Transitioning from Navy to Corporate HR: What Roles and Salaries Should I Expect?

Dear All,

Please guide me. I am 34 years of age and have an MA in Sociology along with a PG Diploma in HR obtained through correspondence. I served in the Indian Navy for 15 years in the Administration department. My responsibilities included office administration, maintenance of personnel documents, distribution of salaries and other dues, and preparing payroll, among other tasks.

Now, I am looking to transition into the corporate sector. Please suggest what position I should aim for and what salary range I can expect.

Thank you,
Pankaj Sharma

Dear Pankaj Sharma,

Welcome to CiteHR!

Yes, defense personnel can work in Human Resources. Since you have a diploma in HR and experience working in the navy as an administrator, this background will benefit you greatly. Although HR may seem similar to administration, they are separate departments.

Your administrative experience will facilitate your transition to HR. Given that you do not have relevant HR experience, you may secure a position as a Senior HR Executive or an Assistant Manager in HR. I am not certain about the salary range.

I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time at [Login to view].

Regards,
HASSAN

Dear Pankaj Sir,

You can definitely get an opportunity in HR, keeping your defense background into consideration. You should start searching for a position at an AM level or a manager level, as I was previously working for a company where my divisional head was from the defense.

Sir, you can also try for the admin department as a coordinator for facilities and admin. That may prove to be the best option for you.

So, all the best.

Regards,
Manjali

Hi,

A defense person would definitely be suitable for HR jobs due to their disciplinary attitude. Many employers prefer defense personnel for their admin/HR department. I have seen a few defense personnel working with Civil Infrastructure Organizations.

Since you have administrative experience, you may opt for jobs in the admin/payroll department and gradually switch over to HR functions once you get entry into a corporate environment.

The salary absolutely depends on the type of employer, which may vary from 30k to 60k per month based on your exposure in your domain.

You can certainly try for HR jobs in a corporate setting. All the best in your endeavor to find a suitable role in the corporate world.

Thanks & Regards,
DN

Dear Mr. Pankaj Sharma,

Having administrative exposure in defense and a background in HR, it is not difficult for you to get a job in HR. I admire the personality of army and navy personnel. They are disciplined and goal-oriented individuals with a strong desire to achieve anything. In my previous company, I reported to a Lt. Col. who was in charge of HR. I was impressed by his personality, regardless of his behavior, attitude, desire to achieve goals, and presentation skills.

These days, companies are hiring defense personnel for their admin/HR departments to manage operations in a disciplined and well-cultured manner. You may consider approaching job consultancies or uploading your CV to job portals.

Thanks,
tnx
uc

Hello Mr. Pankaj,

Defence personnel are considered good and quick decision-makers. Many companies surely prefer defense personnel for HR jobs; moreover, you have experience in administration as well. Manufacturing firms will mostly prefer defense personnel.

You can start searching for your job in HR.

Dear Pankaj,

First of all, in the Navy, what is your rank?

If you are an officer, you can very well go for HR with 15 years of experience. You are sure to get it. You can aim for a high salary as corporates are offering very good salaries.

Wish you all the very best.

Dear Pankaj,

You are certainly qualified for HR positions. However, you will be successful in a role that aligns with your experience in HR functions. I would suggest approaching this as a new chapter and not continuing from your time in the Navy.

Your email address indicates that you served as a PO writer in the Indian Navy. If this is correct, you may consider transitioning into an HR Executive role without being overly concerned about the salary initially. Once you gain the necessary HR experience, you will be well-suited for a HR Manager position.

If you are open to relocating to Mumbai, I can recommend a few job openings.

Best regards,
Deepak

Hi, Welcome to Citehr Family.

In my opinion, many organizations recruit an ex-army person as a Vigilance Officer. Even we had the same type of person for that post. All the very best.

Truly Yours,
Kumar H. P

Hi Friends,

Thanks for supporting and motivating Mr. Pankaj. Yes, I am a very good example. Just to inform you all that I too have served in the Indian Navy (Electrical Engineering Branch) for 20 years, and after retirement in 2001, I took up the challenges in HR. Currently, I am the Corporate HR Head in a company limited, with the head office in Mumbai.

In short, I want to say the sky is the limit if you really want to take up an HR role after retiring from the defense. Cheers!

Mahesh K. Prasad
9820775178

Dear lakshmirajan,

Will you please explain to me how does a rank in the Navy matter for working in the corporate HR field? It seems that you have placed significant emphasis on the rank and officer by using just three question marks. Can only an officer pursue a career in HR? What about others? I am looking forward to your reply with justifications.

Kind regards,

Pankaj

Hi Pankaj,

I do not understand how this question has arisen in your mind. You have served in the defense (Navy) in the Writer trade to the best of my knowledge and have 15 years of experience. Subsequently, you are a diploma holder in HR. I hope your trade includes staffing in the Navy as well. Administration in defense services is now as good as HR. In the Indian Air Force, our appointment is now as Asst Flight Cdr/HRM. Be positive and confident.

I am an Ex-Junior Warrant Officer, presently working as an HR Executive. 😂

Krishan Pal
Mob: 09899057468

Dear Mr. Pankaj,

Of course, why not? You can be a good administrator as you have very vast experience in admin. The only thing you need to do is look for a good job with the help of any good consultant and prove your mettle.

All the very best & Welcome to our HR family.

Capt. Vikas Jain

Why don't you try through Staff Selection Commission (SSC) as an ex-serviceman since you have a lot of time before superannuation as per Government rules.

Sengailingam

Hello, sir!

I just wanted a suggestion for the career prospects of a Colonel in the army who is about to retire. I am looking for his prospects in either the HR or the logistics area.

Thank you,
Apeksha Ahluwalia
SCMHRD 2007-09 Batch

Dear Pankaj,

Ex-Defence personnel can certainly get HR positions with appropriate qualifications. I have been in the field for over 25 years myself after my Short Service Commission.

Best wishes,
Capt. J M Vaishnav

Dear Apeksha,

The job prospects after retirement would depend on the following factors:

1. Relevant Exposure (His Branch in Army and Appointments).
2. Age and Educational Qualifications.
3. IQ and EQ (for HR positions).

In case of more specific queries, you may contact me at [Login to view]. I myself took premature retirement from the armed forces and now have good industry exposure; so I would be happy to be of any help to a brother officer.

Best Regards,
Deepak.

Hi all,

This is a very new trend I have seen where many companies are recruiting Defence Personnel. It's not only for the HR domain but also for other domains. For example, my brother is in the army as a doctor. He has completed his MBBS and now has planned his career path to pursue Hospital Management after retirement. Currently, he is undergoing a course in Hospital Management which will enhance his future career opportunities post-retirement.

I suggest each one of you to please read the January 16, 2008, issue of the TIMES ASCENT Newspaper. The article titled "FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE BOARDROOM" discusses how life does not end after a career in the army, navy, or air force. Instead, it opens up new opportunities as organizations today are increasingly hiring individuals with a background in defence personnel.

Regards,
Paromita

An interesting example given in Times Ascent, 16th January 2008:

Vijay Nair, General Manager, HR, Ninestars Information Technologies, Ltd, a former army officer, who served in the army from 1982 till 1998 in the mechanized infantry, before retiring and joining the corporate world says:

"A person from defense is trained to handle any situation envisaged in the management philosophy. They are disciplined, have a sense of integrity and excellent leadership qualities and fit well within an organization structure."

In my opinion, yes, you can. Your discipline and interaction skills will make you a better HR professional. However, you have to start from middle management.

Regards,
Ashraf Alam

Dear All,

I would say that it is not a new trend, and the skills possessed by Armed Forces personnel have found many takers in the industry for a long time. The skills of problem-solving, multitasking, being meticulous, focused, remaining task-oriented, and, above all, teamwork are generally found in individuals from a Defence Services background. However, I must add that there are exceptions everywhere. With the Defence Services recruiting more in the short service billets, the influx of ex-service persons in the industry has definitely increased.

Best regards,
Deepak

Dear,

Nowadays, defense personnel are not limited to one area. Based on your experience in the navy, it is a good idea to consider a job in the HR field. In fact, I am an Ex-Navy officer currently working as an HR Manager at a Maruti Suzuki dealership. Stick to your goals and explore your connections/relations with corporate people. If you have any doubts, feel free to email me at sanjeevikrishnarao@gmail.com. Best of luck.

Sanjeevi

Dear Pankaj,

Most definitely, you as an HR professional would be welcome in any organization, especially because of your defense background. Moreover, you have an HR degree and some experience in similar areas to top it. Discipline, hard work, resilience, honesty, along with the wealth of experience as a navy person would hold you in good stead. Have no doubts, you will be a good HR professional. :) GOOD LUCK.

Regards,
RGS.

Hi Pankaj!

There is no need to doubt your capabilities. With a diploma in HR and a degree in sociology, your qualifications speak for themselves. However, after many years of service in Admin, transitioning to HR may pose a challenge. It's not about the ability to perform in HR, but rather the difficulty of securing a job in that field. If you come across any HR job openings, do not hesitate to pursue them. You are sure to excel.

Cheers! Shringarika

Whatever Lakshmirajan states is totally incorrect. Officers die in civil because of their ego. I have seen many officers as very poor performers because they do not shed their past. Civil is totally performance-based, and one who performs succeeds.

No matter what your rank is, if you are the right person for the right job, go for it. Moreover, do not hesitate to ask this community for any help.

WE ALL ARE WITH YOU! GOD BLESS!! :)

I fully agree with Andrew Rao.

The rank in defense service does not matter. If you have experience, academic qualifications, and a passion for work, you can definitely excel in your field.

I have retired from the Indian Navy after 21 years of service in November 2009. I have completed an MBA (HR) from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute, Mumbai. For the past four months, I have been continuously trying in corporate and various industries after seeing advertisements in newspapers or through the web. I am searching for jobs as an HR Manager or HR Generalist. However, I am still not able to get a break in the industry.

Is my approach wrong? Do I need to know anyone from the industry to get a break? Can anyone guide me on how to apply or proceed? I am genuinely looking forward to all your valuable guidance.

Regards,
Cdr Vijay Sarathy
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]