I have completed B.Tech (Civil) and MBA (HR & Operations) in 2017 and 2019, respectively, from a recognized university. After my post-graduation, I was preparing for competitive exams, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all exams got delayed, and I had to start a job to support my family financially. Therefore, I decided to start working.

Currently, I am earning 1.8 lacs P.A. (in my hometown), which is too low considering my profile. When I asked other recruiters for a 100% hike for a Delhi-NCR location, which is justifiable based on my profile, they refused to offer such an increase. This made me realize that starting my career at such a low salary was a big mistake.

How to search for better options

Can anyone suggest how I can search for better options and break out of this vicious cycle of standard 20-30% hikes on the current salary without truly assessing one's capabilities?

When to accept a job at a lower salary

In what situations should one accept a job at a lower salary?

Thank you.

Dear MBA fresher,

Currently, many industries are badly affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of them is the real estate or construction sector. In fact, this sector was in the doldrums even before the onset of the pandemic. However, some signs of revival of the sector are there. As of now, just green shoots are visible. When the green shoots convert into a shrub, and then a tree, that cannot be said. Your inability to get a decent job is due to this reason.

The recruiters are offering you a 20-30% hike because this is what the general trend is. Nevertheless, the real reason is a shortage of jobs. Too many unemployed engineers are searching for a job. Yes, working at a low salary is a trap for you. However, to come out of this trap, you need to keep on applying for various jobs. Somewhere some success you will get. When your future employer asks you about your low salary, you may explain that you are an MT, and a period of management training is always a transitory period.

If you are B Tech + MBA, then it was not necessary to look for a job only in the real estate or construction sector. You could have searched for a job in other industries as well.

Furthermore, what duties do you handle during the phase of MT is also important. In many companies, the MTs are used for menial jobs. Engaging in low-value activities further reduces their employability. Even now you can start looking beyond the civil sector.

Lastly, just because of your MBA (HR & Ops), you need not stick to the HR field. You have the option of looking for a job in civil operations as well. In fact, these are the jobs where people skills are required the most.

Whether you apply for civil construction jobs or HR jobs, you must exhibit your sound knowledge of what you have learned. Therefore, refresh your theoretical knowledge. You should not allow a situation in which there was a good opportunity, but you lost it because the interviewer thought you had poor knowledge.

In addition to the hardcore subject knowledge, improve your communication skills also. Not that you have written your post badly. However, there is always a scope for improvement.

Keep on learning, keep on trying, you will succeed. Do not lose your heart.

All the best!

Dinesh Divekar