What Short Courses Should You Pursue In Your Profession?

By Selipha Kihagi

A day like today last week we published an article on short courses that job seekers need to pursue in the year 2016. The article featured general courses with the specifics featuring Accounting, IT and HR professions. It later attracted numerous comments with people wanting to know what courses they should pursue in their specific professions.

In light of this, we have gone a step further in this article to include other professions and the short courses they should be focused on in order to get a good job this year. Read on below to see what course you should be on the lookout for to impress employers in 2016.

Top Short Courses To Pursue If You Are In This Profession

1. Accounting professionals
While we featured this in the previous article, I thought it wise we look at it in greater depth. If you are in Accounting, most jobs will demand that you have CPA qualifications with most needing up to section 6 or otherwise known as CPA (K). An alternative to this would be ACCA. You can also pursue an Accounting Technicians Certificate; this is more basic and enables one carryout basic accounting functions.

There are also other jobs that will require job seekers to have certifications in various Accounting package, including Sage, Quickbooks, Pastel, etc. Being a member of ICPAK will also come in handy, especially in government jobs. And depending on the industry you are in, you might want to take up a different course to help you fit in.

2. Procurement Professionals
Now, for you to rise in ranks as a Procurement professional and work in top employers across the country, you will need to have post graduate qualifications. A Degree or Diploma will not be enough. For starters, the CIPS certification is becoming a requirement in most jobs. Some jobs will also require that you are a full member of KISM (Kenya Institute of Supplies Management) and possess working knowledge of SAP software and ERP. This will always be an added advantage giving you a head start in any job.

3. IT Professionals
With IT professionals, the courses are extensive and we could not mention enough. However, there is the usual CISCO and Microsoft required certifications that include CCNA, CCNP, MCSE, MCITP, MCTS and MCSA, or the CompTIA certifications that include A+, Linux, etc., VMware courses, Citrix or Project Management courses. The paths of an IT professional will vary on what area of specialization they are headed.

For example, those in Information Systems will require CISA, CISM, CGEIT or CRISC while those in software development will need to be knowledgeable in Visual Basic 6 , Visual Basic .Net , C#, ASP.NET, SQL Server 2008 or equivalent.

4. Banking Professionals
To work in the Banking sector, your graduate qualifications could vary depending on the field of study. You could be in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Statistics or equivalent. That is the good part. However, for you to actually get the job you will need added professional qualifications, the most basic being the banking certification.

For example if you are joining the Credit or Risk department, related qualifications or CA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA will come in handy. For Analysts it will be more of Prince2, PMP, CBAP, ITIL and ITSM or equivalent and if it’s Trading you will need an ACI dealing certificate in addition. The professional qualification you pursue will depend on the position you want to hold.

When looking for a professional course in your area, think about the position you want to fill. You cannot move forward if you are not sure where you want to go. So instead of asking what professional courses you should pursue in your profession, think of a particular post you want then ask what course you will need to pursue to get the job. This way it gets easier.

For an update on other short courses, here is the continuation.

So, have a question on a course? Query us in the comments.

79 Comments

  1. I have been totally lost on what short course to take in addition to my Bachelor of HRM but here I am..now informed and on the truck. thanks Prof

  2. I just have a Diploma in purchasing and supplies from the Kenya Institute of Management. I can use SAP system very well to execute my purchasing and supplies duties, to even an extent of a super user. What short courses can I do to better my profession?

  3. I have an interest in human resources,apart from cs,what other short course should I pursue?

    Tinna

  4. How much does it cost to do a professional cv and seek.your recruitment services.

  5. Comment
    I am majoring in hr which other professional course should I do? please advice.

  6. Hi, i have a diploma in Business Management at Kenya Institute of Management, CPA sec 4, Bachelors of Business Administration (finance and accounting option). Which post graduate course can i do?
    Please help

  7. i have done information science currently pursing cisco IT essential am i in the right path

  8. I have done BBIT and currently interested in Managing Database and IT security. Is Oracle a good start for me?

  9. I’m currently pursuing a degree in Social Science taking a double major in political science & public administration and sociology. What are the short courses to study?

  10. I did a Bachelor’s degree in Social sciences, which short courses are preferred in this field.

  11. doing purchasing supplies ….diploma kindly advice wen taking degree wat to specialise with and wat are the short courses

  12. I did Bsc Analytical chemistry with computing. Which course can i pursue given that i can work as a lab attendant. Thanks

  13. Comment
    I did diploma in hotel and catering management ….which short course should I go for…..

  14. I did marketing and I have been torn as to whether to do a post graduate diploma in marketing or do a different course altogether

  15. hallo I have done certified secretaries 6, what other short course could I do that can help in my search for a job

  16. Hallo. .. Thank you for a very informative article but what about those in the field of Diplomacy and public and international relations which are the best short courses they can do?
    Kindly let us know thank you.

  17. I am working in Transport logistics and operations which short course should I pursue?
    Please advise

  18. Greetings,

    I did Business Management as a course.

    Been doing my Internship as a Human Resource.

    Kindly advise what are some of the short courses i should venture in to strengthen my course i did and what am doing now?

    Looking forward to hear from you.

    Regards,

    Shelton Amwayi

  19. hello ave just graduated with a bachelors degree in development studies, i also have a diploma in community development and social work…. kindly advicr on what short courses i undertake…thank you

  20. Kindly comment on short courses for applied or health sciences degree holders like Bsc.Biochemistry,Analytical Chemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacy etc

  21. I’m currently taking bachelor of science in disaster management which is more or less a new course and was wondering if you could give me a heads up on what is really required of me by the outside world

  22. i am a young librarian,fresh from campus. Short courses in IT will do me good. Would you please advice me on other s.c to pursue in order to remain on top. Thank you very much for your informative articles.

  23. I want to major on children’s welfare only..what can I do…pliz am stranded advice

  24. If you did statistics major on knowing how to use the common statistical package (SPSS, R (R Studio), SAS, GenStat) and most importantly Excel- Analysis tool pack. Good luck

  25. Which examination body do employers prefer for those taking supply chain and can one secure a job by having module 1 result slip?and if not why?

  26. i am in the clearing and forwarding industry having done a diploma in the same. i would like to do an undergraduate program. please advise which one will be the best for me.

  27. Hello,
    Kindly, which professional courses should i undertake as anvironmental science graduate?.

  28. Say something of the same nature about Business Management or Business Administration.

  29. I am majoring in finance and have been thinking of taking CIFA as my profession.
    Please advise.

    Nelly

Comments are closed.