Are you sure you want to know what I do for a living?
Regularly people I get to meet ask what I do for a living which is apparently a sign of politeness if not of interest. I usually answer the truth: I work within the HR organization of a US software company. I wish I could answer “I'm a rock star” but, if I was they wouldn't have to ask and I wouldn't get to say it out loud anyway so... no regrets! So I'm what we call a “HR Generalist” and when I say so I get 3 kinds of reaction:
– “Ouh la la” (yes, most of the people I get to talk to are French...), “so you're the one who fires poor employees or who says “no” to salary increases!”. And this is not a question. In fact it sounds more like it's the real actual truth based on facts and of the history of the HR function. So, I have to say, I stopped trying to argue or being factual on these ones. Now I prefer to acknowledge the myth that “HR = Evil” and I even add to it telling them how, while recruiting, I decide who gets in and who doesn't regarding the ability of the applicant to flatter me during the interview process. Na!
– the “deer caught in headlights” look, is the second type of reaction I get. These persons kind of know what “HR” might mean but I can see in their eyes they have no idea about the way I spend my days at work. So I have a sentence ready with keywords such as “training”, “recruitment”, “social relations” and I usually try right away to ask them what they do for a living. Not because I am a polite person but because I don't feel like explaining what I'm paid for and also, I like to know what people do/want to do for a living which actually makes sense regarding my job.
– “Whaouh, that must be an interesting job!”. In fact, I only got this one 3 or 4 times... and I didn't check if they were on drugs or not... So I guess you understand I face the 1st reaction the most. In this case I get to know all the stories heard or experienced with “bad, meany, greedy HR people” and I smile and I have another glass of wine.
Any other question?