From B.Tech (Computer Engineering) to HR: Finding My True Passion

I secured a campus placement with a telecom company, where I was initially offered an office-based role. But after training, my assignment was changed to RF Survey Engineer, requiring me to travel and survey sites for telecom towers. It wasn’t the kind of work I wanted, and I knew it wasn’t the right fit for me.

The 2007 recession made it even harder to find a new technical job, so I began exploring HR roles—an area where I felt I could work with people and make a difference. I eventually got an interview with a renowned logistics company for an HR position. As expected, the first question they asked was, “Why HR after engineering?”

After that, the interviewer asked me 9 or 10 more questions related to HR, and I couldn’t answer a single one. I felt out of my depth. But instead of dismissing me, the interviewer saw potential in my interest in design, graphics, and education, and found me a fit for their Training and Development vertical of HR. This is how my HR journey began.

Shortly after, I was transferred to Bangalore for a bigger role as Regional HR, handling 3 states with a workforce of 1500+. This was a major turning point in my career, where I truly began to thrive in HR.

The transition wasn’t easy, and I often felt like I was starting from scratch. But I had a supportive colleague who saw my potential and helped me navigate the complexities of HR. With their guidance, I learned how to leverage my problem-solving skills from engineering to help people and teams grow.

Sixteen years later, I’m proud of the path I chose. The challenges and doubts along the way have shaped me into the HR professional I am today.

For those of you who’ve made similar transitions from one field to another—did you face those initial doubts and challenges too? How did you overcome them?

#HR #CareerJourney #ProfessionalDevelopment #Mentorship #Leadership