6 answers
Maren’s Answer
HR can be a difficult profession, but extremely rewarding because of the way HR professionals are able to impact and assist employees. However, HR is highly influenced by the organization as a whole and can be very hard when working for a company that has poor culture or poor management. I would see this being a major reason that someone would want to leave the HR field, as it is certainly a struggle to support employees when you disagree with the way the company operates and the policies they push. That said, working in HR for a great company can incredibly rewarding. Not to say that it's not difficult, but having the support of your organization and being able to help people the way that you would like to makes it "easier" in a sense and definitely more enjoyable! If you're interested in pursuing a job in HR, I highly recommend doing extensive research on the companies you apply for (which you should do in any case), and even reaching out to folks on the HR teams of those companies to inquire about the culture in order to try to get a sense of whether they are happy in an HR role at that particular company!
Veronica’s Answer
On the bright side, I've worked in HR for 20 years and enjoy being with others and learning from them, solving novel problems, and the variety of work that each day brings. No doubt, there are some incredibly difficult days and set-backs that happen, but I have learned a few key things along the way to help me stay focused and fresh:
1) take care myself first (mentally, physically, spiritually) and have hobbies and interests outside of work;
2) focus only what I can change or influence;
3) lead by the example of my behaviors;
4) learn how to say no (I can't solve it all!);
5) find and maintain a close circle of mentors, coaches and confidants who can help me out of a mental rut or talk me off the ledge; and
6) try not to sweat the small stuff.
Aaron’s Answer
Nidhi’s Answer
This is one of the thing that I wanted to pursue sometime back. When I was done with my btech and wanted to further pursue MBA in HR, I started studying for it, watching videos and much more. For fun, I started calling my cousins pretending to take their interviews when I realized that this thing needs a lot of patience. Even if you're in a bad mood, even if you do not want to entertain people, you have to do it because that is your job. This makes the life of an HR more difficult. Although it seems to be a very simple profession where there is nothing much to do but when you actually step into the shoes of an HR you realize that it's much more than that. And this is one of the biggest reasons why people don't stick to it.
Gloria’s Answer
In my experience, Human Resources is often a stop for people who want to be involved in higher management within the company. To be a people leader, you need to know a lot about how to help people. And in my 20+-year career in Learning and Development, many people roll through HR to become a more well rounded leader. For those who have a passion for HR and then leave, there is often a desire for more. Hiring people to do the job is not doing the job. Others who I know who have left HR wanted to move to the business, to see through the building or maintaining of a product or service. Sometimes it is hard to quantify what you contribute to the company in HR. In a call center, I know how much money I have made for the company, how I have helped improve call center metrics, and how I have impacted the lives of customers. HR has less tangible results. The desire to move on from HR is not a bad thing. Just like it is not bad to move from an operational unit to HR. You have to decide where you can be the most valuable to an employer and be happy yourself at any moment in time. There are times that I consider a career change simply for a change in the sameness of my daily tasks. I usually get over there, but some people don't.
Gloria
Rowena’s Answer
I have been in HR for 15+ years with a Bachelors degree in HR and IR (industrial relations). Certified in Australia and USA. While this profession is extremely rewarding, it is of course challenging (like all jobs) - depending on size of company, landscape that it is operating etc etc. The reason why I am personally transitioning out of HR, and into a new direction (which is Executive Coaching) - is because I have found something that is even MORE empowering and fulfilling. Having done all areas of HR (from operation to strategy, developing new divisions and teams) and after a period of time, you start to learn what excites you the MOST.