The Hindu Business Line : Demand for HR personnel up

IT'S the hirer who's being hired first. With more jobs moving to India, new companies being set up and older ones making huge expansion plans, the recruiters are being recruited in large numbers.

Ms Nirupama V.G., Executive Vice-President, TeamLease Services, says: "Every next job that we get is now an HR job." Jobstreet.com, an international job portal, has seen an increase of 50 per cent in HR jobs posted in the last six months, according to Ms Anupama Shah, Assistant Manager (Marketing). And candidate registration too has risen by 60 per cent.

The rule of the thumb in the people's business is that for every 50-100 persons recruited, one HR job gets created.

At any point of time, TeamLease, a leasing and search firm, is headhunting for 100-200 HR professionals, and this is across industries and throughout the country.

But, says Mr Gautam Sinha, CEO of TVA Infotech, a Bangalore-based IT recruitment firm, the boom is "really in the IT sector because recruitment has escalated".

Companies are putting together their HR teams by hiring at all levels, he adds.

"There are a lot of openings for mid to senior level positions, there are plenty of jobs for even 2002 and 2003 batch graduates."

Though certain companies are particular that talent should be picked from XLRI, TISS or Symbiosis, companies are increasingly looking at with people with 5-6 years of relevant experience.

Ms Nirupama says, "Yes, though most of them prefer an MBA in HR, but what is appreciated more is a good recruiting experience with MS skills."

Some of her clients have preferred graduates from second tier HR schools. There are opportunities for specialists in the areas of compensation and benefits, recruitment and training. A typical 400-strong company would have one Head of HR, one HR generalist, one trainer and one recruiter.

"The good thing is that niche skills in HR are finally being recognised in the industry."

Compensation for the HR fraternity is also getting increasingly attractive, with juniors being offered Rs 4.5 lakh upwards and a senior profile commanding anywhere Rs 15-50 lakh.