Help needed for career progression
 

Dear all seniors,

I am looking for some advice on a prospective career switch.

I am 30 this year, with a general degree (political science) from NUS FASS (2.1). Have a professional diploma in HR from SHRI. 5 years + working exp in HR - have been specialized in one/two specific functions - employee engagement and talent management.

My first job was at a stat-board for 4years - last drawn per annum was 90k.

I switched in early 2016 to a job to a gahment-linked entity (corporatized :P), title is AD - per annum around 110k (received around 120k for 16/17 due to good performance for the past performance year)

However, seeing that all the fellows on top of me are in their 40s and 50s with kids and all - they will never leave and hence I will probably never progress. The culture is very dated, true old skool public entity style - far worse than the stat-board I was in - mentality is : if it ain't broke, nobody needs to bother.

My boss finds me pretty entertaining and appreciates my work but will never allow me to drive any projects for change - just stick to status quo. Just gave me a good grade and expects me to shut up.

I would like to venture to the private sector as a Regional HR Business Partner/Country HRBP - have been interviewed by a few MNCs but I seem to falter in the 2nd/3rd round as they feel I do not have enough HR knowledge in multiple functions (to be a true HRBP) and they rather hire someone with the requisite skillsets. However, my hit-rate seems to be around 10% (I send to 10 MNCs - only 1-2 will revert)

Am I stuck? Do I have to take a massive paycut?

I am pretty miserable going to work daily. Any senior HR folks that has any good advice for me?

I think you are overpaid for your experience and capability. You would better stay at your current role or apply a less senior position for maybe 20-40% paycut to make yourself more competitive if you really want to venture out.

Just stick to your job in the GLC. You wont survive in the private sector.

I am reaching 30 in 2018. I would think your paid relatively high, of course this depends on the role too. I am not even close to 100k in my current role. Will probably reach 80k in 2018. I am in a MNC. Even if I move to a senior role, I will probably reach 100k. My advice is to just stay.

Hi - I have always been an A/B grader hence promotion/ salary progress is faster than others. But it seems I may hit a glass ceiling where I am now...

You are lucky to earn more than you should. I think you should try to gain experience and knowledge to match your current pay before aiming a higher rank. After this round of job search, you might have discovered what are you lacking.

Generally speaking, an AD in the public sector is too far of a leap into a regional HRBP of a MNC.

The challenge for you is it is very likely based on your experience and what I know of a lot of HR in public sector, you are quite overpaid. Your sort of salary is almost equivalent to a lot of good MNC management program HR graduates with the same years of experience.

However, public sector HR experience is generally not valued as they are perceived to be mainly administrative in nature unless you are a hi-po/scholar in the policy space. Talent management is actually a very specialized HR function and most good MNCs require people with the correct knowledge and breadth of experience in a similar setup.

My senses is what you term as "talent management" is most likely just some sort of inflated name of a subset of HR ops process. This will not be enough for either a real HR specialist or regional HRBP in MNC. You will most likely have to either take a paycut or continue staying in government sector.

I also decided in my 30s to reconsider my plans for life, thank you for your help.

What industry are you switching to?

better late then never :-) lets lift one another up instead of kicking each other down the drain