ADD ADVICE TO FAVContinuing professional development
Continuing professional development is a commitment to lifelong learning, as instigated by the cross-professional Institute of Continuing Professional Development.
As a new graduate, further study is probably the last thing on your mind. But as you hunt for your first job it’s the perfect time to consider your professional education.
IT as a business is always evolving. The chances you have early in your graduate career to broaden your skills and keep up to speed on industry changes will have a direct impact on how far up the job ladder you can go.
IT career development
’We believe our graduates own their own development,’ says Rachel Forrester, Atos Origin’s Graduate Recruitment Manager. ’We offer the tools to help, but it is up to them to identify where they want their career to go.’
Tip from GET
Draw up a list of the areas and skills you want to develop. Then research what training each employer offers and ask questions about it at interview.
Gary Argent, LogicaCMG’s UK Graduate Recruitment Manager, says, ’It can be fairly daunting for new graduates, but it’s all about standing up and saying what you want. It’s about wanting to develop and being willing to push it yourself.’
Professional development in IT
Larger companies tend to offer an in-house training scheme and some external courses. LogicaCMG’s graduate-development programme is focused on the softer skills and is business- / client-facing. Atos Origin also uses flexible learning and coaching.
Other employers solely use external training. Local councils, for instance, may offer business courses by the Society of Information Technology Management and courses on standardising service delivery that adhere to the IT Infrastructure Library standard.
It’s worth asking potential employers if they’d consider day-release or sabbaticals to do a master’s or to take commercial qualifications such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Cisco Certification or Prince2 project management.
All are recognised steps on the road to chartered IT professional accreditation with the British Computer Society (BCS).
IT - a lifetime of learning
’We want to establish the industry as a structured profession with chartered status, which would have to be periodically re-accredited,’ says Dr Adele-Louise Carter, BCS Deputy Director of the Learned Society and External Relations.
The aim is to ensure that chartered professionals are up to date and competent. ’Continuing professional development is not just about attending courses and getting a tick because you attended,’ says Dr Carter.
’It’s about showing that you can apply the knowledge you have gained. CPD is permanent throughout your life.’ So, being clear about the development you want is a crucial part of choosing your first job.
