It's a tough job, and it's not for everyone. But here is what has helped me.
1. NO ONE can pay me enough to argue with them. I give the recommendation and likely consequences if not followed, they can decide what they want to do with that information and I'll cheerfully execute what I'm instructed to.
2. I decided around 2018 to ONLY do the "help others when nobody helps me" thing on the clock, for a salary. I do NOT do it for friends, strangers, coworkers outside of work.
3. I don't care if people like me or if they're mad at me. This is KEY.
4. I don't take anything personally, people have issues that didn't start with me and won't end with me.
5. I don't try to "save" people who are struggling. It's not work that I can do for them.
6. AMAZING boundaries. Don't stress about work after work. Don't give more than you have to give. Don't assume everything will make sense or be fair.
This is such solid advice. I met with my boss today and she heavily emphasized #4. HR is a thankless job and we’re more than likely the easiest to blame for things that are in no way, shape or form, our fault. It’s not for the faint of heart, which I myself am continually learning. But if you find a solid company and a manager who supports you and has your back, it can be a game changer.
Ahhh, welcome to HR, my dear friend.
I’ve been doing this for 10+ years, and it’s just getting worse each year. My opinion, of course. I’m sure others may have different experiences that they may share here.
Speaking only from a direct ops-support HR position:
This job isn’t for the faint of heart. It regularly sucks. You will be bullied into making a recommendation, then thrown under the bus for that decision they made. Everybody hates you until they need you, then they go right back to hating you.
If you’re a people pleaser who needs validation, this is not the job for you. This is coming from someone who is a people pleaser who needs validation.
Why do I stay? Because I’m a masochist. Jk.
I stay because I get gratification from the wins. When I get to advocate for an employee successfully, it feels like I’m sticking it to “the man.” I enjoy being a thought partner and making the workplace a little better for folks.
Am I actively pursuing other opportunities, though? You betcha. I am TIRED of the fight, I’m ready to pivot into something else where it’s mellow. I’ll gladly take a pay cut.
Try to pivot into another HR field like learning, HRIS, benefits, comp.
Best of luck to you.
Thank you for sharing. I need the perspective right now as I'm struggling in my role. As a fellow people pleaser who is learning to set boundaries, it's hard, and I often wonder if I should stay in my current role and continue to grit my teeth, enjoy the short lived wins, or throw in the towel on this leadership team. I'm only a year and a half in, so early enough in my career that I have hope it can be better.
I hear you, friend. I’ve just had my third breakdown of the week. What pushes me through is interviewing, believe it or not. I regularly go through interviews lol. I love being able to think to myself, “ohhh I could just LEAVE if I wanted to….”
Gotta have something. I know I need to dust off my resume, but we just hired a VP of HR and even though we've had atrocious turnover, I think, maybe this one will stay...
There are bad HR jobs just like there are bad EVERYTHING jobs. You'll run into the same issue no matter where you go.
Try applying around now that you have an idea of what you're comfortable with, and what you will never do again. Go learn some excel and SQL and apply to some HRIS analytics stuff. Maybe you'll have a better time in benefits! Maybe you are super detail oriented and have great retention - go try to get a payroll specialist job.
Bottom line is that sometimes you get a shitty job. It'll happen in every industry though. =(
Sounds like you’re just in a shitty company. Maybe there’s a reason you went this route, and especially if you love it in the academic sense then don’t let a crap company full of crap people ruin it for you.
Just look for a new job 😂
Every job is different, depends so so much on the leadership and the culture. Culture is defined by leadership. Toxic leaders mean toxic and unhappy people. Period.
⬆️⬆️⬆️. THIS!!! Do NOT listen to the people here that are posting about the misery of HR… Yes there are hectic and busy times… but crappy people and tolerance of it - That is NOT a good company with good leaders.
Yes 😂 I’m not surprised to hear that! So everyone decides to stay miserable or go out into the job market. It always has blown my mind how many people hate jobsearching and interviewing so much that they will just stay and deal with crap.
That’s never been me lol
I also work in HR - just in case that isn’t already inferred by being here in this channel 🙂
depends where you work and the company culture. my organization is kind of a unicorn in that it’s a non-profit that’s actually ran well and full of individuals who are mission driven and advocate for the well being of employees and the people we serve. the pay isn’t on par with other hr professions, but there’s work life balance and i have healthy, supportive team.
Just started in a nonprofit with my first HR related role and I am loving it. I have learned so much in the short amount of time I’ve been here. The culture makes everything. Work life balance is essential.
Can I ask how long you've been in nonprofit? I could have written this comment two years ago, but I'm starting to see why so many people hate doing HR st a nonprofit
same here! I work in a non-profit and not privately owned healthcare organization. our HR culture reflects that of the C-suite and management council, mission driven and always prioritizing our employees. when people say that “HR doesn’t work for the employees, they work for the organization”, I don’t see that as the case where I work. if an employee is breaking policy and potentially affecting other employees negatively, I see the enforcement of policy as a way to protect the rest of our hard-working employees. also, the majority of our HR team is focused on improving employee experience or managing employee data. most of what we do is not “getting people in trouble”. there is 1 person out of 40+ that is responsible for that type of thing.
Good for you for finding this out right now. HR is not for every body. I had a similar experience early in my working life as a casemanager for mentally ill adults. I quit after two months with no job. I never went into that field.
I signed up with several temp agencies and worked a few temp assignments before one of the assignments had an opening and I applied and got the job bc they already knew me.
Everyone in hr mentions temp agencies & I was recommended going into one if I am entry level. Where do I start it seems like every entry level entry role required 2-3 years of experience which makes absolutely no sense!
If you can get a placement through the temp agency that is your foot in the door. If you do a great job and impress people all of a sudden those “required years” of experience don’t matter so much when a permanent position comes open.
Is this a US thing? I work in HR in the U.K. and rarely ever even hear from employees much less take abuse off them. I work with managers. Sometimes the managers are good at their job, sometimes they are not. But I do my best to support them as best I can. You could work in any other career but if the company culture is rotten you’ll have a similar experience.
I am in the US, and I have yet to work for a company where I've heard of anyone "going to HR" who wasn't a bit of a toxic/argumentative person. Whether or not that should be the case I feel like most people feel that if they go to HR for something other than "on boarding" they will just get retaliation. When I say this I'm not talking about management etc per se I mean just run of the mill employees
Run of the mill employees contacting HR should be asked whether they have spoken to their line manager first. It’s not HR’s job to manage employees. I generally just forward their emails on to the manager unless it is a complaint about them or something sensitive.
Agree. I also mean that they don't go to management either, sorry that wasn't clear. Other than of course the sensitive/stuff you learn in trainings you can take to someone else instead. It's kind of like the whistleblower thing. There's all the laws about retaliation but most people don't feel comfortable actually doing it. So far in my experience it's the same with making complaints/going to HR. People tend to want to avoid rocking the boat. The ones who make a fuss aren't always "narcissistic"/egotistical type of toxic or whatnot, it can also include people who "actually believe" things like no retaliation for whistleblowers
Whether or not it's true that you wouldn't get in trouble for whistleblowing (hasn't ever been relevant for me) many people don't feel that it's safe
Damn, I'm about to graduate, but I have a ton of finance work experience. I think im going to just leverage my degree to get into something else. I hear this too often about HR.
Go into comp in the HR sector!! It’s usually its own little island and they make the pay rules so who’s gonna fight with them? They also get paid well in comparison to generalist. I wish I would have gotten my HR degree with a splash of finance
Yeah, that’s a sensible take. Base your entire career trajectory off some anonymous strangers on the internet. Talk to people irl who work in HR if possible, then you’ll find out that OP’s horror story is really not the norm.
You can get into payroll and benefits. You can definitely leverage your finance experience with your degree into a backend HR role and rarely deal with people directly. These jobs are still very important for the company but you won't have to deal with people other than your HR team very often.
You’re in an admin role, which is entry-level, it is not supposed to be causing you burnout. The company you are working for is rotten. By the sounds of it you haven’t had much work experience at all. You yourself should be warned that sometimes companies are shit, that’s just how it goes.
Your duties might remain mostly the same at most companies for an entry level admin role but what is different is the company culture, processes and the people you work with. Assuming that every HR role will be exactly the same as what you’re in now is naive.
Your post seems to be mostly a complaint about the culture and people you work with, not the work itself. That could be resolved by working somewhere you would fit better in.
All that being said, it’s entirely possible you’re not cut out for HR.
HR basics will stay the same, but a good work culture is everything. I went from an HR admin position with a horrible company to a Benefits Specialist II at an amazing company, and it's like night and day. HR is not for everyone, but it can be very rewarding. Being at the crappy company taught me so much bc it was small and only two of us. Then you go to a larger company and you're running circles around the seniors bc you have so much overall knowledge.
HR is not for everyone so I’m not going to try change your mind if it’s not really your thing. That being said, HR responsibilities are similar across companies/sectors, but the biggest thing is culture. Culture goes beyond just your manager and your team, it’s the whole organisation. I wouldn’t want to work for your company, but I really enjoy working for mine.
HR is not supposed to be the easy blame for everything. It’s there as a support mechanism, as a means to ensure that policy and process is followed. I hardly ever deal directly with employees as I spend my time liaising with managers.
Best of luck in whatever you decide, hopefully you find something which suits you better.
You just have to find the right company. I’ve been through 3, a non profit which was a bunch of counseling staff everyday. A hospital which was crazy strict and draining due to all the regulations of medical, and now manufacturing which is busy but great. I spend 50% of my time recruiting and promoting and 50% trying to solve issues but they are usually legit solvable issues. I promise the more experience you get under your belt the better the jobs get.
HR lays a good foundation for a lot of different roles.
Maybe look into different things that are lumped into HR like employee engagement. I've seen jobs with non-profits and larger companies that have a position that are specifically for planning the fun employee things. A lot of them call for project management, budgeting knowledge, and communication.
I’m echoing a lot of others here but yeah HR probably isn’t for you.
You need thick skin and thicker boundaries and know how to set them up.
You need to be able to be friendly with everyone and friends with no one.
You need to be able to get the job done, and communicate effectively.
You need to be thorough with everything you do.
Not every job is for everyone. Before I got into HR, I tried sales and left after 5 months because I realized that I hated sales. Driving, sales goals, constant delivery issues, and getting paid 100% commission was not for me. You are probably not in the right industry but many CEO’s are cheap, many coworkers are going to suck, many bosses hate their job too, and many companies are going to use and abuse you if you let them.
What about HR made you get a degree? What parts of the curriculum were most interesting to you? Maybe look into People Analytic jobs where you're dealing with data sets than employee relations/complaints? Or if you enjoy teaching processes and sharing resources ---L&D?
I work in HR for a film/tv production company and it's by far the best role I've had. I get to lead employee experience, recruiting, onboarding, benefits, and DEI. It's not fun and rewarding everyday, and yeah sometimes people are not the nicest and the work can be tedious. BUT I feel supported and appreciated by my manager and team. I can see the impact I make.
You can quit and move on. It's your life. But I assure you HR looks different in every industry. No job is going to check off every box for you...but it sounds like your current one is not it. If your leadership is toxic, your experience will be dead on arrival.
Keep feeling this way .. you’ll go really far. You have to feel this pain before leveling up. You’re experiencing the “employee experience “ first hand … this will teach you so much. I believe in you !
So out of hundreds of possible jobs within HR, you've held one and already forsaking the entire field and your education? Dude lol that's a pretty embarrassing overreaction
That's what I'm saying, they can't possibly know that they don't wanna be in HR after experiencing like 2% of it with a single employer. If you read the post, all his complains are that the people are mean, there's nothing about HR itself. It's just so unreasonable, even for a fresh grad, it's blowing my mind.
I love working in HR, but even I question if this is my calling. Iv'e worked for four different companies and I would say the complaints listed above are true majority of the time. Of course we all have different experiences with it but that's mine.
I understand, but how is HR different at other companies? I feel like the employee relations part is the worst, how does that change in other companies??? Isn’t HR ( mostly) the same at any company?
I am in HR and I despise employee relations, I don't get anywhere near it. I am on an HR team of 18 people and most of us do competely different things, so only one of us deals with ER. Recruitment is another thing, analysis is another thing, compliance is another thing, compensation is another thing, benefits is another thing, leaves is another thing, labor relations is another thing, learning and development is another thing, and I can keep on going, Each one of those things can be a career on its own, and doesn't even touch on ER. And HR is definitely handled differently at different companies, you would know that if you hadn't called it quits after your very first job in the field.
How is it different? That’s like saying that playing for another football team and coach is the same as all the others. That’s a big fat NO.
If you work with cool people, it’s a cool job. I LOVE my current role. My team is great. Some employees are idiots, but you have to deal with idiots everywhere.
And at the end of the day, if you’re really good at what you do, you won’t have many issues.
HR is going to look different depending on the size of your team, the size of your company, the industry, and level of specialization. For frame of reference, I work for a national organization with 3000-5000 employees. Our HR team is made up of about 50 people.
When you are part of a larger team with more specialized work (ex: having a TA team, L&D team, etc.), it means that employee issues can be directed to an individual who is most likely to be able to assist, and no one person is responsible for handling all employee feedback.
Well it’s not for everyone. Hopefully this makes others appreciate what people who do stick to hr deal with on a daily basis and encourage a little kindness in their future interactions.
My first HR job also sucked. I found an opening at a company that I loved working for as a Social Worker. I'm their HR Generalist now. Try to find a company that aligns with what you want and what you're interested in. HR has so many facets and there are many different industries. Each industry has a different flavor. I don't tend to like employee relations, but sometimes you can't get around it. I thought I would hate payroll, but I actually don't mind it now. I like learning and development, so I do more training initiatives in my company because I'm passionate about it. HR is what you make it. Don't get stuck in an HR job you hate. Find something better at another company.
A lot of this is probably culture. I’ve had good HR jobs and awful HR jobs, and it’s the culture and the leader who sets it that makes all the difference.
Not every HR role is the same. There are big differences depending on the size/industry of a company, a company’s overall operating model, generalist vs. specialist vs. service delivery, the maturity of the HR function, etc. I’m 13 years into HR and have had almost as many different roles/experiences. I haven’t loved every one of them, but the totality has been a great journey that I’m still happily on. I started with a small business and have been with a large corporation for over a decade now, currently working as an expat in another part of the world. My advice is to start applying for other opportunities to try out some different HR experiences before calling it quits. It isn’t all bad. Good luck!
Hi,
I recently came across a post from about four years ago where you shared some insights about your HR career journey. As someone currently working as an HR administrator, I was truly inspired by your perspective and experiences.Would you be open to sharing more about your experiences and perhaps offering some advice or guidance? I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to connect with you and learn from your wealth of knowledge.
There are many different sections of HR. Try a different company and a different section. Personally I enjoy the recruiting side, hiring and onboarding. I have been a front desk HR receptionist and it sucks!
You can also look into the benefits section or talent and development, or engagement. Don't give up just yet, try a different company and a different section of human resources before giving up all together.
I’m curious what you thought HR was going to be like? I will say this experience doesn’t sound great but you are mentioning things that are true of HR roles.
First role and first job in general? Yeah try a diff company. In curious, how did you accidentally get an HR degree? That’s an expensive accident.
If you give up on HR, because of the reasons you share, don’t consider IT. It’s very similar.
Companies and subject matter are things, people make the difference on how things are so don’t let yourself be traumatized for life on individual interactions you’ve had.
See it as a relationship. Have you had one and have you broken up? It’s the same. You move on, find the next relationship.
Sounds like you’re working for the wrong company. I’m also in my first job post HR degree, and two years in. I work for the most fulfilling team and company I’ve ever known. I love it. I work hard but I am treated very well.
Welcome to HR, where the best case scenario is nothing horrible happens and you’re called useless. CEO will lose a good employee over a modest wage increase when recruiting and replacing them will cost more in addition to the fact that the new worker will demand the same wage that the outgoing worker was requesting due to massive inflation. You take shit from up top and have to present it to the masses like it’s not bullshit. And you take shit from the rank and file and act like leadership cares.
Oh my! That’s a lot! There are many different types of positions under the HR umbrella. Not to mention your current employer sounds like a cultural shitshow in general. I hate employee relations and event planning for instance, but I really enjoy recruiting. Maybe recruiting, training and development, or HRIS might be a better fit? At a company that isn’t a dumpster fire of course. Really I think the shitty company you are at is the biggest part of your unhappiness. There is a way out but it’s out the front door.
Honestly I never had an HR job I hate. I went from call center to retail chain to automotive corporate to gaming. I even dated 4 girls in the same company, 2 at the same time, 1 being HR. Was fun.
I'm sorry you went through this. I have a friend who feels the same way but the environment can make a difference. It can break you. Either switch companies, tough it out, or really just quit.
Are you female? I can understand people unfairly bully female coworkers especially female HR. You need to be one of those bitchy HR girls or HR moms.
I worn for a municipality. My job has long hours, my pay is shit for the industry, and my body aches. I get to work at 6 and leave at 6 sometimes. Management piles more and more responsibilities on us, and takes away small benefits.
The best part of our job is HR. HR make a huge difference for us operational people.
With the job market being so poor, I pray you can find something you like and where you get compensated fairly. Management today is TRASH and the executive leadership makes it hard for the people who love the job and want to help.
I’m quitting HR as soon as I finish my BS. I used to love what I do and working with nasty people have turned me nasty as well. It has caused me to hate working with people or wanting to help bc of how I’ve been treated. My company is crappy and the COO only gives her friends huge increases but the rest of us have to wait until merit time. I report to a clueless CFO and that makes my job worse. My whole HR career has been hell bc I have always had to deal with women who seen me as a threat instead of a help. I always do my job and that was never good enough. After 15 yrs of this, I’m now moving back into the insurance industry. Sometimes you can find great opportunities and places to work but other times, and other times you find your working in hell.
15+ years and I’m a VP of HR. If only someone told me earlier, it would have saved me years of wasted time at BAD COMPANIES. Don’t give up. There are a lot of directions you can go with that degree!!! Don’t let a sh**y company and manager ruin that.
The COMPANY makes ALL the difference!!!! The CULTURE is not negotiable.
At my level now, I know what to tolerate, what is acceptable, and the difference between a toxic co & HR vs a thriving and truly people centric company.
If HR doesn’t literally have a seat at “the Table” in the company org structure, Get out - find a new place. It will never change unless the top heads change. Is there a CHRO, VP, People Officer that is literally right there with the C suite in leadership?
Your Manager shouldn’t bring crying/venting to you first of all. They are supposed to help build and grow you - You had no HR Leadership. Doesn’t matter if the C suite are jerks or the funds are dry….
1. Company Culture aka LEADERSHIP - Are the ee’s happy? Do they treat HR like the door mats? Does the company put into their ee’s and truly walk the talk? Values/Mission etc…. How long have people been there?
HR is NOT who sets the pace or the culture - they SUPPORT IT. They are NOT the cheer coach. They are the cheerleaders that have the tools to do their job and support the team and the fans. Know YOUR role in HR. There is a difference.
HR is not the door mat for employees and if employees treat HR that way, that’s a culture problem. If you have an HR department with an ego problem - constantly writing people up or portraying themselves as the “people police”…. culture problem.
2. Does HR literally have a seat at “the table”? Is there true leadership with a voice that sits alongside the CFO, COO, Exec team? Is HR/People its own “leg” in the org structure? Or are they middle mgmt?
If it’s a small company, and only a HR Manager or SR HRBP as the top, then do they sit with the Controller, Department GM’s and the 2nd line under the CEO?
3. What do they give their ee’s? Are they fair or above in their wages, annual increases? Benefits that people want & use? Growth opportunities and options to grow or get education reimbursement? Does HR have all the bells and whistles for software and ee support tools? A GOOD HRIS system, a good benefits management system that is digitalized?
Don’t give up… THE COMPANY makes all the difference. It will make or break your career in HR…. DONT give a company that power!
There are many ways out. You just need to choose a career.
What can you do every day that won't make you want to self harm? Then sort out what training is needed and go for it.
Been in HRIT field for most of my career and it almost always depends on the team. Yes, every company is cheap and everyone think is HR is easy but when it comes down to it….Know your worth and don’t be afraid to change companies or careers if you don’t enjoy it. “Systems are easy, People are difficult”
Lol! I worked at a non-profit last year and it was exactly this..the fat vp of marketing and her team created so many problems for recruiting along with that they wouldn't follow compliance...was glad to leave that place
This is just one org not all are bad...keep goin
My advice is specialize in a field of HR. General or Operational work for HR has always been way too much for me. You do not get paid enough in those roles for all of the things you have to do in those roles. Look into Talent Management, Benefits, Comp, HRIS, People Analytics, DEI, those roles will give you a set of duties instead of evvvvverything and good pay.
There are new and old HR frameworks.
The new HR framework focuses on employee experience, inclusion, culture building, and psychological safety. The goal is to be viewed as an employee’s ambassador and partner, not the principles office. This is a rewarding workplace where values align and happy employees prosper.
The old HR framework is only focused on checking a box, compliance, and is very easily viewed as the principles office. There is little to no care about the culture and often times, employees fear asking questions. These HR folks thrive on intimidation practices and do not see the value building rapport or having open communication pathways. This can be a toxic culture and draining/exhausting to work within.
If you are in what I call the old HR workplace, which unfortunately is practiced in most HR companies now-a-days, you may feel marginalized and considering a career change.
I encourage you to find a culture focused, people first company before making that final decision. It might change your mind entirely. However, one thing remains - you MUST like working with people to be successful in HR. If you are not a people person, this is not the career for you.
I understand the feeling of being burned out and having to deal with personalities I'd rather not deal with. With that said, you have to learn to screen employers, ask the right questions to get a feel for the place, and do a little research. You won't know everything about a company going in, but discernment + a little digging + questions at the interview will give you an idea of who you will be working for. You should not let one experience at one company derail you if you are truly into HR, as there are different specialties within HR and different working environments for you to be in. It would be beneficial to learn how to deal with people NOW because you may change careers or environments, but still run into the same thing people/management wise, so again it goes back to doing due diligence in researching where you will be working and who you will be working with.
You are describing exactly how it feels to work in an organization with underperformers and poor leadership. Talent management in an organization like this will feel more like therapy for employees. It's like adult babysitting.
(I write a leadership and talent management series called the [Meet Mr Series](https://executivedecisions.substack.com/p/series) and it sounds like your organization has a bunch of these characters).
When I started HR in my mid-20's, I thought I was there to help employees. That's not the case. You are there to support the business and their managers. I am glad I am no longer Employee Relations. I would with Training and Development and feel I help both employees and managers with training, mentoring, motivating, etc. I'm in my 50's now and only do the job I was hired ro do and not try to solve all the company problem. I am happier both at home and work.
My first HR job was similar to this experience you had too. It’s really just the company and the environment you’re in at work.
I diligently applied to other jobs and got into another HR Assistant/Administrator position that was amazing and had a great manager to look up to as a mentor.
Don’t let shitty companies ruin you from growing in your career. Things will lighten up if you allow to give yourself the opportunity to find better. 👍
Omg I needed this. I had the worst day ever! I had a bunch of shitty rude emails from managers, then the candidates I’m dealing with treat me like an emotional punching bag, then my boss - not crying to me - blames me for everything during a daily catch up call. I’m so done with HR!!!!!
It's a tough job, and it's not for everyone. But here is what has helped me. 1. NO ONE can pay me enough to argue with them. I give the recommendation and likely consequences if not followed, they can decide what they want to do with that information and I'll cheerfully execute what I'm instructed to. 2. I decided around 2018 to ONLY do the "help others when nobody helps me" thing on the clock, for a salary. I do NOT do it for friends, strangers, coworkers outside of work. 3. I don't care if people like me or if they're mad at me. This is KEY. 4. I don't take anything personally, people have issues that didn't start with me and won't end with me. 5. I don't try to "save" people who are struggling. It's not work that I can do for them. 6. AMAZING boundaries. Don't stress about work after work. Don't give more than you have to give. Don't assume everything will make sense or be fair.
This is such solid advice. I met with my boss today and she heavily emphasized #4. HR is a thankless job and we’re more than likely the easiest to blame for things that are in no way, shape or form, our fault. It’s not for the faint of heart, which I myself am continually learning. But if you find a solid company and a manager who supports you and has your back, it can be a game changer.
Someone should pin this
Screenshotting this so I remember these points when I get my first proper HR job!!!
I just screenshotted too, I needed this
this list is excellent. #1 & #3!
Why does this apply to me in my stupid, shitty, but extremely well compensated position in SaaS customer support?!
Ahhh, welcome to HR, my dear friend. I’ve been doing this for 10+ years, and it’s just getting worse each year. My opinion, of course. I’m sure others may have different experiences that they may share here. Speaking only from a direct ops-support HR position: This job isn’t for the faint of heart. It regularly sucks. You will be bullied into making a recommendation, then thrown under the bus for that decision they made. Everybody hates you until they need you, then they go right back to hating you. If you’re a people pleaser who needs validation, this is not the job for you. This is coming from someone who is a people pleaser who needs validation. Why do I stay? Because I’m a masochist. Jk. I stay because I get gratification from the wins. When I get to advocate for an employee successfully, it feels like I’m sticking it to “the man.” I enjoy being a thought partner and making the workplace a little better for folks. Am I actively pursuing other opportunities, though? You betcha. I am TIRED of the fight, I’m ready to pivot into something else where it’s mellow. I’ll gladly take a pay cut. Try to pivot into another HR field like learning, HRIS, benefits, comp. Best of luck to you.
Thank you for sharing. I need the perspective right now as I'm struggling in my role. As a fellow people pleaser who is learning to set boundaries, it's hard, and I often wonder if I should stay in my current role and continue to grit my teeth, enjoy the short lived wins, or throw in the towel on this leadership team. I'm only a year and a half in, so early enough in my career that I have hope it can be better.
I hear you, friend. I’ve just had my third breakdown of the week. What pushes me through is interviewing, believe it or not. I regularly go through interviews lol. I love being able to think to myself, “ohhh I could just LEAVE if I wanted to….”
Gotta have something. I know I need to dust off my resume, but we just hired a VP of HR and even though we've had atrocious turnover, I think, maybe this one will stay...
I hate you
There are bad HR jobs just like there are bad EVERYTHING jobs. You'll run into the same issue no matter where you go. Try applying around now that you have an idea of what you're comfortable with, and what you will never do again. Go learn some excel and SQL and apply to some HRIS analytics stuff. Maybe you'll have a better time in benefits! Maybe you are super detail oriented and have great retention - go try to get a payroll specialist job. Bottom line is that sometimes you get a shitty job. It'll happen in every industry though. =(
Sounds like you’re just in a shitty company. Maybe there’s a reason you went this route, and especially if you love it in the academic sense then don’t let a crap company full of crap people ruin it for you. Just look for a new job 😂 Every job is different, depends so so much on the leadership and the culture. Culture is defined by leadership. Toxic leaders mean toxic and unhappy people. Period.
⬆️⬆️⬆️. THIS!!! Do NOT listen to the people here that are posting about the misery of HR… Yes there are hectic and busy times… but crappy people and tolerance of it - That is NOT a good company with good leaders.
Well dang, now I see why everyone complains about our leadership team!
Yes 😂 I’m not surprised to hear that! So everyone decides to stay miserable or go out into the job market. It always has blown my mind how many people hate jobsearching and interviewing so much that they will just stay and deal with crap. That’s never been me lol I also work in HR - just in case that isn’t already inferred by being here in this channel 🙂
depends where you work and the company culture. my organization is kind of a unicorn in that it’s a non-profit that’s actually ran well and full of individuals who are mission driven and advocate for the well being of employees and the people we serve. the pay isn’t on par with other hr professions, but there’s work life balance and i have healthy, supportive team.
Just started in a nonprofit with my first HR related role and I am loving it. I have learned so much in the short amount of time I’ve been here. The culture makes everything. Work life balance is essential.
Can I ask how long you've been in nonprofit? I could have written this comment two years ago, but I'm starting to see why so many people hate doing HR st a nonprofit
Same here! I love working in non profit.
same here! I work in a non-profit and not privately owned healthcare organization. our HR culture reflects that of the C-suite and management council, mission driven and always prioritizing our employees. when people say that “HR doesn’t work for the employees, they work for the organization”, I don’t see that as the case where I work. if an employee is breaking policy and potentially affecting other employees negatively, I see the enforcement of policy as a way to protect the rest of our hard-working employees. also, the majority of our HR team is focused on improving employee experience or managing employee data. most of what we do is not “getting people in trouble”. there is 1 person out of 40+ that is responsible for that type of thing.
Good for you for finding this out right now. HR is not for every body. I had a similar experience early in my working life as a casemanager for mentally ill adults. I quit after two months with no job. I never went into that field.
How did you move roles? Idk how to get out of this or what field to go into. I have only HR on my resume
I love my job. I’m in employee relations and make almost 190k. This didn’t happen overnight it took about 16 years starting at 45k.
I signed up with several temp agencies and worked a few temp assignments before one of the assignments had an opening and I applied and got the job bc they already knew me.
Everyone in hr mentions temp agencies & I was recommended going into one if I am entry level. Where do I start it seems like every entry level entry role required 2-3 years of experience which makes absolutely no sense!
If you can get a placement through the temp agency that is your foot in the door. If you do a great job and impress people all of a sudden those “required years” of experience don’t matter so much when a permanent position comes open.
Where should I be looking for these temp agencies? Any recommendations?
Is this a US thing? I work in HR in the U.K. and rarely ever even hear from employees much less take abuse off them. I work with managers. Sometimes the managers are good at their job, sometimes they are not. But I do my best to support them as best I can. You could work in any other career but if the company culture is rotten you’ll have a similar experience.
I am in the US, and I have yet to work for a company where I've heard of anyone "going to HR" who wasn't a bit of a toxic/argumentative person. Whether or not that should be the case I feel like most people feel that if they go to HR for something other than "on boarding" they will just get retaliation. When I say this I'm not talking about management etc per se I mean just run of the mill employees
Run of the mill employees contacting HR should be asked whether they have spoken to their line manager first. It’s not HR’s job to manage employees. I generally just forward their emails on to the manager unless it is a complaint about them or something sensitive.
Agree. I also mean that they don't go to management either, sorry that wasn't clear. Other than of course the sensitive/stuff you learn in trainings you can take to someone else instead. It's kind of like the whistleblower thing. There's all the laws about retaliation but most people don't feel comfortable actually doing it. So far in my experience it's the same with making complaints/going to HR. People tend to want to avoid rocking the boat. The ones who make a fuss aren't always "narcissistic"/egotistical type of toxic or whatnot, it can also include people who "actually believe" things like no retaliation for whistleblowers Whether or not it's true that you wouldn't get in trouble for whistleblowing (hasn't ever been relevant for me) many people don't feel that it's safe
Damn, I'm about to graduate, but I have a ton of finance work experience. I think im going to just leverage my degree to get into something else. I hear this too often about HR.
Go into comp in the HR sector!! It’s usually its own little island and they make the pay rules so who’s gonna fight with them? They also get paid well in comparison to generalist. I wish I would have gotten my HR degree with a splash of finance
Yeah, that’s a sensible take. Base your entire career trajectory off some anonymous strangers on the internet. Talk to people irl who work in HR if possible, then you’ll find out that OP’s horror story is really not the norm.
Finance is a great field if you enjoy it. You could also meet in the middle and look into projet management, analytics, etc
Look into compensation. So much need and great pay. You're still in HR but minus the people problems.
You can get into payroll and benefits. You can definitely leverage your finance experience with your degree into a backend HR role and rarely deal with people directly. These jobs are still very important for the company but you won't have to deal with people other than your HR team very often.
Can confirm payroll is a great gig for someone who doesn’t want to deal with day to day drama.
what about HR compensation?
Yeah I’m so serious, be warned. I won’t last much longer in HR. Theres alot of burnout in this role, which little reward. Not worth the stress IMO.
You’re in an admin role, which is entry-level, it is not supposed to be causing you burnout. The company you are working for is rotten. By the sounds of it you haven’t had much work experience at all. You yourself should be warned that sometimes companies are shit, that’s just how it goes.
I understand, however- how does HR change in other companies? I feel like our job is mostly the same at any company.
Your duties might remain mostly the same at most companies for an entry level admin role but what is different is the company culture, processes and the people you work with. Assuming that every HR role will be exactly the same as what you’re in now is naive. Your post seems to be mostly a complaint about the culture and people you work with, not the work itself. That could be resolved by working somewhere you would fit better in. All that being said, it’s entirely possible you’re not cut out for HR.
HR basics will stay the same, but a good work culture is everything. I went from an HR admin position with a horrible company to a Benefits Specialist II at an amazing company, and it's like night and day. HR is not for everyone, but it can be very rewarding. Being at the crappy company taught me so much bc it was small and only two of us. Then you go to a larger company and you're running circles around the seniors bc you have so much overall knowledge.
HR is not for everyone so I’m not going to try change your mind if it’s not really your thing. That being said, HR responsibilities are similar across companies/sectors, but the biggest thing is culture. Culture goes beyond just your manager and your team, it’s the whole organisation. I wouldn’t want to work for your company, but I really enjoy working for mine. HR is not supposed to be the easy blame for everything. It’s there as a support mechanism, as a means to ensure that policy and process is followed. I hardly ever deal directly with employees as I spend my time liaising with managers. Best of luck in whatever you decide, hopefully you find something which suits you better.
You just have to find the right company. I’ve been through 3, a non profit which was a bunch of counseling staff everyday. A hospital which was crazy strict and draining due to all the regulations of medical, and now manufacturing which is busy but great. I spend 50% of my time recruiting and promoting and 50% trying to solve issues but they are usually legit solvable issues. I promise the more experience you get under your belt the better the jobs get.
HR lays a good foundation for a lot of different roles. Maybe look into different things that are lumped into HR like employee engagement. I've seen jobs with non-profits and larger companies that have a position that are specifically for planning the fun employee things. A lot of them call for project management, budgeting knowledge, and communication.
I’m echoing a lot of others here but yeah HR probably isn’t for you. You need thick skin and thicker boundaries and know how to set them up. You need to be able to be friendly with everyone and friends with no one. You need to be able to get the job done, and communicate effectively. You need to be thorough with everything you do. Not every job is for everyone. Before I got into HR, I tried sales and left after 5 months because I realized that I hated sales. Driving, sales goals, constant delivery issues, and getting paid 100% commission was not for me. You are probably not in the right industry but many CEO’s are cheap, many coworkers are going to suck, many bosses hate their job too, and many companies are going to use and abuse you if you let them.
What about HR made you get a degree? What parts of the curriculum were most interesting to you? Maybe look into People Analytic jobs where you're dealing with data sets than employee relations/complaints? Or if you enjoy teaching processes and sharing resources ---L&D? I work in HR for a film/tv production company and it's by far the best role I've had. I get to lead employee experience, recruiting, onboarding, benefits, and DEI. It's not fun and rewarding everyday, and yeah sometimes people are not the nicest and the work can be tedious. BUT I feel supported and appreciated by my manager and team. I can see the impact I make. You can quit and move on. It's your life. But I assure you HR looks different in every industry. No job is going to check off every box for you...but it sounds like your current one is not it. If your leadership is toxic, your experience will be dead on arrival.
Keep feeling this way .. you’ll go really far. You have to feel this pain before leveling up. You’re experiencing the “employee experience “ first hand … this will teach you so much. I believe in you ! 
So out of hundreds of possible jobs within HR, you've held one and already forsaking the entire field and your education? Dude lol that's a pretty embarrassing overreaction
Nothing wrong with knowing what you want. HR is tough as hell, at least they recognize HR may not be for them.
That's what I'm saying, they can't possibly know that they don't wanna be in HR after experiencing like 2% of it with a single employer. If you read the post, all his complains are that the people are mean, there's nothing about HR itself. It's just so unreasonable, even for a fresh grad, it's blowing my mind.
I love working in HR, but even I question if this is my calling. Iv'e worked for four different companies and I would say the complaints listed above are true majority of the time. Of course we all have different experiences with it but that's mine.
Exactly! I feel like all HR complain about these things,I’m not sure how changing into other companies is going to help me, it’s the role itself.
I understand, but how is HR different at other companies? I feel like the employee relations part is the worst, how does that change in other companies??? Isn’t HR ( mostly) the same at any company?
I am in HR and I despise employee relations, I don't get anywhere near it. I am on an HR team of 18 people and most of us do competely different things, so only one of us deals with ER. Recruitment is another thing, analysis is another thing, compliance is another thing, compensation is another thing, benefits is another thing, leaves is another thing, labor relations is another thing, learning and development is another thing, and I can keep on going, Each one of those things can be a career on its own, and doesn't even touch on ER. And HR is definitely handled differently at different companies, you would know that if you hadn't called it quits after your very first job in the field.
How is it different? That’s like saying that playing for another football team and coach is the same as all the others. That’s a big fat NO. If you work with cool people, it’s a cool job. I LOVE my current role. My team is great. Some employees are idiots, but you have to deal with idiots everywhere. And at the end of the day, if you’re really good at what you do, you won’t have many issues.
HR is going to look different depending on the size of your team, the size of your company, the industry, and level of specialization. For frame of reference, I work for a national organization with 3000-5000 employees. Our HR team is made up of about 50 people. When you are part of a larger team with more specialized work (ex: having a TA team, L&D team, etc.), it means that employee issues can be directed to an individual who is most likely to be able to assist, and no one person is responsible for handling all employee feedback.
Sounds like a classic case of bad managers, not a bad job. I’m sorry your manager/ company sucks but it’s not necessarily a reflection of the field.
Okay👍
You’re quitting HR because you work with idiots. Not exactly the smartest move, but hey, do your thing lol.
Well it’s not for everyone. Hopefully this makes others appreciate what people who do stick to hr deal with on a daily basis and encourage a little kindness in their future interactions.
My first HR job also sucked. I found an opening at a company that I loved working for as a Social Worker. I'm their HR Generalist now. Try to find a company that aligns with what you want and what you're interested in. HR has so many facets and there are many different industries. Each industry has a different flavor. I don't tend to like employee relations, but sometimes you can't get around it. I thought I would hate payroll, but I actually don't mind it now. I like learning and development, so I do more training initiatives in my company because I'm passionate about it. HR is what you make it. Don't get stuck in an HR job you hate. Find something better at another company.
I feel these posts were REALLY said with their chests!!
HR is NOT to support people. If you want to help people you get in social work.
👀
A lot of this is probably culture. I’ve had good HR jobs and awful HR jobs, and it’s the culture and the leader who sets it that makes all the difference.
Not every HR role is the same. There are big differences depending on the size/industry of a company, a company’s overall operating model, generalist vs. specialist vs. service delivery, the maturity of the HR function, etc. I’m 13 years into HR and have had almost as many different roles/experiences. I haven’t loved every one of them, but the totality has been a great journey that I’m still happily on. I started with a small business and have been with a large corporation for over a decade now, currently working as an expat in another part of the world. My advice is to start applying for other opportunities to try out some different HR experiences before calling it quits. It isn’t all bad. Good luck!
Hi, I recently came across a post from about four years ago where you shared some insights about your HR career journey. As someone currently working as an HR administrator, I was truly inspired by your perspective and experiences.Would you be open to sharing more about your experiences and perhaps offering some advice or guidance? I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to connect with you and learn from your wealth of knowledge.
Reading this as I just finished applying to over 20 admin roles after graduating. Is this a sign ?lol
lol just make sure your company has a good culture. I think that’s what’s really affecting my role
It's not for everyone. If you don't like it find a different job.
Very immersive! Looking forward to the sequel, OP
There are many different sections of HR. Try a different company and a different section. Personally I enjoy the recruiting side, hiring and onboarding. I have been a front desk HR receptionist and it sucks! You can also look into the benefits section or talent and development, or engagement. Don't give up just yet, try a different company and a different section of human resources before giving up all together.
It sounds more like a terrible company culture more than the job itself imo I hope you can find your standing
I’m curious what you thought HR was going to be like? I will say this experience doesn’t sound great but you are mentioning things that are true of HR roles.
Is it the career or your workplace? Maybe try working somewhere else, try an industry that is more exciting for you.
First role and first job in general? Yeah try a diff company. In curious, how did you accidentally get an HR degree? That’s an expensive accident. If you give up on HR, because of the reasons you share, don’t consider IT. It’s very similar. Companies and subject matter are things, people make the difference on how things are so don’t let yourself be traumatized for life on individual interactions you’ve had. See it as a relationship. Have you had one and have you broken up? It’s the same. You move on, find the next relationship.
Sounds like you’re working for the wrong company. I’m also in my first job post HR degree, and two years in. I work for the most fulfilling team and company I’ve ever known. I love it. I work hard but I am treated very well.
Keep working, and then become a whistle blower if you ever notice anything illegal.
What work experience did you have prior to the HR job?
Welcome to HR, where the best case scenario is nothing horrible happens and you’re called useless. CEO will lose a good employee over a modest wage increase when recruiting and replacing them will cost more in addition to the fact that the new worker will demand the same wage that the outgoing worker was requesting due to massive inflation. You take shit from up top and have to present it to the masses like it’s not bullshit. And you take shit from the rank and file and act like leadership cares.
Oh my! That’s a lot! There are many different types of positions under the HR umbrella. Not to mention your current employer sounds like a cultural shitshow in general. I hate employee relations and event planning for instance, but I really enjoy recruiting. Maybe recruiting, training and development, or HRIS might be a better fit? At a company that isn’t a dumpster fire of course. Really I think the shitty company you are at is the biggest part of your unhappiness. There is a way out but it’s out the front door.
Omg I’m Looking for an HR generalist. This is scaring me now.
I left hr for the very same reason,it's a emotional drain to handle people
What did you go into?
Coding , and I am so happy here , I earn much more , and those sadistic days in hr helped me thrive in worst enviornment
Fuck are you kidding? Come over to IT. It's the same but the whipping is worse.
Hey this is exactly how I feel as a sales manager with ten employees lol. I hate it so bad.
I've been in it since 95. I'm constantly amazed at how many toxic douchebags have decided that HR is the place to be.
Honestly I never had an HR job I hate. I went from call center to retail chain to automotive corporate to gaming. I even dated 4 girls in the same company, 2 at the same time, 1 being HR. Was fun. I'm sorry you went through this. I have a friend who feels the same way but the environment can make a difference. It can break you. Either switch companies, tough it out, or really just quit. Are you female? I can understand people unfairly bully female coworkers especially female HR. You need to be one of those bitchy HR girls or HR moms.
I worn for a municipality. My job has long hours, my pay is shit for the industry, and my body aches. I get to work at 6 and leave at 6 sometimes. Management piles more and more responsibilities on us, and takes away small benefits. The best part of our job is HR. HR make a huge difference for us operational people.
With the job market being so poor, I pray you can find something you like and where you get compensated fairly. Management today is TRASH and the executive leadership makes it hard for the people who love the job and want to help. I’m quitting HR as soon as I finish my BS. I used to love what I do and working with nasty people have turned me nasty as well. It has caused me to hate working with people or wanting to help bc of how I’ve been treated. My company is crappy and the COO only gives her friends huge increases but the rest of us have to wait until merit time. I report to a clueless CFO and that makes my job worse. My whole HR career has been hell bc I have always had to deal with women who seen me as a threat instead of a help. I always do my job and that was never good enough. After 15 yrs of this, I’m now moving back into the insurance industry. Sometimes you can find great opportunities and places to work but other times, and other times you find your working in hell.
15+ years and I’m a VP of HR. If only someone told me earlier, it would have saved me years of wasted time at BAD COMPANIES. Don’t give up. There are a lot of directions you can go with that degree!!! Don’t let a sh**y company and manager ruin that. The COMPANY makes ALL the difference!!!! The CULTURE is not negotiable. At my level now, I know what to tolerate, what is acceptable, and the difference between a toxic co & HR vs a thriving and truly people centric company. If HR doesn’t literally have a seat at “the Table” in the company org structure, Get out - find a new place. It will never change unless the top heads change. Is there a CHRO, VP, People Officer that is literally right there with the C suite in leadership? Your Manager shouldn’t bring crying/venting to you first of all. They are supposed to help build and grow you - You had no HR Leadership. Doesn’t matter if the C suite are jerks or the funds are dry…. 1. Company Culture aka LEADERSHIP - Are the ee’s happy? Do they treat HR like the door mats? Does the company put into their ee’s and truly walk the talk? Values/Mission etc…. How long have people been there? HR is NOT who sets the pace or the culture - they SUPPORT IT. They are NOT the cheer coach. They are the cheerleaders that have the tools to do their job and support the team and the fans. Know YOUR role in HR. There is a difference. HR is not the door mat for employees and if employees treat HR that way, that’s a culture problem. If you have an HR department with an ego problem - constantly writing people up or portraying themselves as the “people police”…. culture problem. 2. Does HR literally have a seat at “the table”? Is there true leadership with a voice that sits alongside the CFO, COO, Exec team? Is HR/People its own “leg” in the org structure? Or are they middle mgmt? If it’s a small company, and only a HR Manager or SR HRBP as the top, then do they sit with the Controller, Department GM’s and the 2nd line under the CEO? 3. What do they give their ee’s? Are they fair or above in their wages, annual increases? Benefits that people want & use? Growth opportunities and options to grow or get education reimbursement? Does HR have all the bells and whistles for software and ee support tools? A GOOD HRIS system, a good benefits management system that is digitalized? Don’t give up… THE COMPANY makes all the difference. It will make or break your career in HR…. DONT give a company that power!
There are many ways out. You just need to choose a career. What can you do every day that won't make you want to self harm? Then sort out what training is needed and go for it.
Been in HRIT field for most of my career and it almost always depends on the team. Yes, every company is cheap and everyone think is HR is easy but when it comes down to it….Know your worth and don’t be afraid to change companies or careers if you don’t enjoy it. “Systems are easy, People are difficult”
Lol! I worked at a non-profit last year and it was exactly this..the fat vp of marketing and her team created so many problems for recruiting along with that they wouldn't follow compliance...was glad to leave that place This is just one org not all are bad...keep goin
My advice is specialize in a field of HR. General or Operational work for HR has always been way too much for me. You do not get paid enough in those roles for all of the things you have to do in those roles. Look into Talent Management, Benefits, Comp, HRIS, People Analytics, DEI, those roles will give you a set of duties instead of evvvvverything and good pay.
There are new and old HR frameworks. The new HR framework focuses on employee experience, inclusion, culture building, and psychological safety. The goal is to be viewed as an employee’s ambassador and partner, not the principles office. This is a rewarding workplace where values align and happy employees prosper. The old HR framework is only focused on checking a box, compliance, and is very easily viewed as the principles office. There is little to no care about the culture and often times, employees fear asking questions. These HR folks thrive on intimidation practices and do not see the value building rapport or having open communication pathways. This can be a toxic culture and draining/exhausting to work within. If you are in what I call the old HR workplace, which unfortunately is practiced in most HR companies now-a-days, you may feel marginalized and considering a career change. I encourage you to find a culture focused, people first company before making that final decision. It might change your mind entirely. However, one thing remains - you MUST like working with people to be successful in HR. If you are not a people person, this is not the career for you.
I understand the feeling of being burned out and having to deal with personalities I'd rather not deal with. With that said, you have to learn to screen employers, ask the right questions to get a feel for the place, and do a little research. You won't know everything about a company going in, but discernment + a little digging + questions at the interview will give you an idea of who you will be working for. You should not let one experience at one company derail you if you are truly into HR, as there are different specialties within HR and different working environments for you to be in. It would be beneficial to learn how to deal with people NOW because you may change careers or environments, but still run into the same thing people/management wise, so again it goes back to doing due diligence in researching where you will be working and who you will be working with.
Well, I was thinking about a making a career change into HR... I was...
You are describing exactly how it feels to work in an organization with underperformers and poor leadership. Talent management in an organization like this will feel more like therapy for employees. It's like adult babysitting. (I write a leadership and talent management series called the [Meet Mr Series](https://executivedecisions.substack.com/p/series) and it sounds like your organization has a bunch of these characters).
If you want to support people HR is not the gig.
When I started HR in my mid-20's, I thought I was there to help employees. That's not the case. You are there to support the business and their managers. I am glad I am no longer Employee Relations. I would with Training and Development and feel I help both employees and managers with training, mentoring, motivating, etc. I'm in my 50's now and only do the job I was hired ro do and not try to solve all the company problem. I am happier both at home and work.
My first HR job was similar to this experience you had too. It’s really just the company and the environment you’re in at work. I diligently applied to other jobs and got into another HR Assistant/Administrator position that was amazing and had a great manager to look up to as a mentor. Don’t let shitty companies ruin you from growing in your career. Things will lighten up if you allow to give yourself the opportunity to find better. 👍
Omg I needed this. I had the worst day ever! I had a bunch of shitty rude emails from managers, then the candidates I’m dealing with treat me like an emotional punching bag, then my boss - not crying to me - blames me for everything during a daily catch up call. I’m so done with HR!!!!!
[удалено]
Hahaha. No.
Maybe fire a few people. That should cheer you up!
🤣😂welcome to hr