| Profession of Human Resource Management and | | | | profession?1) "Oh, your job is not that |
| Development (HRM & D), call it by any name - | | | | difficult. What you people does, anybody can |
| HR Operations, HR-Generalist, Recruitment, | | | | do and for that you don't even need MBA. Even |
| Talent Management, Training and Development, | | | | a graduate can do this job.2) "Oh, ok, so you |
| Employee Relations, Industrial Relations, | | | | job is that Na...which involves filling so |
| Organization Development, Performance | | | | many forms, maintaining files and settling |
| Management or Compensation and | | | | the claims".3) "Ok, so you give the |
| Benefits...they all come under the umbrella | | | | salary"4) These days HR is a Synonym of |
| of HRM & D. So, let me start with one | | | | recruitment. Tell anybody that you are in HR |
| question for HR Professionals across the | | | | and they will reply, "Oh, ok so you are a |
| globe, why you joined HR Profession? Was it | | | | recruiter".5) There was one CEO (my friend) |
| your first choice or you joined because you | | | | looking for HR Manager for his company (He is |
| didn't had any other choice? I like to ask | | | | a CEO of one IT company, where they have 150+ |
| the HR aspirants, why they want to join this | | | | employees) and he asked me to help him in |
| profession? What do they think is the skill | | | | finding a right person. They one day he said, |
| required to enter into this profession and | | | | "Sanjeev, I have dropped the idea of hiring a |
| excel in this profession? Is it that anybody | | | | HR-Manager, Admin guy is doing the "HR Work" |
| or everybody can join this profession and | | | | and he is handling it in a better manner. Now |
| there are some qualities that one must posses | | | | the things are running smooth and I don't |
| before even thinking of joining this | | | | want to complicate the process by hiring a HR |
| profession? Recently we had discussion that | | | | Manager. Earlier, I had one HR Manager and at |
| many people hate HR, so what you have in | | | | that time my organization was in |
| you...as a professional that people should | | | | mess".ConclusionImage of HR Profession in the |
| love you and this profession.These and many | | | | public or in the corporate world is not very |
| more similar questions just stormed into my | | | | good and we are not doing much to improve the |
| mind and I thought of discussing these | | | | same. I feel sad when people ask queries |
| questions with you. Let's start with a set of | | | | like:1) What is the concept of CTC?2) What is |
| skills which, I think a HR Professional | | | | the difference between Offer-Letter and |
| should posses, first do be in this profession | | | | Appointment-Letter?3) How many leaves we |
| and secondly to excel in this profession.Why | | | | should give to our employees?4) How to |
| should you join HR Profession? Who should | | | | calculate attrition rate or rate per |
| join?One should join HR profession, if they | | | | hire?5) What components of salary are |
| have any of the following qualities:1) You | | | | taxable?And then when someone comes and says |
| are very good in legal aspects particularly | | | | that we hate HR...such people just look at |
| Labour Laws. You have thorough knowledge | | | | their face. It looks silly and sad. We need |
| about various provisions of Labour Laws, | | | | to raise our own standard, attitude and style |
| Various forms associated with those laws and | | | | of work. Nobody can help us. We need to help |
| implications.2) You are excellent in Database | | | | ourselves. Or else the day is not very far |
| Management and can Generate N number of | | | | away, when the companies will be outsourcing |
| reports in just fraction of seconds.3) You | | | | the total HR-Functions and HR will only be |
| are very good with Number- statistical tools, | | | | there as "Consultancy Firms" or "Outsourced |
| Mathematical Formulae, Income Tax Provisions | | | | Company". Nobody wants to hire and keep |
| (particularly those related to Salary), | | | | problems. I think, that will be good. |
| Costing (Cost Analysis).4) You have a sharp | | | | Companies will be having choice to choose |
| eye for recognizing the talent, talent | | | | BEST (Consulting firm or Outsourcing |
| identification, talent management and talent | | | | Partners) from the |
| development. (Just like Bhuvan did in movie | | | | market.______________________________________ |
| Lagan - Oscar Nominated Movie)5) You are | | | | __________________________________________The |
| great negotiator and can negotiate a best | | | | y also shared their views:1. Mr. Atul Marwah: |
| deal with management and employees (Read it | | | | "I must congratulate you on being so candid |
| as Trade Unions)6) You are an excellent | | | | and honest . I fully agree with every word of |
| motivator and can motivate any person to get | | | | your article. I think that people like you |
| best out of him. You have a talent to | | | | who have guts to bring out the truth - rather |
| motivate and inspire a non-performer in such | | | | stark nacked truth would be the one who would |
| a way that over a period of time that person | | | | make a difference".2. Ms Rose Balana: "Thanks |
| gets counted in the high-performers of your | | | | Sanjeev. I learned a lot. You are right we |
| organization and starts getting rewards for | | | | should raise our standards".3. Ms. Shirin |
| his performance.7) You are a great | | | | Ladhani: "Thanks for this |
| strategist. You can think like "Chankaya"; | | | | article.........nice reading material on |
| you are clever "Birbal" (Both are characters | | | | HR....infact a good help to people like me |
| from Indian History) and an Cajole people | | | | who are strongly motivated to start their |
| like Lord Krishna (A mythological Character) | | | | careers in HR".4. Mr. Dip Ghosh: "The article |
| | | | really touched me. One cant hit the nail on |
| 8) You are much matured. You don't think | | | | the head more. After 12 years in this HR |
| from your heart but you are empathetic. You | | | | profession in cross section of industries, I |
| are not emotional but can understand the way | | | | have seen the ignomy and lackadaisical |
| people think. You can solve any work related | | | | attitude of people towards HR as if it is a |
| or professional problem of any of your | | | | necessary evil. And as you said rightly, none |
| employee, without getting carried away.9) You | | | | but we r responsible for the mess we are in. |
| are great in crisis management. If there is | | | | Often I hear complaint from my colleagues |
| any incident or accident in the organization; | | | | that "Oh the CEO (Who is generally a |
| if there is any rumour in the organization or | | | | marketing / Finance / Engineer guy) doesnt |
| any crisis...you can ensure that a minimum | | | | bother to consult the HR". But do HR |
| possible damage is caused...keeping in mind | | | | contribute significantly in core company |
| the interests of the organization and its | | | | activity so that we can warrant attention |
| people.10) You have deep knowledge about | | | | from the CEO. Probably not. The chances of a |
| various industries. You are like a knowledge | | | | Chartered Accountant compromising with his |
| hub. You know all about who's who in the | | | | professional ethics is far less compared to a |
| field; business models; success stories (case | | | | HR guy who easily succumbs to the whims and |
| studies) and best practices being adopted by | | | | fancies of the top management because he |
| different companies in different | | | | hardly have a professional body to eport |
| industries.11) You are not a great leader | | | | back".5. Mr. Prasad SKR: "You have raised an |
| but an excellent leader, who can inspire | | | | interesting topic that needs to be discussed |
| their team and can get best out of them. No | | | | at length".6. Mr. IVNS Raju : "I like the |
| one wants you to be Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson | | | | line of argument of Mr. Ghosh who is very |
| Mandela but yes, you need to be like Ricky | | | | clear in what he says. The HR profession |
| Pointing or Steve Waugh (Cricket Captain of | | | | probably becomes justifyable only when it can |
| Australia ) or like Hansie Cronje (Former | | | | latch itself to a body of knowlege that is |
| Cricket Captain of South Africa) or like | | | | more reliable than the psychometric tests and |
| Saurav Ganguly (Former Cricket Captain of | | | | various HR Models that are rooted in the |
| India).12) They are life long learners. They | | | | ability to use the English Language with a |
| never think that...it's enough. They keep on | | | | unique knack. The Institutes rolling out |
| learning...new HR related Techniques, HR | | | | batches after batches need to introspect |
| Strategist, about new-new businesses etc.But, | | | | about the knowledge and skill that they |
| why people join this profession?A. I spoke to | | | | impart and the attitudes that they profess to |
| few people, those who are freshers or who are | | | | have a positive impact on the delivery of HR |
| just pursuing their MBA's with specialization | | | | services".7. Geetha Murthy : "Thanks Sanjeev. |
| in HR and they mentioned that they want to be | | | | It is great food for thought.Agree with the |
| in this profession because it is a "Tension | | | | 'qualities which are a must' for HR |
| Free Profession".B. Most of the females join | | | | professionals.I can take pleasure and pride |
| this profession for following reasons:a) Of | | | | in saying I am in HR by choice and not by |
| course they want to work and this is the only | | | | chance. I have a passion for HRM & D. And |
| "decent job" in corporate world which, gives | | | | personally, when HR Aspirants ask me, I tell |
| them respect and dignity.b) They don't want | | | | them what it takes to be there apart from |
| to join "field jobs" (Marketing).c) They hate | | | | their MBA degree. Within my own individual |
| mathematics so don't like finance andd) This | | | | capacity, trying to bring about change in |
| is the only profession where time suits | | | | those who think wrong about HR professionals |
| them...as per the family needs and | | | | and I am sure such pieces from you would do |
| restrictions.C. Some people say "we tried to | | | | us all good if we can forward the link to |
| get into many professions...my father wanted | | | | those who have mis-conception about HR |
| me to be a doctor; my mother wanted me to be | | | | department"._________________________________ |
| an engineer; my brother wanted me to be a | | | | _____________________________________________ |
| Chartered Accountant and I wanted a | | | | __Looking forward to your comments and |
| scientist; my brother asked me try in Hotel | | | | feedbackRegardsSanjeev Himachali |
| Management and my uncle who is a Air force | | | | |
| wanted me to be a pilot...I tried all...but I | | | | Blog: |
| failed. Now, I am living...so need to do some | | | | |
| work to earn and grow hence at last I joined | | | | E-mail: ; sanjeev. |
| HR".What others think about this | | | | |