Want a Career in HR?

Interested in Human Resources? The world of human resources is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that offers countless opportunities for those who are passionate about people. Whether you are a natural problem solver, a skilled communicator, or a creative strategist, a career in HR could be just what you’ve been looking for.

But HR is much more than just paperwork and policies. It’s about building relationships, fostering a positive work culture, and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. It’s about helping employees achieve their goals and encouraging them to be their best selves both in and out of the workplace.

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Kalpika Abayasekara from :Different to gain insights into the world of HR. Our conversation was enlightening, and we learned a lot about what it takes to succeed in this dynamic field.

Kalpika had been working in the field for most his life and one of the things he emphasized was the importance of HR professionals to be comfortable on not getting the limelight and doing the work that just sets the foundation by interacting with employees, listening to their concerns, and providing support when needed.

Check out our interview with Kalpika on our YouTube channel (share with friends 😊):

What do you wish someone had told you before entering HR?

One of the biggest challenges, and he says, it would have been nice to have known to not focus only on one single area and be able to wear lots of different hats. He assures that this helps to have a broader scope helping to have a big-picture perspective even when it comes to performing basic HR functions at work.

How do you progress in this field?

Staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices. Kalpika emphasized the importance of working in a company that embraces fair HR practices .Thereafter, being willing to staying informed and knowledgeable about the latest developments in the field can help individuals stand out and advance in their careers. You need to find a company that you like to work but it’s also important to put yourself in the work and challenges to prepare yourself for more senior roles within HR.

Next, we had to shoot a very interesting question, “Kalpika, besides qualifications, what did you do :Different? “ to which he replied while breaking into a quick smile,Next, we had to shoot a very interesting question, “Kalpika, besides qualifications, what did you do :Different? “ to which he replied while breaking into a quick smile,

“That’s an interesting question when it comes to HR, because there’s not many qualifications that we have to collect. For me personally, the base qualification I received from CIPM was useful. Depending on your area within HR, there are several certifications that you could get. But one thing we need to understand is that we progressed from this era which we considered HR as personnel management and it became human resource management where now its progressing more towards people and culture. So within that aspect there’s not really many qualifications that you can get to pad your resume. There’s SHRM and PQHRM and few other qualifications, but aside, it’s really about that final thing, which is people and culture. You have to learn how to be in tune with the culture you work with, it’s not really something you can gain by collecting qualifications”

If there a risk of HR careers becoming redundant in the future?

Showing great confidence, Kalpika says that this is unlikely because, you can run an organization without people and culture practice. But could you build a great organization without a people and culture practice? Unlikely.

Final advice for someone looking to become an HR professional?

Kalpika stressed the importance of knowing why you get into the field of HR. The answer to this question should be more than being a people person. He says you need to be a people person just to function in this society. He strongly advices that, you have to be comfortable in not getting the limelight, you have to be comfortable in doing a lot of work that just sets the foundations for more sustainable development. Being able to be content with doing a lot of ground work which might not get highlighted in the final output can help individuals prepare themselves to progress smoothly in this field. Like in any industry, Kalpika tells us to find the little things that keep us going day to day. These small, everyday pleasures may seem insignificant on their own, but they add up to create a sense of happiness, contentment, and purpose in our tasks at HR. One example, it could be, if you are in talent acquisition, being able to find someone a job is a great feeling itself. Not everyone who goes through the flavor of people and culture actually recognizes its rewards, therefore you need to be able to find that reward within yourself.

Overall, our conversation with Kalpika was an enlightening and insightful discussion about how individuals can advance their careers in the HR field. By building a diverse skill set, networking, staying up-to-date with the best practices, being comfortable with ground roles, and being adaptable and flexible, individuals can position themselves for success in this exciting and rewarding field.

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