Deciding what to study.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH FIRST
What the qualification would allow you to do that you cannot now.
WHY
If you cannot answer, it may not be worth the cost.
WHAT TO ASSESS
Whether employers in your field actually value it What it costs, in money and in time How long it takes Whether it requires renewal Whether it is recognised where you intend to work
THAT LAST POINT
Recognition varies by country, and a qualification valued in one may mean little elsewhere.
WHAT TO RESEARCH
Job advertisements for roles you want, and what they require.
WHY
It shows what the market actually asks for, rather than what providers claim.
WHAT TO BE CAUTIOUS OF
Qualifications from bodies you cannot verify Programmes promising employment Costs that are unclear
WHAT TO ASK PEOPLE IN THE FIELD
Whether it helped them.
WHAT TO CONSIDER INSTEAD
Demonstrable experience, which frequently counts for more.
WHAT TO WEIGH
Both, according to your field.
