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Hot qualifications to kick-start your career

At some point in almost every career, an inevitable question will start looming large: what can I study to get me away from these people and out of this hellhole?

Of course, getting another qualification is not a panacea, particularly if you don’t do your homework properly and pursue something that ultimately won’t bolster your career. 

A postgraduate qualification should usually do one of two things, says founder and CEO of Jack Hammer, Debbie Goodman-Bhyat: “It should either build on your existing degree and deepen your specialisation, or balance out your current qualifications.”

For people with degrees in social sciences (humanities and law), the latter typically involves addressing a perceived deficiency in technical and financial skills. Traditionally, this meant an MBA. 

However, an MBA is not a ticket to glory, says Goodman-Bhyat. It will help you stay in the game if you don’t have a background in commerce or finance, and it is useful for someone without a financial background to get a managerial position. 

But if you don’t have the experience and domain knowledge in a particular sector, it will not catapult you into the C suite. “Especially for younger people, an MBA won’t necessarily enhance your marketability,” says Niteske Marshall, managing director of Network Recruitment.
Another option would be to supplement your existing qualifications with IT skills. 

Software developers are crazily in demand, says Marshall. 

As long as you can do the work and have learned the language (particularly Java, C++ and PHP), you don’t necessarily need a computer science degree. Companies often will just assess you on your coding skills. 

There are hundreds of jobs available for front-end and back-end developers, particularly in mobile and software applications, says Heidi Duvenage, head of Sage Talent Solutions, the recruitment division of the global payroll and integrated accounting group Sage. 

A specific focus on coding in C# or .NET languages is required. Duvenage expects the opportunities in app development to expand in coming years, particularly in consumer-focused apps that will, for example, allow you to submit insurance or medical scheme claims through your phone.

For managerial positions in IT, a tertiary education is required, but as long as you have the necessary technological skills, your degrees don’t necessarily have to be in computer science, adds Goodman-Bhyat. 

“We are seeing a shortage of well-rounded candidates for managerial positions in IT; people who have the tech skills, but also have a tertiary degree and wider experience.”

If you are tired of the corporate rat race, one option that is often completely disregarded is the trades (electricians, plumbers, toolmakers, fitter and turners etc.), says Duvenage. South Africa’s shortage of artisans is at a critical level, with the average age of an artisan above 50. 

“There also continues to be a huge shortage of sales people,” says Duvenage. You don’t need a specific qualification, but will be tested on your aptitude and personality. Few people have the ability to sell any kind of product or service, and those who can, are generally rewarded quite handsomely, she adds. 

If you already have a qualification in the sought-after fields of finance, engineering and science, a number of specialisation areas are currently in demand:

Data science. The existing discipline of market research – doing surveys among consumers – is quickly becoming outdated, says Goodman-Bhyat. It is fast being replaced by data analytics: the collection and analysis of all kinds of information (particularly from digital sources, like online transactions or mobile usage) that can help companies make decisions about their products and services.  

A number of new postgraduate courses are on offer in the field (from Wits and UCT among others). Robotics and artificial intelligence are also currently gaining traction in the tech sector. 

CIMA. Yes, charted accountants still rule SA commerce. (A quarter of the CEOs of the country’s biggest firms are CAs, and 90% of the financial directors.) But the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) qualification has gained a lot of ground in recent years, says Marshall. It is seen as more practical and strategy-focused than the CA qualification, which is regarded as purely financial. 

Postgraduate qualification in tax. There continues to be a strong demand for people who have a specialisation in tax. 

Risk and compliance. IT and finance skills in managing risk is in extremely high demand at the moment, says Marshall. Many of South Africa’s large companies are currently looking for people with computer science qualifications in particular, who can protect them against cyber attacks and data hacking. There are a number of postgraduate programmes in risk management on offer from Unisa and other institutions. 

This is a shortened version of a story that originally appeared in the 6 October edition of finweek. Buy and download the magazine here.

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