[Stark]

Now i have no idea if this is the forum for me but I've looked everywhere for business advice forums so sorry if this does not relate to this forum.

I am 17 and completed a BTEC First Diploma in Business two years ago. I am now looking to do either a BTEC National Certificate or Award in Business.

Now i have been told that these Qualifications are highly valued by employers and i am here to ask if you know if they really are because i am not sure

What sort of jobs in Business do you think i could get with these qualifications? the college says it supports learners in applying for jobs in business-related careers such as accounting, administration, customer service, finance, IT, personnel or sales, trainee-management but the jobs i have seen online all say they want experienced people who have worked in Business for years....

Also they say the Qualifications are valued in the UK but what about abroad, i want to move away to Portugal in a few years, have no idea if they will help me there...

I know these questions might be answered as i progress through the course but a little bit of advice form Business experts won't hurt... i just don't want to jump into a course that at the end of the day won't get me much.

Once again i apologize if this is totally the wrong forum to ask this sort of question and if it is feel free to ignore me and delete this thread

Any help would be appreciated though. Thank You.

[Indizine]

I think its a very valid question that can be put to business owners.

As a previous director with a city chamber of commerce, I would say that its good to have on your CV, than not at all, if you were seeking a business-related job, however, if I interviewed someone aside of you that didnt have the qualification, but had the experience, and above all was keen, knew their stuff about the job they were applying for, showed initiative, etc, then I would be more inclined to go for the one that showed promise than one that was merely average with a good qualification behind them. To me, a qualification shows you are capable of academic learning and will know the subject matter. It does not show me the things I will actually be looking for as an emplolyee.

It works like this, when you sift CVs you intially look to see who has the essential skills and qualifications to do the job. So if you get to interview that bit is more or less decided and the questions at interview will back that up. The rest of interview questions are to find out about you as a person.

Being employable is the one thing that will keep you employed and showing promise is the thing that will get you ahead, get promoted, etc.

So, it depends what else you will have to offer the employer. If you were to do this qualification and go on to do an MBA eventually, then that would be something I would recommend, if you want to cover business management. Other than that, I would recomend you specialise in a subject matter.

[Stark]

thank you for the reply.

I went to the interview today and the person who i talked to also talked about him as Employer in the Hotel Business, he has a preference to hire experienced people who know their stuff over people with degree's and qualification's but no actual life experience and enthusiasm to take the job.

He recommended also another way i could do things which is do an Apprenticeship in Business and Management for 1 year with pay (£100 per week) which would get me a lot of experience and then at the end i could get a job or do the BTEC.

This may be the best option i think.

[Indizine]

yes that sounds a good idea, thats what my daughter did with the Council.