[Closed] Professional development- worth doing?

If my employer offered me the opportunity to do another qualification at their cost, in work time, I’d jump at the chance!

Oh and if you are professionally qualified, a la IMechE, it means your employer can charge more for your time and your standards are a good marketing tool for the business you work for.

There's real professional development, and then there's NVQ Lvl 5 in management which sounds like an absolute study in bolloxology. That's not to say you shouldn't do it, you probably should - looks pretty bad to tell the boss to do one when they're ostensibly trying to help your career. Depends on the business though and your relationship.

I've been offered some training, but I'm really struggling to find a course that would be helpful and interesting.

I work in IT and have ITIL and Prince 2, and I'm really struggling to think what I'd want to do.

Anyone done a business analyst course? I'm half tempted to do that, or maybe the Prince /agile crossover course.

NVQ Level 5 is at a more strategic level though - I wouldn’t discount it as bolloxology.

That said, it's all very dry, and with so many boring cooperate connotations.

I'd quite like to do a course on photoshop or some kind of graphic design, but I'm not sure I could justify it.

If you’re interested in sprint/agile how about doing the scrum master thing?

The value of management courses are generally to reassure employers, if a management position comes up they will consider a more qualified person as externally validated. Removing a degree of responsibility for decision making from themselves.

Re IT qualifications, Prince 2? Is this the 1990s! Get Agiled.

What is your management experience? What are your management skills and weaknesses?

I've met too many managers who were simply promoted into the role for time served and have no idea it's an actual skill set, then they get promoted and promote somebody else to the position.

Read the syllabus, see where it aligns with your job and what can come next and see if it fits.

Personally I'd take it as it would seem to be linked to where your employer see's as your next step.

Thanks all, a reluctance of that course is my employer contains lots of managers by title. I think I need to look at other avenues for any development such as IMechE etc

If you get the chance then I'd take it unless you have a course you can justify as more appropriate.

Bolloxology or not ... it's 90% of getting through HR hurdles if you are ever looking for a new job or a role comes up.  Much as Engineers might be more pragmatic CV filtering etc. usually gets heavily influenced by HR.

Previously being in the position of hiring it really helps the engineer justify why this candidate over another when HR are pressing a "better qualified candidate" who you interviewed and couldn't tie their own shoe laces.

Of course this is all bolloxology as well... but when in management a lot is and the pst successful managers probably are the ones who can deal most effectively with the bollox and still do a great job!

Worth doing because a) it'll look good come pay review time, b) your next employer may not be so overburdened with managers, c) you don't want to look like an ungrateful sod.

Doing a course does not make you an expert, but it may open a door for you and shows willing and direction to an employer. You will learn something, but just like driving lessons you really learn when you get stuck in.

Do the course for all the good reasons above, but you really need to think about where you want to be in 2/5/10 years time and think about what training will help you get there.

Oh and if you are professionally qualified, a la IMechE

You open the door to more senior posts, higher salary, etc. But getting chartered is a totally different animal to doing a management course. It's based on your professional ability.

So, to summarise, it's unlikely to offer any real benefit to your ability to do your job, but might be useful for all sorts of political / career reasons.

OP, just do it. You'll learn something new.

Alternatively, if your company is looking for a metallurgist/ tribologist/ surface engineer get in touch. I would love to work for somebody who is willing (and able) to develop their staff. I'll happily take your place on the course 😉

Never turn down an opportunity for work funded training. This is something that is being cut back on all the time and one day people will look back fondly on what they have lost.

They are offering an opportunity for development at no cost, either time or money, and you are questioning it? Give your head a wobble.

>Never turn down an opportunity for work funded training. This is something that is being cut back on all the time and one day people will look back fondly on what they have lost.

You say that, but I've never been on a training course where I didn't want to poke my own eyes out after about the first 3 hours.....

Work time, with a qualification at the end? Regardless of what it is, no brainer.

Love brassneck

VCP, MCSE (2), MCSA (2), RHCE, Prince2: Practitioner, ITIL: Foundation, CLP, NCDCP; about to do the SCRUM Master cert.

Most of these are now irrelevant of course, but absolute worst case it might get you through a CV filter if you look to change jobs.

Can't help with the wanting to gouge your own eyes out with a spoon though, had a few of those!

I console myself that it's still probably better than a day at work 😀 - and sometimes I get to stay away near some nice trails....

You say that, but I’ve never been on a training course where I didn’t want to poke my own eyes out after about the first 3 hours…..

Well it wither says something about you or the courses you are sent on....

I'm doing CISSP as a self-study which is basically buy the book and read all 1000 pages (yes it really is, I checked) and get yourself ready for the 3hr 70% passrate exam (I've also done ITIL, CRISC and others and they are all a lot easier than this one, yes the courses can be dull but that's because the trainer is dull, the ITIL was a laugh because the trainer knew his stuff and was a good trainer)

you've been offered college time, take it

>I’m doing CISSP as a self-study

I much prefer self-study courses, as you can go at your own pace etc.

>Well it wither says something about you or the courses you are sent on….

A very low boredom threshold.