Should you consider additional study?

Additional study can be an effective way to challenge yourself and progress your career. Dave Nellist, NZ Regional Manager at procurement consultancy ArcBlue, talks us through some of the reasons you should consider additional study. 

Differentiate yourself in the market

When you are applying for jobs or promotions you are likely to be sitting in a group who have similar qualifications and years of experience. So how will you differentiate yourself to stand out against the competition? Lots of people ‘fall into’ procurement, but not many can do it really well. Additional study is recognition of relevant and targeted study which can set you apart. It can differentiate you by:

• Providing evidence of learning and how this has been applied
• Proving your ability to combine study-based learning with pragmatic application and experience
• Enhancing your skillset to support continuity in your career
• Showing your adaptability and curiosity to understand more, which is so important in today’s business world

Achieving MCIPS, for example, means you’ve attained a particular standard against a globally recognised benchmark. It’s not just conceptual, it’s applied learning. By attaining MCIPS you're helping to play your part in enabling the profession to deliver more for supply chains and the economy by growing awareness and understanding of what procurement is.

Specialise in an aspect of your work you enjoy 

It’s important you enjoy what additional study you choose to do for the following reasons:

• You will be more motivated to learn and develop your skill set 
• It increases your job satisfaction as you integrate what you have learnt into your job
• It will identify gaps in your knowledge and skills that you can focus on in a subject you enjoy
• It demonstrates an interest in, and commitment to, your own professional development 
• It provides the opportunity to network with like-minded students and gain exposure to other industries
   

Importance of learning and development 

In a recent study carried out by Robert Walters over 96% of professionals across all age groups said lifelong learning was a high priority. As a procurement professional you must constantly acquire new skills to remain relevant in the workforce. You will learn:

• More targeted and practical skills in post-tertiary education. Tertiary education tends to focus on establishing a broad knowledge base to promote general awareness.
• From fellow students who bring their own unique and informative ‘war stories’ to the learning environment 
   

About Dave Nellist

Dave is an experienced procurement practitioner and now a practicing consultant. He is FCIPS (Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) qualified.