Change management is a fast-growing field and the demand for individuals with change management certification is higher than ever before. Modern businesses need to be able to enact changes in a swift, smooth manner in order to stay relevant, and change management training provides you with the skills to successfully guide them through those changes.
A career in change management is exciting and fulfilling but finding the best path to get started can be a daunting task. We are going to show you several ways that you can prepare to enter into a change management career and why Ashton College’s continuing education courses are the best first step for you.
Project Management Experience
Change management and project management are not the exact same concept, but the two do share a lot of common features. Ultimately, change management is more concerned about how a project impacts different parties and ensuring that those impacts are made manageable and understandable by those affected, whereas project management is focused on the successful execution and completion of a project.
Having knowledge of project management will better prepare you for some of the changes you can expect in the workplace, and it can help you communicate with your project management colleagues. Having experience so closely related to your desired career path will help make the jump easier, and it will help your resume stand out to potential employers. If you’re not currently involved in a project management role, see if there’s a way you can take on some project management duties at work.
People Skills
Change management relies heavily on your ability to communicate and work with others. Individuals with change management certification guide organizations through change on the individual, organizational, and enterprise levels, and each level of change requires a unique set of interpersonal skills. Through the use of proper communication, change management ensures that workplace morale is high, even during stressful transitional periods.
Working on your people skills is a constant process, and even the best change management professionals are always looking for ways to improve on their skill set. The good news is there are plenty of ways to improve your communication skills both in your personal and professional life. Engaging others in conversation is the best way to work on your active listening and general conversational skills. Consider finding friends or colleagues you can engage in friendly debate or try watching videos or listening to podcasts that feature skilled public speakers. Listening to skilled communicators is one of the best ways to passively build up your skills.
Continuing Education Courses
One of the most effective routes for preparing yourself for a career in change management is to get relevant education. At Ashton College, we’re proud to be listed on the Association of Change management Professionals (ACMP) Qualified Education Providers (QEP) registry, which can be viewed here. Our Change Management Certification course is accredited by the ACMP and it fulfills their 21-hour training requirement for becoming a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP). Our change management training not only prepares you for success in a change management role by teaching you relevant knowledge and skills, but it also prepares you to earn your CCMP designation down the line to further advance your career. It is important to note that to become a CCMP through ACMP you will require a four-year degree (or international equivalent) and three years (4200 hours) of change management experience OR Secondary education (high school or international equivalent) and five years (7000 hours) of change management experience.
Moving Forward
The best part about preparing to enter a career in change management is that you can practice all of the above advice simultaneously. Our change management course is offered part-time through our Live Online format, which allows you to maintain your current job, and take the course from home in the evenings. You can continue to practice your people skills and gain relevant job experience while you study. Register for our upcoming Change Management Certification course before December 11, 2020 and pay the special registration fee of $900 (regular $995). Register now to get started on your change management certification and your new career path.
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