News Pick
Planning a career in HR? Read this first
To excel in this career, building relationships and thinking ahead are critical, opines Apeejay School, Noida alumnus
Most students still picture HR as the department that handles hiring, attendance, and exit formalities. That version exists, but it is no longer where the real work happens. The real work sits in conversations, in decisions that are not always neat, and in how people feel at work on an ordinary day.
It starts with how you deal with people. Not in a trained, polished way, but in a way that feels real. According to Vikrant Mathur, an alumnus of Apeejay School, Noida, who is at present working independently as an HR consultant, strong interpersonal skills are essential. “You need to connect with people, understand them, and build empathy. It is also important to adapt to different environments. Sometimes, simple experiences teach you resilience. Not everything will always be comfortable, and learning to adjust prepares you better for real-world situations. Values like care and understanding should be developed early,” he said.
That discomfort stays with you. Workplaces shift quickly. Teams change, expectations move, and people bring different pressures into the same room. Someone in HR is expected to notice what is not being said and sometimes respond before it becomes a problem.
HR has evolved a lot recently, especially after COVID-19, and with younger generations entering the workforce, he added. “It is no longer just about processes like hiring or exits. HR professionals need to understand how the business works and how employees contribute to it. I often see HR as the anchor of an organisation, someone who takes tough decisions but also supports and motivates people. Building relationships, earning trust, and thinking ahead are critical. Instead of just following rules, HR professionals should focus on making a meaningful difference and thinking long term,” he shared.
For students, this shifts the focus. Knowing policies will not take you very far. Paying attention might. The role asks for judgment, and that does not come from a book. It builds slowly, in small moments, in awkward conversations, in situations where there is no clear answer. HR, at its best, is less about control and more about holding things steady when they could easily slip.
