New to HR with a Communication Background: How Can I Boost My Skills and Career Growth?

Hello Seniors,

Currently, I am working as an HR in a Pharma Company. I am from a communication background and completed my Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2022. Due to my earlier experience in MS Office and my communication skills, I was selected in my present company. I have 8 months of experience. I am pursuing a correspondence course in HR, but I believe strong industry exposure is more important than reading theories. Kindly guide me on what steps I can take to polish my skills and how I can achieve good growth in my career. I wish to switch my company as it is a manufacturing unit and the working conditions are not that good. Your help and expertise are greatly appreciated.

Thanks and Regards,
Kriya Singh

Apart from your theoretical qualifications, engage in practical learning. Please remember that rules and guidelines are there to guide you. Rule with your heart. Don't just throw the rule book at employees; have compassion. You can always bend the rules to assist an employee in exceptional cases.

Sub-skills in HR

There are various sub-skills such as Employee Engagement, Performance Management, Training and Development, Competency and Skill Mapping, Employee Policy Handbook, and HR Audit. I provide training on all these topics. I retired in 2011 from L&T after 33 years but now focus on soft skills training, HR Training, and HR Consultancy. Learning is a continuous journey. Starting as a Secretary, I retired as Senior DGM and Head of HR. Best wishes.

No fresher will have good knowledge in any subject. The only thing you need to do is keep reading HR-related articles and dedicate a minimum of 1 hour a day. Explore the opportunities as much as possible, concentrate on the topics of interest in HR, and keep communicating with experienced HR professionals.

Managing HR in a Manufacturing Organization

Managing HR in a manufacturing organization is a challenging task and provides a valuable learning experience for the operational aspects of HR functions. This background can be beneficial for working in any other type of organization. A strong conceptual understanding is crucial for a successful career. Therefore, it is important to fully engage in the course you are undertaking and endeavor to apply your learnings in practical work situations. These insights are pertinent, and a clear comprehension will distinguish you among your peers.

Staying Updated and Engaged

Allocate time to comprehend the current developments in the field. Stay active in this forum, maintain an open-minded approach, and strive to establish connections between HR functions and the strategic growth of the organization.