Those who pursue qualifications while performing strongly at work have the best chance of propelling their careers forward
REACHING CORPORATE heights will be easier and quicker for upwardly mobile management candidates who prove their mettle by pursuing postgraduate qualifications while also tackling the demands of a job, Hong Kong employers say.
In the banking and finance sector, postgraduate qualifications such as an MBA (Master of Business Administration) or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) will also help a candidate get a foot in the door ahead of other applicants.
But in the final analysis, promotional prospects and higher pay scales require more than paper qualifications and, in many cases, experience accumulated on the job will ultimately count for more.
Employees or job candidates with the right personal qualities may still command attention without an impressive string of letters behind their names.
This is because learning on the job - particularly in a people-orientated service position - remains as highly prized by some employers as the discipline and diligence required to continue postgraduate studies while in a full-time job.
Postgraduate studies are 'definitely useful', according to Wellcome's Diane Chiu, who has three degrees that have helped propel her to a post as marketing director of the regional retailer.