Anyone CIPS certified on here?

[anonymous-user]

Short version: is it worth doing?

I’ve been working in Purchasing/Procurement for 10 years (automotive components) but was laid off after Christmas. I’ve seen a fair few jobs that suggest a CIPS qualification would be preferable and while I’m sat at home (all interviews cancelled until further notice) I was thinking I could spend the time studying an online/distance course.

Any thoughts please?

[donnie85]

I've been looking into this for a while. The courses all seem very expensive as do the self learning courses.

However found something called CIPS York training. I believe it's an unofficial CIPS training course but gives you all the materials you need for the exams and is ALOT cheaper. Has anyone used CIPS York training?

[Delboy_84]

MrBig said:

Short version: is it worth doing?

I’ve been working in Purchasing/Procurement for 10 years (automotive components) but was laid off after Christmas. I’ve seen a fair few jobs that suggest a CIPS qualification would be preferable and while I’m sat at home (all interviews cancelled until further notice) I was thinking I could spend the time studying an online/distance course.

Any thoughts please?

I think it depends on what exactly the potential employers and job adverts are asking for i.e. MCIPS or a specific qualification, such as Level 5 or Level 6 etc.
Whilst the academic qualification is useful with numerous route for learning (Tutor led workshops, ELearning, and potentially still the NVQ) if you have a sufficient experience or background then potentially you can achieve the MCIPS via the Management Entry Route (Interview based assessment, with potential mandated additional learning modules if you need development areas).
From my experience I’ve found MCIPS helpful in securing work, and as a Contractor / Interim worker having it on the CV is positive, however I wouldn’t necessarily say what I studies / learnt has been utilised greatly – accepting I finished my studies a while ago and a lot has changed the syllabus.
Also worth considering just how far would you wish to go in terms of the qualification levels, and is this aligned with the type / job level you’d be aspiring to?

[Alex-wfh8j]

It depends what you want to do as a next job.

If it's more of the same, components/automotive biased then probably not. If you want to be able to demonstrate a broader set, then it could help.

I've got mcips and an MBA in procurement management, but I wouldn't necessarily seek to only recruit people that have it or one of the levels which work towards the full mcips.

For context, I'm an interim currently in the public sector, although last few assignments were private sector.

I've got a test that I use to judge wider commercial appreciation and critical reasoning skills, and I've seen mcips folks fail miserably, and non-mcips do it really well.

Public sector think its the bees knees, but I've come across a LOT of folk with it that I wouldn't send to the shops to buy a pack of sweets.