I am working as an Executive-Office Admin from January 2010 to date for a reputed FMCG company in Bangalore. Although my designation is Admin, I also handle all HR responsibilities, overseeing the entire southern region. The HR manager is located at the Mumbai office.
During my last appraisal, the Sales Head advised me to pursue a course in HR (PGDHRM). After completing the course and presenting the certificate, I was supposed to transition into an HR role while a different person would take over the admin responsibilities. I successfully completed the course with a first-class grade. However, the Sales Head resigned from the company, and my designation remains unchanged. I am feeling highly disappointed.
Kindly guide me on how to proceed further as I am seeking direction in this situation.
From India, Bangalore
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During my last appraisal, the Sales Head advised me to pursue a course in HR (PGDHRM). After completing the course and presenting the certificate, I was supposed to transition into an HR role while a different person would take over the admin responsibilities. I successfully completed the course with a first-class grade. However, the Sales Head resigned from the company, and my designation remains unchanged. I am feeling highly disappointed.
Kindly guide me on how to proceed further as I am seeking direction in this situation.
From India, Bangalore
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I can only empathize with your situation. Sure, you've finished your course, but honestly, there are different ways an organization works. I understand the switch from admin to HR is difficult. I have seen people who handle both admin and HR and have the title of only admin.
While I guess what your sales head suggested to you was something best to seek, I think you should have also known how the hierarchy is working and if there is a need for an HR.
For example, while I was working as a recruiter, I had seen this case myself:
There was this lady who was admin, eventually did an MBA in HR and was given HR-related work, similar respect, and roles. But her title didn't change. I was looking out for an admin manager's position and found hers lucrative. After talking to her, I realized she faced a similar issue as yours but she needed a job badly due to some reason. So she accepted the job offer but requested the HR to change the title to Admin-cum-HR. She went to the extent that she would not mind handling core admin, but at least give her this designation so that it seems worth it. But it didn't work. Sad but true, there are politics in every organization.
Now coming back to your query:
Ask your HR manager if there's something that can be done by taking into consideration your academic achievement. Ask her if you could be promoted or if you can assist him/her in his work in a way that he wouldn't be overburdened. Also, if you ask him that you wish to assist him, he wouldn't be insecure about his position and can be considerate.
If that doesn't work, I guess you'll have to start afresh. Draft your new resume, put all your accomplishments, and start job hunting as a fresher (because you do not have an HR title) but show your experience in HR while you worked in admin. It would help.
Again, if you're job hunting, please do not just refuse a job proposal for a low salary. You can always tell them that they can hire you on probation for 4-6 months with that salary, and then depending on the performance, they can hike your pay on confirmation.
Hope it helped :)
Regards
From India, Mumbai
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742While I guess what your sales head suggested to you was something best to seek, I think you should have also known how the hierarchy is working and if there is a need for an HR.
For example, while I was working as a recruiter, I had seen this case myself:
There was this lady who was admin, eventually did an MBA in HR and was given HR-related work, similar respect, and roles. But her title didn't change. I was looking out for an admin manager's position and found hers lucrative. After talking to her, I realized she faced a similar issue as yours but she needed a job badly due to some reason. So she accepted the job offer but requested the HR to change the title to Admin-cum-HR. She went to the extent that she would not mind handling core admin, but at least give her this designation so that it seems worth it. But it didn't work. Sad but true, there are politics in every organization.
Now coming back to your query:
Ask your HR manager if there's something that can be done by taking into consideration your academic achievement. Ask her if you could be promoted or if you can assist him/her in his work in a way that he wouldn't be overburdened. Also, if you ask him that you wish to assist him, he wouldn't be insecure about his position and can be considerate.
If that doesn't work, I guess you'll have to start afresh. Draft your new resume, put all your accomplishments, and start job hunting as a fresher (because you do not have an HR title) but show your experience in HR while you worked in admin. It would help.
Again, if you're job hunting, please do not just refuse a job proposal for a low salary. You can always tell them that they can hire you on probation for 4-6 months with that salary, and then depending on the performance, they can hike your pay on confirmation.
Hope it helped :)
Regards
From India, Mumbai
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First of all, thanks for reading my post and for a detailed reply. I agree with you. Now, when I checked with my HR Manager who is sitting in Mumbai regarding my promotion, he told me that it would be better if I do a 20-week certificate course which provides practical knowledge as well. Post obtaining that certificate, we would consider you for the promotion. However, my concern is, I am willing to do it, but if this person also leaves unexpectedly, then it would be difficult for me once again.
All the other three regions have one HR and one admin, and even as per the budget, we have resources allocated for one HR and one admin. Since I am currently handling both roles simultaneously, they may not be looking to make any changes. When the sales head informed me that there was no HR manager position, and he had joined around 5-6 months back.
Should I pursue the course or start looking for another job? Please guide me on this.
Thank you.
From India, Bangalore
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All the other three regions have one HR and one admin, and even as per the budget, we have resources allocated for one HR and one admin. Since I am currently handling both roles simultaneously, they may not be looking to make any changes. When the sales head informed me that there was no HR manager position, and he had joined around 5-6 months back.
Should I pursue the course or start looking for another job? Please guide me on this.
Thank you.
From India, Bangalore
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Hi Ankita, First of all, thanks for reading my post and for the detailed reply. I agree with you. Now, when I checked with my HR Manager, who is sitting in Mumbai, regarding my promotion, he told me that it would be better if I do a 20-week certificate course which also provides practical knowledge. Post obtaining that certificate, we would consider it. However, my concern is if this person also leaves by chance, then it would be difficult for me. All the other three regions have one HR and one admin, and even as per the budget, we should have one for HR and one for admin. Since I am handling both together, they are not changing, I think. When the sales head told me there was no HR manager position, and he joined around 5-6 months back.
Should I do the course or look for another job?
Please guide. Honestly, I feel this is only to stretch time. A PGDBM (HR) should be enough. Now, if we look at it, it may happen that now he's asking you to do some certification of 20 weeks (roughly 5 to 6 months) and thereafter some other course, and on and on. Who knows?
You calmly explain to him the following: Firstly, as you mentioned, you have HR-related experience, share how you handled different procedures, etc. Share any projects you did in your PGD study. Also, tell him that in case he is unsure of your potential and how you would perform, he can assign you a project, and you can work on it. Suggest some measures or projects you can do in your firm and explain why you think so. (Don't give all your ideas but share a couple of them so that he knows you're heading in the right direction.)
Let me know what happens. All the best :)
Regards
From India, Mumbai
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Should I do the course or look for another job?
Please guide. Honestly, I feel this is only to stretch time. A PGDBM (HR) should be enough. Now, if we look at it, it may happen that now he's asking you to do some certification of 20 weeks (roughly 5 to 6 months) and thereafter some other course, and on and on. Who knows?
You calmly explain to him the following: Firstly, as you mentioned, you have HR-related experience, share how you handled different procedures, etc. Share any projects you did in your PGD study. Also, tell him that in case he is unsure of your potential and how you would perform, he can assign you a project, and you can work on it. Suggest some measures or projects you can do in your firm and explain why you think so. (Don't give all your ideas but share a couple of them so that he knows you're heading in the right direction.)
Let me know what happens. All the best :)
Regards
From India, Mumbai
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Thanks, Ankita! Even I feel it is correct; they want to stretch the process till the appraisal. I really appreciate your valuable reply. Let me try as you have suggested, and I will definitely revert to you on this.
Warm Regards
From India, Bangalore
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Warm Regards
From India, Bangalore
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Like Ankita suggested, there are multiple ways to handle the situation you are in, with which I too empathize. Given that your HR head, sitting in Mumbai, seems to be buying time rather than resolving the issue (a typical approach by many... notably our great politicians), suggest asking him to CLUB your roles of Admin & HR into your designation, like Ankita mentioned.
In parallel, suggest preparing your new resume and be on the lookout for new jobs—not out of necessity, but to be on the safe side. If push comes to shove (meaning, when you get the feeling/hints about being denied the shift to HR even in the appraisal), you can drop subtle hints about you looking out for a job change. In a way, that sort of politics IS necessary for survival—more as a strategy than anything else. By being on the lookout for new jobs while you are still comfortable here, the chances of performing well in the interviews are enhanced.
And, in the meanwhile, suggest focusing more on HR aspects of your job/role, since they would be the ones under focus during interviews. All the Best.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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In parallel, suggest preparing your new resume and be on the lookout for new jobs—not out of necessity, but to be on the safe side. If push comes to shove (meaning, when you get the feeling/hints about being denied the shift to HR even in the appraisal), you can drop subtle hints about you looking out for a job change. In a way, that sort of politics IS necessary for survival—more as a strategy than anything else. By being on the lookout for new jobs while you are still comfortable here, the chances of performing well in the interviews are enhanced.
And, in the meanwhile, suggest focusing more on HR aspects of your job/role, since they would be the ones under focus during interviews. All the Best.
Regards,
TS
From India, Hyderabad
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I appreciate your passion for the HR role. The first quality of an HR professional is to be patient and follow the company's policies. Imagine how you would solve this problem if it were posed to you by another employee.
Your Priorities
1. Wait until the HR role is created in Bangalore (You mentioned that the new sales head informed you that there is no vacancy for an HR person in Bangalore).
2. Explain to your sales head in Bangalore that when you take on the Admin-cum-HR role, the company benefits more.
3. Convince them that the company does not need to increase headcount by hiring a separate HR person.
4. Your HR Manager in Mumbai will likely agree if he has a positive mindset regarding your request. If I were in his place, I would gladly accept.
5. Do not be discouraged by the delay in obtaining the HR role. Any reasonable person will consider your case, so continue to do a good job in the meantime.
6. Do not let your frustrations show to others.
7. Stay positive and earn the trust of your seniors, which is a fundamental trait of an HR professional.
8. In the meantime, you can enhance your skills by taking a certificate course. It will benefit you, whether in your current organization or any future relocation.
9. Keep exploring opportunities in other companies that can offer you an HR role.
Give me the mobile number of your HR Manager, and I will speak to him to provide clarification. I am a senior HR professional with two decades of experience.
Regards,
Haragopal
GM_HR
Solar Semiconductor Pvt. Ltd.
Hyderabad
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
From India, Hyderabad
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Your Priorities
1. Wait until the HR role is created in Bangalore (You mentioned that the new sales head informed you that there is no vacancy for an HR person in Bangalore).
2. Explain to your sales head in Bangalore that when you take on the Admin-cum-HR role, the company benefits more.
3. Convince them that the company does not need to increase headcount by hiring a separate HR person.
4. Your HR Manager in Mumbai will likely agree if he has a positive mindset regarding your request. If I were in his place, I would gladly accept.
5. Do not be discouraged by the delay in obtaining the HR role. Any reasonable person will consider your case, so continue to do a good job in the meantime.
6. Do not let your frustrations show to others.
7. Stay positive and earn the trust of your seniors, which is a fundamental trait of an HR professional.
8. In the meantime, you can enhance your skills by taking a certificate course. It will benefit you, whether in your current organization or any future relocation.
9. Keep exploring opportunities in other companies that can offer you an HR role.
Give me the mobile number of your HR Manager, and I will speak to him to provide clarification. I am a senior HR professional with two decades of experience.
Regards,
Haragopal
GM_HR
Solar Semiconductor Pvt. Ltd.
Hyderabad
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
From India, Hyderabad
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