What do i tell ppl when they ask me in parties ( where 90% of ppl are doctors)" So, what do you do?"

Question

I am a stay at home mom right now. But i hold a masters in human resource mgt with 2 yrs exp . I usually say " well, my backgrd is in HR" And most of them look at me vaguely .......as if to ask..."what the hell is HR?" Is there a better way to present myself? Pls guide.

Answer 1

Well I'm sure you know the saying (KISS) Keep It Simple Stupid

Don't assume everyone knows. Tell them You work in HR department which processes new hires, payroll etc.

Doctors if they have their own practice may not know the term HR, but they may know Human Resources.

Answer 2

"Oh, this and that. Right now, raising children is the main thing."

There are two possible meanings to this question: A common conversations starter (a way of knowing something about the person you're speaking to, so you can start to find a mutual interest to chat about); or a way of judging whether you are worth talking to.

When it's used as the first, you can really say anything that you've done, read, seen, or whatever, since that's another way to get a conversation going.

When it's used the second way, as soon as you realize this, move on to a human.

You could also use -- if you're being accurate that the overwhelming majority are docs -- "Oh, I'm not a doctor." Then introduce a potential topic of conversation.

If they are mostly docs, they may actually be asking a third type of question: What's your specialty (in the doctoring biz), so the most relevant info is that you aren't in that biz.

If you routinely get bewildered looks from this crowd with "HR" then clearly you should say it out, not give it's initials. (I gather the medical field doesn't use that lingo; not every field does.)

Or you could develop a capsule description "Match people with their right jobs" "Manage employee benefits" or whatever.

That's if you want to have the conversation start with your on-hold career.

Or you could take a recent incident from your lively current "work life" and say something like "Clean peanut butter off the bedroom walls." or whatever other task occurs to you.

But if you consistently give the same answer, and consistently get the same bewilderment, then stop giving the bewildering answer.

Answer 3

What is so shameful to be a stay at home mom? Tell them the truth and that you have a background in Human Resouces. Most people are clueless to what HR is. Stay at home moms have busier days than most doctors. Your a nurse, a teacher, a cook....the list goes on and on. Generally your still working when your husband gets home. Be proud of what your doing and stop worrying about how they will see you. What matters is how you and your family feel.

Answer 4

Do you say 'HR' or the full thing of 'Human Resource Management'? The latter sounds way more impressive.

But don't be ashamed to say you're at a stay at home mom. There's nothing wrong with that.

Answer 5

be honest, if you are a stay at home mom then own up to it. why should you be ashamed of it. remember doctors are ppl too. and then you can mention that you have a background in HR. If they don't know what that is then they have a bigger problem than you do. I thought everyone knew what HR is.

Answer 6

just say it: i'm a stay at home mom. Doctors are not exempt from needing to understand your situation. There is no shame in it.

Answer 7

Tell them your background is in human resource management and that now you are raising your children. If they think that isn't a worthy occupation, they are self-centered assholes.

Answer 8

I would suggest you base your introduction line on these definitions... It's very clear and you can pick up whatever you think is more appropiate.

Answer 9

If people in the work world don't know what HR is, they're dumb.