No Credentials: What’s Your Excuse?

When you’re in the thick of working a sixty (or more) hour week and soaking up experience and knowledge as fast as you can, it’s easy to set aside thoughts about pursuing a credential. It could be that you’re in a practice that offers little or no encouragement or support for obtaining a credential. And if you’re planning to spend your entire career there, that may not be a problem.

It could be that the more senior professionals in your practice have one or more credentials, and that fact is touted on the firm’s website. But, when it comes to the more junior staff, there’s just not enough time or money.

So, you keep your head down and keep plugging. Then, one day you look up and you’re five or six years into your BV career. An opportunity knocks on your door and you answer. Your potential employer wants to know why you haven’t made progress toward a credential. You have an explanation, sure. But it sounds to that employer like an excuse.

What to do?

Investigate the various credentials and choose one that seems to make sense for you. Talk to co-workers who may have – or be pursuing – the credential. Be conversant with the practical, on-the-job value of credential-driven training.

Understand the costs. Research not only the costs of the actual training, but the airfare, hotel and meals costs that go along with that training. Be clear about the total investment.

At your next review (or before, if that would mean waiting too long), tell your supervisor that you want to pursue a BV credential. Be prepared to explain why. Ask what the firm’s policy is about financially supporting employees who pursue BV credentials. Seek a commitment to take the first step and enroll in a specific training.

And if the boss is less than enthusiastic?

Don’t rule out paying for part – or all – of the training, yourself. Maybe the firm will share the cost. Maybe they’ll give you the time off with pay, even though they won’t cover the cost.

Keep a record of your conversations and requests. Write a “memo to file” if necessary. “I asked X times” will sound much better to a potential employer than “I just never got around to it”.

If push comes to shove, and you can’t get the support you need to pursue a BV credential, contact us. Maybe it’s time to talk about a career move.