Take Control Of Your Future – Advance Your Own Skillset

Skills and Qualifications

With the return of Autumn and our schools and colleges starting up for the new academic year – many of us look to our own skills and qualifications and may take the opportunity to see what we can do to advance our own skillset.

Motivation behind taking on the new challenges may include;

•  Self development and sense of personal achievement
• Improve employability and/or gain promotion with current employer

The job market in Ireland is continuing to expand with announcements on new start ups and expansions, thankfully, a regular feature. However, this has resulted in many companies now finding it more difficult to source and indeed retain qualified staff. Increasingly, companies are now looking to develop staff from within, to aid retention and develop their staff.

If you are looking to maximise your potential within an organisation then one of the most positive things you can do is to gain additional qualifications relevant to the role you aspire to. This action can act as a differentiator from your peers and increase your profile within your organisation.

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.”
― Barack Obama

Often employers’ are willing to offer financial support which also gives them added incentive to retain you and realise their investment in you.

Where to go / what course to do?

Be clear in where you would like to see your career going over the next 5 years. Examine what aspects of your role you enjoy most and consider what you can do to further develop in that area. For example, if you’re a Manufacturing Engineer you may be involved in ongoing CI /OEE projects. Why not consider completing your Black Belt Certification in Lean / Six sigma to position you for CI Lead or Manager roles down the line. Often you can combine work projects into your course project which is a win/win for both you and your employer.

Consider areas where you are lacking expertise – If you have a purely technical qualification then a business management course may fill a skills gap to give you a more rounded perspective on people management / finance / marketing etc.

If you are working in a Supply chain / logistics role – maybe consider further industry certification that could propel your career into a more senior role.

The volume and variety of Post Grad courses that are available these days through our Universities / ITS etc. is phenomenal and with the growth of distance education and flexible learning there are plenty of options available to suit everyone.

Article by Diarmuid Buckley

Life long learning is a great way to enhance your career options, build your network and keep in touch with latest developments and industry thinking.

Whatever course you decide to do – ensure that you have thought it through – that it compliments and enhances your existing qualifications and most of all that it’s something that you will enjoy doing! Confucius said it best; “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” We in Careerwise would be happy to discuss career options with our clients and help them plot a path to enable them achieve their goals.

Joe Robbins

(Director) BBS (Hons), MBPICS – Shannon Office

Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.

He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.

He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.

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