Traditionally, HR professionals been advised to take CIPD qualifications to further their career – but are qualifications needed? New research from online learning provider ICS Learn has examined the impact that CIPD qualifications have on the employability of HR practitioners – and researchers found that obtaining qualifications delivers a definite career advantage.
Researchers examined 600 HR job posts to determine how a CIPD qualification would impact an application for HR roles at a range of levels.
The research found that more than three quarters (77.5%) of senior-level roles advertised stated that a CIPD qualification would be preferable, with more than two thirds (67.5%) specifying that a CIPD qualification is essential.
Within mid-level job roles, 72% of employers request a CIPD qualification and 55.5% state that a qualification is essential to the role. Even within entry-level job adverts, 29% of jobs advertised requested applications from CIPD-qualified candidates.
Dr Sean McCready, Director of Education at ICS Learn, said
“It’s not surprising to see that employers look for candidates with CIPD qualifications in HR. We’ve been partnered with the CIPD for more than 30 years, so we know the value that these qualifications can add to an organisation.
“Many of our students cite their qualifications as the reason they’re in their current position, as it demonstrates their knowledge and commitment to personal development.”
Alongside the survey, ICS Learn also assessed which employers sought candidates with CIPD qualifications. Prestigious employers like The University of Oxford, PwC, Ted Baker, Estee Lauder, Pandora, and Amazon all preferred candidates with CIPD qualifications.
The research confirms that at any stage of an HR career, a CIPD qualification will have a clear impact on employability and as the value placed on CIPD by employers increases with the seniority of the role, CIPD accreditation can be a deciding factor for future success in your HR career.