Employer pushing for professional qualifications
Discussion
Not sure what I want from this thread, maybe just to moan, but as per the thread title my employer is beginning to push the issue of me getting a professional qualification/chartered.
They have previously offered it to me (will pay for it all, support me etc) and I said no thanks, and a couple of years further down the line, they are asking me again, but being a bit more forceful and saying that someone in my senior position 'really should think about doing it'.
I have zero interest in obtaining any further qualifications for various reasons, but I just wondered if anyone else had been in the position where they felt pressured to do something like this?
Thanks
They have previously offered it to me (will pay for it all, support me etc) and I said no thanks, and a couple of years further down the line, they are asking me again, but being a bit more forceful and saying that someone in my senior position 'really should think about doing it'.
I have zero interest in obtaining any further qualifications for various reasons, but I just wondered if anyone else had been in the position where they felt pressured to do something like this?
Thanks
Yeah. I did it at the age of 57.
My employers wanted me to get qualified. It took a year of self study.
I generally set aside one hour a day for four days a week and the occasional weekend. Basically TV was crap between 8pm and 9pm and it got me out of doing the washing up.
Really glad I did it as it resulted in a pay rise. I didn't actually learn a great deal as I had been doing the job for a few years.
I retired a few years later. Long enough not to have to pay back the cost of the exams etc.
My employers wanted me to get qualified. It took a year of self study.
I generally set aside one hour a day for four days a week and the occasional weekend. Basically TV was crap between 8pm and 9pm and it got me out of doing the washing up.
Really glad I did it as it resulted in a pay rise. I didn't actually learn a great deal as I had been doing the job for a few years.
I retired a few years later. Long enough not to have to pay back the cost of the exams etc.
Apologies for the delay. Been a busy day.
I do have some subordinates with chartered status.
No. The place I work is fairly small at about 240 people. I jointly manage a Directorate that has around 100 people in it.
I've been doing the job 20 years, and I can virtually guarantee I won't learn anything, or apply any of the learnings to my role.
I detest being in any form of education or training. I hated school and I despised university. I did a week long course a few years ago and it was torture. I can't face the idea of a 12 month long torture session that robbed me of the few hours free time I have.
I am too busy. On top of my full time job, I have two very young kids, which occupy pretty much all my time at weekends and until about 8 or 9pm at nights. After that, I have a handful of hours for myself each week: Gym, keeping fit, relax, play with my cars, maybe have a pint with friends etc.
I don't see the point. I've been promoted and promoted to a trusted role where I get told my work is very good and they don't want me to leave. How would a qualification help?
I'm constantly on the lookout for a new job, because I tend to get bored every few years, and if I found something I liked the look of and wanted to go for it, I would end up spending a few grand in repayment of course fees to my employer, and I would find the course a distraction from my next job..
Those are pretty much all the reasons.
But I certainly understand your point.
Maybe others have refused, but no one that I know of. I mean, why would they... they would like to remain welded to their current employer, and they would happily take a qualification like this if it was paid for by someone else.
Also, most other people I work with seem actually interested in the industry and all the nuances and latest news. They would actually like to gain more knowledge and education, and certainly letters after their name. I, on the other hand, couldn't give a flying f
k about the sector/industry whatsoever, but I'm very good at pretending I'm passionate about it when required.
Doofus said:
Are you client-facing?
Do you have subordinates with chartered status?
Do you work for a large organisation?
Not client facing at all. Haven't been for 10+ years. I'm purely a 'run the business from behind the scenes' role. I do have to appear at Board meetings occasionally to give business updates and that sort of thing. I give advice to the Executive team and work on business projects. I'm on about £85k, so essentially I'm Assistant Director level.Do you have subordinates with chartered status?
Do you work for a large organisation?
I do have some subordinates with chartered status.
No. The place I work is fairly small at about 240 people. I jointly manage a Directorate that has around 100 people in it.
Slow.Patrol said:
Yeah. I did it at the age of 57.
My employers wanted me to get qualified. It took a year of self study.
I generally set aside one hour a day for four days a week and the occasional weekend. Basically TV was crap between 8pm and 9pm and it got me out of doing the washing up.
Really glad I did it as it resulted in a pay rise. I didn't actually learn a great deal as I had been doing the job for a few years.
I retired a few years later. Long enough not to have to pay back the cost of the exams etc.
I'm 42 and it would be the same as you experienced, 1 year to complete. About 350-380 hours. They reckon about 6-7 hours per week.My employers wanted me to get qualified. It took a year of self study.
I generally set aside one hour a day for four days a week and the occasional weekend. Basically TV was crap between 8pm and 9pm and it got me out of doing the washing up.
Really glad I did it as it resulted in a pay rise. I didn't actually learn a great deal as I had been doing the job for a few years.
I retired a few years later. Long enough not to have to pay back the cost of the exams etc.
I've been doing the job 20 years, and I can virtually guarantee I won't learn anything, or apply any of the learnings to my role.
Rough101 said:
Why would you resist if they re paying?
Gives you far more options if you are looking to move.
Reasons I would resist, despite them offering to pay:Gives you far more options if you are looking to move.
I detest being in any form of education or training. I hated school and I despised university. I did a week long course a few years ago and it was torture. I can't face the idea of a 12 month long torture session that robbed me of the few hours free time I have.
I am too busy. On top of my full time job, I have two very young kids, which occupy pretty much all my time at weekends and until about 8 or 9pm at nights. After that, I have a handful of hours for myself each week: Gym, keeping fit, relax, play with my cars, maybe have a pint with friends etc.
I don't see the point. I've been promoted and promoted to a trusted role where I get told my work is very good and they don't want me to leave. How would a qualification help?
I'm constantly on the lookout for a new job, because I tend to get bored every few years, and if I found something I liked the look of and wanted to go for it, I would end up spending a few grand in repayment of course fees to my employer, and I would find the course a distraction from my next job..
Those are pretty much all the reasons.
Slow.Patrol said:
One other bonus was that I did find people more willing to accept my advice once I was qualified.
The only people who use my advice at the moment are internal to our business, and they trust me already. When I was a consultant and built up a consulting business, there were no issues with people accepting my advice. But I certainly understand your point.
borcy said:
What will happen if you carry on refusing?
Has anyone else in your organisation done the same?
No idea what will happen.Has anyone else in your organisation done the same?
Maybe others have refused, but no one that I know of. I mean, why would they... they would like to remain welded to their current employer, and they would happily take a qualification like this if it was paid for by someone else.
Also, most other people I work with seem actually interested in the industry and all the nuances and latest news. They would actually like to gain more knowledge and education, and certainly letters after their name. I, on the other hand, couldn't give a flying f
k about the sector/industry whatsoever, but I'm very good at pretending I'm passionate about it when required. Edited by Goldman Sachs on Saturday 13th September 19:56
Goldman Sachs said:
No idea what will happen.
Maybe others have refused, but no one that I know of. I mean, why would they... they would like to remain welded to their current employer, and they would happily take a qualification like this if it was paid for by someone else.
Also, most other people I work with seem actually interested in the industry and all the nuances and latest news. They would actually like to gain more knowledge and education, and certainly letters after their name. I, on the other hand, couldn't give a flying fk about the sector/industry whatsoever, but I'm very good at pretending I'm passionate about it when required.
Then i wouldn't bother. If you like moving about jobs and the hassle to do it gets too high you can move on. Maybe others have refused, but no one that I know of. I mean, why would they... they would like to remain welded to their current employer, and they would happily take a qualification like this if it was paid for by someone else.
Also, most other people I work with seem actually interested in the industry and all the nuances and latest news. They would actually like to gain more knowledge and education, and certainly letters after their name. I, on the other hand, couldn't give a flying f
k about the sector/industry whatsoever, but I'm very good at pretending I'm passionate about it when required. Edited by Goldman Sachs on Saturday 13th September 19:56
I ve had loads in the past but have pretty much let them all expire now. Got fed up of vendors and accreditors treating them as an income stream, luckily I m old/experienced enough not to need them any more. Was suggested to renew my CCP (govt security qualification) that I should get more certs, which confirmed my choice to let that expire too (there were other reasons).
If your employer needs to tick a box and is willing to pay, then I don t see a huge problem with it unless they re expecting you to do it in your own time.
If your employer needs to tick a box and is willing to pay, then I don t see a huge problem with it unless they re expecting you to do it in your own time.
OP said:
I've been doing the job 20 years, and I can virtually guarantee I won't learn anything, or apply any of the learnings to my role.
I wouldn't be so sure. Maybe where you are now, doing what they do now.Qualifications open doors. Even if it's just a "confirmation" thay you know your s
t.I have a very technical role. Did an MBA, and that does get attention, even though it's got sod all to do with what I do.
M.
pistonheadforum said:
Tell them you will do it if they reduce you to 4 days a week and allow a dedicated day for study. Also tell them you will need an assistant to help cover the extra work when you are studing.
Agreeing to this and actually adhering to it are totally different unfortunately.pistonheadforum said:
Tell them you will do it if they reduce you to 4 days a week and allow a dedicated day for study. Also tell them you will need an assistant to help cover the extra work when you are studing.
That should focus their minds.
I wouldn’t take the piss by asking for such a thing. They would say no, as they should.That should focus their minds.
Despite what I said about not giving a toss about the industry, I do like the company I work for, and I very much like working with my colleagues.
I work hard, I put in extra hours when required without quibble, I try to mentor others, and I genuinely pride myself on going a good job.
I can’t be the only one who goes to work to do a decent job for their employer, gives it their all (or most of their all) but has absolutely zero interest or enthusiasm for what they do?
Likely asking as they want to claim a higher percentage of "Degree Qualified" people on staff, this appeals to American investment institutions.
Any risk of redundancies within the company in the future?
Any tie-in or claw back of the course fees, after completion of the qualification?
Any risk of redundancies within the company in the future?
Any tie-in or claw back of the course fees, after completion of the qualification?
Mortarboard said:
OP said:
I've been doing the job 20 years, and I can virtually guarantee I won't learn anything, or apply any of the learnings to my role.
I wouldn't be so sure. Maybe where you are now, doing what they do now.Qualifications open doors. Even if it's just a "confirmation" thay you know your s
t.I have a very technical role. Did an MBA, and that does get attention, even though it's got sod all to do with what I do.
M.
My only concern would be with workload and support if needed. Otherwise, it's sometimes good to get away from the daily grind and mix with others in the same game just to show yourself that you're brilliant and the rest are idiots. You can sometimes help educate others by relating your experience which is a good feeling.
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