A happy, satisfying and successful life is not an accident! Plan for it — Part 2

GOALS are my north star, my compass. The map that guides me along the road I wish to travel. Goals are motivations with wind in their sails — they carry me forward despite the storms — Richelle E Goodrich.

Plan your future in ways that will enable you to access employment ECONOMIC success and failure is increasingly determined by the strategic acquisition and management of economically-relevant skills. Throughout the world there is an increasing need for young people (ie economically active people), who happen to be the future labour force to establish themselves in sustainable careers. It is time the youth (and even adults) to become actively talent-centric. If this is not done now the youth will continue to face difficulties in the labour market. Mainly because of their lack of work-relevant skills.

Many young people lack knowledge of what the world of work is actually like and some rarely give careful thought to their own potential career choices. They have not used their time in school to prepare appropriately for realistic career paths. Even those young people who have pursued a course of study with a specific career in mind often find themselves with general or theoretical knowledge that does little to prepare them for the actual tasks they will encounter on the job. As a result they lack specific 21st century workplace skills such as cooperation, communication, critical thinking, creativity and a focus on the needs of the enterprise. Many employers are sceptical about young people’s ability to apply themselves on the job. As a result of these factors many young people face significant obstacles to obtain decent work. To overcome this impediment people should consistently build their skills. This is best done through studying for a professional qualification. Unless they do so they risk being a “lost generation”.

Professional qualifications — the ideal way to addressing talent shortages in the labour market

“With less experience and fewer skills than many adults, young people often encounter particular difficulty accessing work” — United Nations “World Youth Report” 2012.

Professional qualifications are becoming increasingly popular in a wide range of industry sectors because they not only help to provide employees with industryspecific 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 opportunity to fulfil your career potential. 1 Gain job-related skills 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 a 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 the 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.

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 is interested. 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 well-prepared 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 to improve performance Make the most of the benefits of membership 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.

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

Herbert Taruwona Mbindi is a passionate career guidance and counselling advisor. His key motivation is to help people make a difference in their lives. Feedback to: email mbindi@trustacademy.co.zw, WhatsApp 0773616665 or call 0712212179.