DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND, STUDY FOR A PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

PROFESSIONAL qualifications are becoming increasingly popular in a wide 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.

What is more, in today’s super competitive employment arena, professional qualifications can help you to stand out from the competition and give you an edge when applying for that new job or internal promotion.

In the career and education world, there are two kinds of people: the academics and the professionals. We all begin our degrees as academics, enthusiastic and hungry for knowledge. But to succeed in the corporate world, the academic approach alone is not enough. Professional qualifications focus on developing application and contextualisation skills to make this learning relevant to work. While academic courses are long and require heavy commitment, professional courses help to refresh and update knowledge within a short period of time. This is what Trust Academy believes. It is Trust Academy’s vision. Here are the benefits to assist you gain an appreciation and help you seize opportunities to fulfil your career potential.

The first thing to understand is that your Bachelor’s degree is an academic qualification. Professional and academic qualifications may sound similar but in fact they are quite different. Academic qualifications will help you learn the theory of marketing. You will study the works of different authors and theorists and understand how tactics and strategies are developed. However, studying how to run an email campaign is not the same as actually running one. This is where professional courses come in. Unlike most academic courses, professional courses such as IMM are assessed through assignments where you are required to conduct an actual marketing campaign, or develop a blog or presentation. This practice will equip you for a professional role in marketing.

2 Putting you in charge of your studies and career

You can study full- time or part- time around work. You can choose to self- study or study with a tuition provider such as Trust Academy. You can progress at your own pace and start at the right level for you.

Once you qualify with a professional qualification such ACCA, PMZ, CILT, ABE, CIPS, SFAAZ, IMM, CIS, and IAC you can gain exemption from parts of other academic qualifications, making it quicker for you to complete them.

Having both professional and academic qualifications means that you can move between roles, industries and sectors. 3 Show of commitment A Bachelor’s degree offers scope for a range of jobs, but a professional qualification provides a much wider and better chance of getting a specific job. Commitment matters, and getting a professional qualification in an area of work one is interested in will definitely show dedication in that area. Looked at from the perspective of an employer, a candidate with a business management Bachelor’s degree will seem less dedicated to marketing than another who has an added IMM Diploma in Marketing. In accounting the argument is the same. A holder of an ACCA diploma is seen as more dedicated to the practice of the profession. 4 Climb the corporate ladder A Bachelor’s qualification may land a good job and generally that is welcome. But it will be hard to progress just by sticking to your day job. A Bachelor’s degree alone does not offer the skills and experience necessary to reach those top senior management positions. According to research the majority of those that started a professional course at a college stated that their key aim was to progress further in their career. With career growth comes financial perks as well; so those with professional qualifications on top of a Bachelor’s degree get paid better too. 5 Networking The world today is run by people who know people. Professional courses are taught by industry leaders who have direct influence on and knowledge of the industry. Professional courses also attract mature, experienced individuals. The majority of Trust Academy students who enrol in professional qualifications are currently working or have had previous work experience. Each and every student in the class brings another opportunity for networking.

It all comes down to one thing: how wellprepared one wants to be when approaching the job market. Professional qualifications are all about employability. Unless one is considering a future in academia, theoretical knowledge alone will not be sufficient. In order to get a career satisfying job in this competitive Zimbabwe job market, an individual would need to develop a practical understanding of the field of interest. These days a degree is an essential, but what sets you apart is your choice of professional qualification, such as a ACCA, IMM, CIS, ABE, CILT and IAC diploma.

Professional qualifications programmes offered at reputable colleges such Trust Academy can enable you to: Improve your earning potential Gain professional recognition

Gain professional skills performance

Make the most of the benefits of membership to improve

It is for these reasons that I believe it is important that students know there is a real alternative to university, an alternative that offers a rewarding career in a professional field and I hope that more students seriously consider study routes such as ACCA, IMM, CIS, IAC and ABE and seek out a professional qualification. Payment Methods For your convenience Trust Academy has introduced the following payment methods: 1 Ecocash — Biller Code 22958 2 POS machine available — you can now swipe easily.

3 RTGS or Bank cheques

For enquiries please contact Dean Moyo on 0778876478 or 0712915500.

email:dmoyo975@gmail.com.