I am not a specialist yet, but I would say I am on that career path. I am just a fresh uni grad but with 2 years of exp in C&B already. I also am in the C&B industry right now, graduated a few months ago.

I had the really good luck of being exposed to C&B really early on, which jumpstarted my career, because I realised I liked C&B, and so, had my sights set on it.

There's no "good" or "ideal" career path. HR is a wide spectrum. And even aspects of it can translate into other departments. For example, L&D experience can be converted customer support/sales - i.e holding training sessions for clients, that's like Sales Support function. Find what you like, and don't just chase the money. Because it doesn't mean you can do it, or you will like the job.

Is it always so clear-cut that the job is generalist or specialist? Or is it just a false dichotomy? Can't a HR person be doing bits of both, i.e. general administration as well as analytical work. And if you are the head of a HR department, are you a generalist or a specialist. It probably doesn't matter right.

I have been in the HR line for over 15 years.

My general impression of this thread is there appears to be much information which while technically correct, is made to look as if this is the norm in HR.

Those fancy job descriptions and pay shared so far only apply to a rare minority (<5%) of the industry, the majority of HR practitioners are earning no where the levels that is shared here. And I'm talking about all HR regardless whether one is called a specialist or not.

The true specialist, i.e. those that are making the fantastic $$$ will not do operational level work as this is way below their pay grade, but then neitherare they as common as it is implied over here. Most of these people are very experienced >15 years in the field and hold at least regional if not global portfolios. Most of them are ranked higher than a typical Singapore or ASEAN HR Director. Also as a general rule, specialist are only found in large MNCs (i.e. Revenue > US$10 billion, FTE > 5000). Smaller companies do not have the scale nor support sophistication to hire proper specialist.

My advice for the majority of the newcomers or undergrads here who want to join HR is to avoid over analyzing things like whether you are specialist, generalist, analyst, consultant or whatever cr@p companies come out these days. Concentrate on your job and self development and continuously seek to improve your marketability. At a junior level your pay isn't going to be that much different between various sub-functions as the level of expertise is not there.

Do you have any work experience in HR? if not, do get an internship and get a good idea of what it is like before choosing your specialisation.

I came from Business course in a polytechnic as well.. and I guess my short internship with an SME was generally HR work.. all the operational and like payroll stuff.. nothing big.

I guess I just would like to get a rough idea what i'll be getting myself into by going into the HR scene hahah.

I think I generally would like to avoid math as much as I can... i'm not lousy but i'm not excellent either.. so i'm avoiding Finance and Operations management as I am just mediocre. So i'm choosing between Marketing or HR specialisation... not sure if HR would be the best option for me and the career prospects. Get the impression that marketing is flooded with too much supply while HR there is lesser supply and hence perhaps less competition? or am I being very naïve here hahha.

Depends which area of marketing. For example, demand in digital marketing is still very strong.

For poly diploma holders, it makes no difference between all these non-technical office type jobs. I dun think career or pay wise got any difference b/w a marketing or hr officer, so just go for the one you are more interested.

Oh so you are saying I should expecting roughly the same pay for an average marketing job and a HR job? Cause now i'm deciding my specialisation and it is between Marketing and HR in NUS Business School... just unsure if HR has good prospects in my scenario... just finding out more :)

Generic office jobs like marketing & hr are a dime in a dozen and quite honestly nobody out there considers these entry level jobs "specialization". Pay in typical office jobs is more dependent on your ability to play politics and advance corporate ladder. Go for what you like better.

Recruitment business partner
 

HI ALL,


I want a small advise.....How much does a Recruitment Business Partner earn in Singapore or Hong Kong ? Any idea?