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Graduate Careers Advice

The Graduate Job-Seekers Guide

Managing The Study-to-Workplace Transition

Temping Tips for Graduates

Graduate Study Abroad

Careers in the Arts

Graduands

Personality Profiles

Professional Qualifications

Working Abroad

Going Freelance

Professional Qualifications

Professional qualifications are now becoming increasingly popular in a range of industry sectors because they not only help to provide employees with industry-specific skills but can also demonstrate a commitment to training and career development. Some employers will look specifically for professional qualifications while others prefer these to be combined with academic qualifications.

Studying while working

Many companies now offer their employees additional incentives if they agree to undertake professional qualifications. This helps the company to ensure that they have a highly skilled workforce while also giving employees the opportunity to broaden their skills and knowledge. Some employers even allow their staff to take time off work for studying and can also help to fund the cost of the training. Full- or part-time learning options are available for many professional qualifications but it is important to remember that employers will probably expect a long-term commitment to the company in return for the support given during the training.

Boost your CV

A key advantage of professional qualifications is the added value these can have when included on your CV. There are a range of qualifications available which are undertaken in the workplace and can therefore be used to demonstrate your actual ability to do the job. NVQs are available in a variety of industry sectors and there are other professional qualifications, such as the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), which could be of value to a variety of roles and industries. It is all very well to put on your CV that you are proficient in the use of computers but to have a qualification such as the ECDL or Computer Literacy and Information Technology (CLAIT) allows you to actually prove this.

Professional affiliations

Membership of professional organisations is something that can be achieved only once an individual has demonstrated the required level of training and experience in their chosen industry sector. Levels of affiliation can vary with the highest level only being attainable with a significant amount of industry experience and qualifications. Detailed records of training and experience are required although fast track options are available in some industries which enable people to achieve accreditation much quicker.

Customers who know they are dealing with someone who has been professionally accredited may feel more confident that they are working with someone they can trust. Professional organisations tend to monitor the companies and individuals they are affiliated with to ensure that certain standards are maintained and if their guidelines are not adhered to professional accreditation can be withdrawn. It is also important to keep up to date with training and development in order to help maintain your professional affiliation.

There is increasing evidence that professional qualifications are becoming just as important as academic ones. This is reflected in job advertisements which often request a degree or equivalent as an essential requirement. Even at secondary school level, vocational qualifications are beginning to be much more popular choices giving people the option to specialise in a particular field from a young age.