Q I AM in my late 30s and a sales manager in a Japanese multinational firm. Due to company restructuring and my willingness to try new things, my job scope has been changing every two to three years. I have worked in sales, marketing, customer service, project management and training.
I hope to run my own business offering services on career management and career coaching. Is it a right move for me to switch to the human resource (HR) function before I venture out? And which particular areas (for example, training, recruitment) in HR should I switch to?
What are the personal traits and skills that I need to convince the hiring manager that I can make a successful switch? How can I go about acquiring the skills and experience that I lack?
One way would be to ask for an internal transfer. How should I do it as to increase my chances?
To acquire networking contacts and experience in HR, I could also join a recruitment consultancy. I responded to a few advertisements without success. What can I do to position myself better?
A I APPLAUD you for taking charge of your career by exploring alternative options. Equally encouraging is your desire to want to be your own boss. Given the challenges and demands in the corporate world, you would do well to ease yourself into a situation that allows you better control over your own destiny.
Being your own boss has one distinct advantage - nobody can fire you. And you can decide to work for as long as you want.
It is good that you have been able to acquire a portfolio of knowledge and skills-set by virtue of the frequent company-initiated changes in your job. This puts you in good stead when exploring career options if you want to pursue your interests in career-related consultancy work.
There is a common perception that experience in HR management is necessary for career coaching work. I do not think this is the case, although I was once an HR practitioner. I feel there is no real need to switch to HR; nor would becoming a hired recruiter add much value to what you are looking to venture into. Both sets of exposure can be useful, but they are certainly not a necessity.
What you do need is to be well-read and familiar with the issues related to the corporate world, careers, employment market, management and such.
Should you still wish to explore the HR option, the best bet would be to look within your own firm. You are a 'proven entity' and it is usually easier to make a career switch internally.
Most hiring managers will look for relevant experience and in this regard, the closest you have is 'training', not HR as such. To enhance your chances in the internal bid, focus on selling two key points. One, your keen interest in HR, and two, the potential value you can bring to the team.
Highlight your working experience in the other departments. Having been there, you can better understand and appreciate the sort of value-add they are looking for from HR.
There could be various reasons why you have not been contacted by the recruitment agencies. But to enhance your chances, sell your portfolio of experience in the different functions and your network of contacts in the corporate world. Hiring managers look for recruits who can potentially bring in new clients and additional revenue.
One organisation you can join is the Asian Association of Career Management Professionals (www.aacmp.org.sg).
Paul Heng
Founder
NeXT Career Consulting Group, Asia
Advice provided in this column is not meant as a substitute for comprehensive professional advice. E-mail questions to a1admin@sph.com.sg.
