Is HR a safe career?
Q. How safe do you think a job in HR would be? I'm thinking of going from sales (too much stress in these times) into HR as a generalist. I do have a recruitment background. Do you think HR would be a good move to have a career in?
A. "Safe" is an interesting concept when it comes to careers or jobs. Many people want a safe career -- meaning little stress, lots of opportunity, no risk of losing a job, and reasonably good money. Sadly, if you can find that job, a different career will be considered "safe" just a few months after that!
If you asked human resources professionals if their jobs were stressful, they would say "yes!" If you asked if their jobs were safe, the answer would be "no safer than other roles."
Most organizations have HR staff that represent a percentage of the total workforce. If the size of the workforce drops, as you are seeing today, the size of the HR staff decreases accordingly. HR people right now are stressed by having to plan and carry out workplace reductions, also called "reductions in force" (RIF). The number of hours it takes to plan a RIF, and to have it run flawlessly, makes HR more than just a 9 to 5 job. They are trying to help managers eliminate vacant positions and lower budgets. HR people are working creatively to think about how to retain top talent, and develop leadership skills in the next level of managers.
While your recruitment background is nice to have, it isn't the need of the day. And in better economic times, recruiting is also a stressful role. But having said all that, the HR people I know wouldn't have it any other way. Most days, they love the work, and they enjoy being part of the strategy that keeps business successful and competitive. They value the work they do developing leaders, and the results that work brings. They enjoy the challenge of developing the desired culture, and managing change based on the issues of the times.
HR can be a great career, but not as an escape from stress or delivering results.
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Amen to that!
Anyone thinks that HR is an easy, stress-free job needs to think again. How would you like to deal with employee conflicts, sexual harassment, performance issues all due to poor hiring decisions from the hiring managers and lack of management capabilities.
I agree.....I have been an IT recruiter for 5+ years and was recently laid off from a Fortune 500 company..even when things are good recruiting is stressfull because competition is fierce and there are no guarantees.....and your bosses only care about numbers and production.......
Sales vs. Human Resources -- good lord HR is a dozen times more stressful. The difference is, HR carries the "weight" of all the lives and professional well-being off all companies employees. Please, don't go into HR.
HR people have to put on that phony face on a daily basis and talk like they actually care about you!! Being in a role that has to please management and then appear to be pleasing employees against management, must be stressful. HR people must drink heavily after hours.
Look elsewhere for stability. Most of HR has been replaced by software, and the only large HR departments you'll find anymore are at legacy companies. HR doesn't even interview these days. Best of luck in your job search!
Nothing is safe these days - ever since I got into HR (10 yrs ago), I've been laid off 4 times!
There really are some great people in HR but it can be a tough, sometimes thankless job. I have worked for software companies selling to HR departments much of my career. HR departments almost always are the first to have their budget cut and are many times viewed as an expense. A strong VP of HR on the executive team, however, can look out for the group and make sure HR gets “a seat at the table”. This can help showcase the value a strong HR department can bring to a company’s culture.
I have been in HR for over 18 years. At first, the personnel administration was fun when times were a little less hectic. Now, the pace of HR (I work in a Financial Industry) is exasperating. The stress of always having to prove your worth to upper management also takes its toll. If you are thinking about a career in Labour Relations or the Recruitment side of HR and can't take long hours, heavy workloads and "I need the person yesterday mentalities"- then I'd think again!
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Patricia Hunt Sinacole is president of First Beacon Group LLC, a human resources consulting firm in Hopkinton. Sheworks with clients across many industries including technology, biotech and medical devices, financial services, and healthcare, and has over 20 years of human resources experience.
Elaine Varelas is managing partner at Keystone Partners, a career management firm in Boston and serves on the board of Career Partners International.
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