Before you start reading, just remember, this isn’t a guide or a gyaan post. No right or wrong here. Just my own journey, my thoughts, my doubts.
In mid-2022, I stepped into STEAM-A straight out of college, no fancy degree in HR, no industry experience. Just a little trust from my company, and a tiny voice in my head saying, “Let’s see what happens.”
That trust? It changed everything.
I made mistakes. Took bold steps. Got bruised. Healed. Learned. Relearned.
And through all of it, my team stayed with me. Back then we were just four. Now we’re forty. But they believed in me, especially on days I couldn’t believe in myself.
As the Product Grows, So Does the Pressure?
Aama pina pressure illama epdi?!
Startups don’t wait for you to “settle.” The product grows. New roles come in. Systems evolve. And HR?
We're just trying to keep up.
I’ve often found myself sitting alone after hours, thinking…
“Thalu… thalu… thalu…”
“Am I doing enough?”
“Am I even helping people the way I should?”
Unlike tech or design, we’re not in daily standups. We don’t get dashboards or Jira tickets. We’re invisible… until something goes wrong.
And when something does?
“Enna da nadakudhu inga?”
Sometimes not even the people involved know what went wrong. But somehow, we’re supposed to have all the answers.
Being the ‘People Person’ Isn’t Easy
You’re expected to hold space for everyone, managers, teammates, even leadership. And often, you’re sitting between two people, both hurting, both right in their own way.
"Mudila… ennala mudila."
And then the guilt kicks in.
“Should I have seen this earlier?”
“Should I have created a safer space?”
“Is this my fault?”
I’ve learned to remind myself: maybe it’s not my mistake. But when you care deeply, it always feels like it is.
Because HR isn’t just operational, it’s deeply emotional.
The Daily Tug-of-War: People vs Process
There are days I’m juggling offer letters, onboarding calls, appraisals, exits, compliance reports — all back-to-back.
But amidst all this chaos, there's always a small voice:
“Thambi… mukkiyamana matter ah marandhutiya?”
Did I forget to check in on that intern who's been silent lately? Did I overlook someone’s small win just because the day was too full?
Then another voice pops up:
“You can’t be everywhere.”
“The business needs to grow too.”
This is the daily push-pull. Between being kind and being efficient. Between care and scale.
"Edhuna oru mudivuku va da…"
But life doesn’t work like that. You learn to dance between both.
What I’ve Learned
You can’t do it all. But you can show up.
Some days, you’ll chase metrics. Other days, you’ll sit with someone in tears. And on rare days, you’ll get to do both.
Culture? It’s not built in policies or town halls. It’s built in the 5-minute hallway chats, the lunch table laughs, the “take care, da” messages after a tough day.
And That’s What STEAM-A Taught Me
When things go wrong, people here don’t say, “Who’s fault is this?”
They say:
“Don’t worry — we’ll fix it together.”
“You’re not alone. We’re in this too.”
"Paasakara payapullais."
That kind of culture? It’s rare. It’s real.
And it keeps me grounded. Even when the work is overwhelming. Even when I feel like I’m failing.
Because this isn’t about blame. This is about care- deep, human, flawed care.
HR isn’t the guardian of culture.
We’re just one part of it.
The rest?
“Engala yarum adichika mudiyadhu.” 🙃
The Theory Was Easy. But Real Life?
When I started in HR, everything looked shiny on paper.
Onboarding checklists. Appraisal frameworks. Exit flows.
Perfect.
But no one tells you this: theory is just half the story.
In startups, one minute you’re reviewing resumes. Next, you’re sorting out finance queries. And before you know it, you’re on a Zoom call managing an emotional team conflict.
At one point, I stopped asking “Am I doing it right?”
And just kept going.
But the doubt? It never really left.
Looking back, that doubt helped more than any manual ever could.
What the Doubts Taught Me
Small things matter. That one form you forget today? That’s the one they'll need in a panic tomorrow.
Check early. Don’t wait to finish a task to ask for feedback. Ask at 20%. Saves you days.
Clarity wins. Even if it’s a silly question, ask. Always better than guessing.
Don’t take it personally. Most feedback is about systems, not you.
People > Work. A casual “chai break” conversation can teach you more than a formal 1:1.
Today?
I can take interviews. Make tough calls. Back myself. But more than anything, I know this:
HR isn’t about rules. It’s about rhythm.
The rhythm of listening. Of showing up. Of quietly building culture when no one’s looking.
So, if you’re just starting out in HR?
Don’t wait to feel “ready.” You won’t be. Do it anyway.
Learn by asking. Grow by failing. Get better by being human.
And never forget to laugh along the way.
“Ithu HR da... full ah kathukradhu illa. But feel panradhu dhaan mukkiyam.” ❤️
