WHEN A PROFESSIONAL BODY BEGINS TO COME TO NYSC CAMP TO SOLICIT FOR MEMBERSHIP, THERE IS AN ISSUE
Dear Jarus,
May God bless the good work you are doing.
I hold a B.Sc in Economics (2.2), I am a graduate member of NIM (Nigerian Institute of Management) which I enrolled for while still in school. I am currently a youth corps member serving in a remote but hospitable community in Onne LGA of Rivers state.
Before going for my youth service I was thinking of pursuing a career in Management and I developed interest (without professional counseling though) in enrolling for some professional trainings, notably with CIA (Chartered Institute of Administration), CIPM (Chartered Institute of Personnel Management) and Project Management with American Project Management College, Port Harcourt (www.americanprojectmanagers.com)
December 2014 is the 5th month of my service year, and have just 7 months to complete my youth service. Currently I am yet to register with any of the above mentioned institutes due financial limitation (CIA Graduate professional development route to be completed in 1 year registration to induction cost about N150k, CIPM 1 year 6 months is about N150k too while PMP 2 months is N35k) and I didn’t draw up a plan B to finance their tuition.
However, I have put all hands on deck to ensure I register for one or two come next year.
1. Please what is the job prospect like in the management field?
2. How relevant are the above listed institutes for someone with zero corporate experience seeking a career in management? Which ones/others do you recommend considering their cost implication and length of training?
3. I came across a thread about Project Management on Nairaland. One of the contributors was arguing that PM/CAPM certifications for fresh graduate is useless because the certificate holders didn’t handle any real life project to bag such certifications and such firms hardly recognise it. Please how true is this?
4. While in camp, Institute of Petroleum and Energy Marketers, Nigeria, came around to introduce their professional body to us and courses like energy marketing etc. that are available for corps members on discount basis (about N20k) were made known to us. Please how relevant/recognized is this institute in the Nigerian oil sector and can their certification be a point of consideration for an entry level applicant in the energy sector?
Kindly note that classes with either of these institutes I might register with will most likely be on distance learning because of the remoteness of my PPA and high cost of transportation to town (i.e PH).
Thanks, with much reverence and enthusiasm i look forward to your informative reply.
****
Dear Worried Corps Member,
It’s good to be proactive, but you appear to have too much in your hands (CIA, CIPM, APM, IPEM etc), which is needless.
To me, having a 2.1 in economics trumps all these certifications. I have said many times that at entry level, first degree is the most critical. A 2.1 still will not guarantee you job, but it will no doubt fit you into a wider basket of employment opportunities. But that is history. There are many 2.2, and even third class, grads that got good jobs.
Job prospect in management field? I don’t know what you mean by management field because management is an all-encompassing thing: engineers manage, accountants manage, doctors manage, everyone manages.
Project Management certifications are not bad, but I agree with the Nairaland commenter that they hardly add to your chance at entry level. It is real life projects that you have been involved in that gives a recruiter an insight in your expertise, hardly certificates.
Frankly, when a professional body comes to NYSC to advertise and give discount on their professional examinations, I will be uncomfortable, with due respect to these associations. Make no mistake, there is no harm in a relatively new professional body seeking publicity but giving it commercial slant raises some questions, in my opinion. Can you imagine an ICAN or Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) coming to NYSC camp to practically beg graduates to come and join them? A professional body is not a commercial bank looking for customers!
Of all the associations you listed, CIPM appears to be the most recognized.
My brother, concentrate on reading stuffs on job tests and job interviews during your service year and if you must register for a professional exam, CIPM is what I will advise you settle for, from the list you reeled out.
As your passing out is less than seven months away, you may start circulating your CVs too.
I wish you all the best.
Jarus
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God bless you. This is indeed a life changing initiative.
Dear Jarus, I don’t seem to find any problem with professional bodies seeking membership on NYSC camps. It’s just a cheap avenue to ensure and enhance publicity about them, even when they give discount to attract more individuals. It’s just a marketing strategy with special consideration given to the potential target market. Or would you find anything wrong if such professional bodies target final year undergrads and give them special discount?
On a side note, I became aware of NIM during NYSC camp. I gave it a shot and made it through their examinations successfully. Today, I consider it a plus for me.
Wao! Such a Powerful Piece!
Dear Jarus,
I like your structured point of view and reasoning but at some point I disagree with you in the sense that you said a professional qualification is not really needed I doubt that.
Over time Professional Institutions like the one I belong to (Chartered Institute of Administration) tends to sharpen the mindset and scope of reasoning of students in a professional way.Organisations of today tends to appreciate professionals than the half baked.
However, you must understand that Administration is the broadest and widest profession one can ever think of because it cuts across other profession.Management is a subset of adminstration because of its strategic impacts it makes to organisation.
So, my dear job seeker who needs a professional qualification I recommend Chartered Institute of Administration to you rather than CIPM which we all know that PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT is a under Administration and also a department focusing on humans.
I am a Prospective Administrator who have a broad knowledge on Administrative and managerial skills.Go for ACIA dear.Thanks
Your contribution is appreciated.
Jarus
Hi,tanx for the enlightenment. I studied biochemistry and I know the apt course to do is HSE but the problem now is that the different company that came to advertise always give certificate either u pass or not,now my question is that is the professional certificate gotten during service recognisable in the labour market