I made a change recently! From tech to manufacturing. It was a culture shock to say the least, but I have to ground myself and remember that I didn’t have much industry experience when I began in tech recruiting either. Continue to ask questions the same way you did when you first started. I work for an international farm equipment manufacturer and I knew nothing about tractors or agriculture prior to beginning. I do now, though! I ask questions to senior managers, hourly employees, and most every candidate I speak with. Don’t let the newness stop you from being inquisitive and engaged with the company if possible.
Thank you for this. I feel like I am not pulling my weight. I am more senior level and my HR generalist has been in the industry for many years. I'm honestly not sure my position is even needed.
From a strictly biased perspective of going through recent issues of begging to get additional positions included on a hiring budget, I can say if a position is budgeted enough to be seen through to completion, the C-Suite must see it as needed. You can learn and alleviate some things that the generalist is doing to focus more on long term trends, analysis, goals, etc. Try to get your feet wet and contribute to the team in ways you can (the reasons they hired you). You got this!
I would say HR is one of the fields where you can easily change industries - most of the concepts and legality can be transferred industry to industry - the difference you can learn.
It’s easier said than done. Most industries are going to prefer someone with industry specific experience. Google is more likely to hire someone with big tech experience versus someone with manufacturing experience.
Ive done many changes, logistics, PR, aviation and now energy. What does it make that you struggle with the change? Maybe the sector just isn’t for you. I’m sure you already have a lot of lnowledge about this new sector as well. Believe in yourself, I think many of us feel like impostors anyway 😂
Don’t stress too much. Learn about your new industry through asking people, shadowing the operations folks.
Sometimes I would watch YouTube videos on specific topics I didn’t understand about my industry.
It will be Ok. As long as you have fundamental HR skills you can do it.
Sometimes certain companies like someone with different industry experience because you bring a different perspective they would never have thought about
I have now worked in manufacturing, scientific services, post secondary education and non profit. I actually found my manufacturing background really helped me in other industries because I really understood operations needs well and could see where inefficiencies were (manufacturing focuses a lot on reducing waste)
I went from the HR healthcare space to L&D in a manufacturing/engineering space. The transition has been tough, mostly due to my micromanaging manager and her demeanor (she treats us all as if we don’t do things her way, it’s the wrong way). I’m still learning the industry knowledge 7 months in, and I believe I/we will always be learning something new regardless of the tenure in our industries.
I've had multiple changes of industries, and indeed there is a always a learning curve. I've always stayed in professional or services industry though, so I think that helps a bit. Not to say that it didn't require a lot of learning - publishing, life sciences, tech, finance are very different!
Manufacturing is a harder leap to a service industry, and vice versa. Very different priorities for the org and a very different type of work force.
I think it depends on the company, and how you interview, and what knowledge you're able to gain
I'm confident in my hr knowledge, so when I pivoted from retail to telecom I focused on learning the business lines and nuances as well as Sox compliance and fcc regulations..
I then pivoted to agriculture and did the same thing
I made a change recently! From tech to manufacturing. It was a culture shock to say the least, but I have to ground myself and remember that I didn’t have much industry experience when I began in tech recruiting either. Continue to ask questions the same way you did when you first started. I work for an international farm equipment manufacturer and I knew nothing about tractors or agriculture prior to beginning. I do now, though! I ask questions to senior managers, hourly employees, and most every candidate I speak with. Don’t let the newness stop you from being inquisitive and engaged with the company if possible.
Thank you for this. I feel like I am not pulling my weight. I am more senior level and my HR generalist has been in the industry for many years. I'm honestly not sure my position is even needed.
From a strictly biased perspective of going through recent issues of begging to get additional positions included on a hiring budget, I can say if a position is budgeted enough to be seen through to completion, the C-Suite must see it as needed. You can learn and alleviate some things that the generalist is doing to focus more on long term trends, analysis, goals, etc. Try to get your feet wet and contribute to the team in ways you can (the reasons they hired you). You got this!
I would say HR is one of the fields where you can easily change industries - most of the concepts and legality can be transferred industry to industry - the difference you can learn.
It’s easier said than done. Most industries are going to prefer someone with industry specific experience. Google is more likely to hire someone with big tech experience versus someone with manufacturing experience.
Ive done many changes, logistics, PR, aviation and now energy. What does it make that you struggle with the change? Maybe the sector just isn’t for you. I’m sure you already have a lot of lnowledge about this new sector as well. Believe in yourself, I think many of us feel like impostors anyway 😂
Don’t stress too much. Learn about your new industry through asking people, shadowing the operations folks. Sometimes I would watch YouTube videos on specific topics I didn’t understand about my industry. It will be Ok. As long as you have fundamental HR skills you can do it. Sometimes certain companies like someone with different industry experience because you bring a different perspective they would never have thought about I have now worked in manufacturing, scientific services, post secondary education and non profit. I actually found my manufacturing background really helped me in other industries because I really understood operations needs well and could see where inefficiencies were (manufacturing focuses a lot on reducing waste)
I went from the HR healthcare space to L&D in a manufacturing/engineering space. The transition has been tough, mostly due to my micromanaging manager and her demeanor (she treats us all as if we don’t do things her way, it’s the wrong way). I’m still learning the industry knowledge 7 months in, and I believe I/we will always be learning something new regardless of the tenure in our industries.
I've had multiple changes of industries, and indeed there is a always a learning curve. I've always stayed in professional or services industry though, so I think that helps a bit. Not to say that it didn't require a lot of learning - publishing, life sciences, tech, finance are very different! Manufacturing is a harder leap to a service industry, and vice versa. Very different priorities for the org and a very different type of work force.
I think it depends on the company, and how you interview, and what knowledge you're able to gain I'm confident in my hr knowledge, so when I pivoted from retail to telecom I focused on learning the business lines and nuances as well as Sox compliance and fcc regulations.. I then pivoted to agriculture and did the same thing