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