In some circumstances, a nationally recognised qualification can make all the difference between landing a job and not being considered for it at all.
The first thing you should do is start looking at the people in the positions you’d like to aim for. See what qualifications they have, which previous training courses they’ve taken and what it takes to earn them. See if there’s a kind of certification “ladder” that can get you from where you are now to where you want to be. Whether it’s a certificate IV qualification or a diploma course, there’s usually some series of stepping stones to help you get there.
When you’re researching the types of qualifications you’re interested in these are some of the best places to start your search:
Check the job listings you’re interested in
Whether you’re surfing big job boards or company-specific openings, see if the prerequisites for application include nationally recognised certifications along with their past experience requirements. Many jobs—especially entry to middle-level ones—will list education and training as a substitute for experience because the company wants someone with applicable knowledge on day one that they don’t necessarily have to train.
Browse LinkedIn industry groups
LinkedIn’s industry groups and pages can offer a ton of detail about the types of positions available in an industry and what it takes to fill them. Search for a group full of professionals in the field you want to move to, or even who share the same job title. See if any of them are talking about a specific certificate/diploma or just pipe up and ask if there are any qualification programs for their profession.
Look for professional groups and training organisations in your field.
Another great way to find out if there’s an industry-standard education program for your field is to check in with any professional societies or registered training organisations for people who do what you do.
For example, if you’re looking for a management qualification, research your local Western Australian registered training organisation to see the variety and breadth of training courses that they offer. Perth RTO’s especially, will have an excellent idea of the types of qualifications that are needed to make it in a specific industry.
One of Perth’s leading RTO’s, Trainwest, offers four different management courses – BSB41513 Cert IV in Project Management, BSB40812 Cert IV in Frontline Management, BSB51107 Diploma of Management and BSB51607 Diploma of Quality Auditing – to help you reach your goals, regardless of your previous education level.
This month Trainwest’s Gold Course of the month is our BSB51107 Diploma Management! This popular course is a must have stepping stone for your career which will establish you as confident leader in the workforce. For a limited time only the BSB51107 Diploma of Management is available for just $1,500! Enrol today and start your path to a better career.