This post by Beth Carvin on my blog as part of the blogswap has generated quite a few comments. Most of them seem to be from disgruntled employees or those who feel less optimistic about corporate America in general.
Just a few comments regarding some of the responses:
- Wow. I wasn’t aware that HR types had it so easy that they could (and would) so casually discount an otherwise worthwhile potential hire, purely because they thought that person might be a “job hopper”. I think that’s a bit of a misnomer there. We don’t have it easy which is why we must seriously evaluate whether or not a person is going to stay with a company to recoup our investment. Hiring isn’t an incredibly easy thing to do right so you don’t want to be rehiring after a few months. I would say that it is probably easy to hire people, but it is not easy to hire the right people.
- I don’t like HR people who think I must join a cult they call a “team” to be a successful employee. Who said that? You have to be able to work as a team in many positions. I don’t think that’s demanding you join a cult.
- Anyone who cares what anyone in the field of HR thinks of them is wasting valuable thoughts. In some companies, that’s probably true. Anybody who thinks that as a rule should really re-evaluate how they intend to make a living because it probably won’t be working for a company. As an HR person, I have come to the realization that some people aren’t made for working for someone else or working in their particular job. And while you may be just biding time until that next opportunity comes up, it does you no good to start burning your bridges before you’re off them.
- Absolutely never indulge in thoughts of *loyalty* companies have zero loyalty to you, and will drop you without hesitation as soon as it is convenient for them. I’ll agree with you to a point. You should never exert loyalty beyond what you are willing to sacrifice. We live in a choice society and you are able to make a lot of choices. You should make choices that best suit you and best meet your goals. I would NEVER encourage anyone to not do that. What I am trying to do with this blog is make people aware that some of the decisions they make can effect them and here’s why.
- Look out for better offers, and take them when they show up. Companies (and hence HR) don’t want that because they want to keep your wages low. Don’t let them. Actually, a good HR department doesn’t mind that too much because they are often the one’s putting up the better offers. I would say that with the exception of a few fields, staying in jobs for several years at a time will allow HR to offer a better compensation package at your next jumping off point. You’re artificially keeping your wages low (with some exception) by jumping around a lot.
I’m not a full out company man by any stretch of the imagination but I realize that working for my company and doing a good job is in my best interest and I have been rewarded accordingly. Do I see myself doing this forever? I sure hope not. I’ve got the “be your own boss” jive in my blood. But being a good employee and helping the people I work with be better employees is a choice I have made. I love what I do and if you can’t do what you love, you shouldn’t make yourself more miserable by putting whatever you have currently in jeopardy.
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Good response, HR Guy.
>>I realize that working for my company and doing a good job is in my best interest and I have been rewarded accordingly.
Yikes!
-Might be a job hopper? Either you are or you’re not. eh?Consider productivity and training costs—please.
-Don’t want to join the team? Perhaps self-employment is a better option for you. In most cases, customers and clients are alot harder to please than “the team”. Good luck.
-Whoever cares about what HR thinks is wasting their time? Wow. I think it would be useful. Either positive or negative; from a good or poor HR guy– Take it- Use it- Learn from it.
The loyalty issue is stickier, but know you DO have choices. The company you work for is looking out for their longevity and best interests. You should do the same.
Bottom line on all of this— put yourselves in the shoes of your employer— then honestly view the situation. Hope that helps you achieve balance in your views and make good decisions for yourselves.
Wow, I just love reading these thoughts…
Fortunately I do not know why the word “HR” occures such negatively to almost everybody. Our HR people are really nice, I love talking to them. Probably because our aims are the same, I love working there, although I am at the bottom of the company ladder.
I guess, if everybody would see the office as an opportunity to educate and develop him/herself, there would be nothing to talk about here.
I do not think, that for larger corps who have HR personnel, money is such a big issue. I mean, if you do something good for the company, and they see, that you do it, simply because you want to do it, the revard will come. They won’t say they do not want you to cost more. Instead, perhaps there is nothing to pay more for, because you did just what you had to do.
At least, it works this way here. And I love it.
Hi ,
What are the different fun activities can we do in companies fro team building.
What are the different fun activities we can do for team building in companies
I think you have given excellent advice for those that “blame” HR. As a start up guy I have seen too many times the CEO or others point at HR to deflect the attention from them. In every case, HR is just doing their job. Try to take the focus off of HR and think about what happened and why, it was either your doing or the companies, but typically never the fault of the HR person.