This is a repost of a question I had previously submitted but I believe the “Resumes” category is a more appropriate forum for my question.

Hello all,

- I need a little career advice here. I am a Senior Chief in the Navy and due to retire from active duty in about 18 months. I have 8 classes left to obtain my bachelor’s degree in Technical Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. If I stay at my present pace, I will finish this degree in Dec. of this year.
- With about one year left in the Navy after I finish my undergraduate degree, I will not have the time to finish a MBA program before I retire. I would have time to finish the Certified Manager's course through the Institute of Certified Professional Managers which takes about 9 months to complete.
- Here is my question: Which is more valuable in the job market and on my resume: a MBA still in progress or a completed certification as a Professional manager? I still plan to complete an MBA through St. Leo University regardless, but I need to know which one will give the most immediate bang for my buck.

As a side note - I am currently 38 years old (I did not want to leave you with the impression I am a member of the "Grey Brigade" simply because I am retiring from the Navy).

Thanks in advance.

Paul Reynolds

Hello Senior

What are you planning to apply for once you are out? My husband received his MBA through St. Leo (and also retired at 38 - but is gray!) but it was needed for the position he wanted through a federal contractor.

Forgive my ignorance, but I have worked in small business for most of my years, but what exactly is a Professional Manager certification?

EMLAND,

Here is the info on Profressional Manager Certification through ICPM.

The Institute of Certified Professional Managers (ICPM) is the world's largest certifying organization for the management profession. ICPM is a non-profit, educational institute and business center of the College of Business at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Its mission is to raise competency and professionalism in the field of management by training and certifying managers and facilitating professional development.
Here is the link to their website: The Certified Manager Program (http://www.icpm.biz)

I would think that being a Sr. Chief would be all the certification you need to demonstrate you have management qualifications. I worked for a large corporation for only a few months before realizing that it wasn't my place in the world, same with the Federal gov't, too. In small business, the MBA is going to be more useful than the certification.

I would love to hear what people working in corporate HR departments think of ICPM.

I've been in senior management in small companies and worked in a large corporation for several years before that. My answer is, "it depends." Getting into a management role is dependent on several factors, from the expectations of the hiring manager, to the quality of your resume, to the specific job requirements, to how you come across in an interview, etc.

You might want to do some research into careers of interest, including speaking to people working in those fields, and begin to get a sense of what may be a better educational path. My own hiring experience is that the education you have is important but should be secondary to what you can do, in a very practical sense, for your new organization. I hired someone about 5 years ago who "only" held an associate degree but she has outperformed MBA grads because her skills, motivation and accomplishments make her invaluable.

There are tons of good career articles on the internet. I especially like the one below. Note the skills they list - I would suggest you make sure they "pop" on your resume, regardless of which management education you choose to earn.

MSN Careers - You Can Get a Job With Any Major - Career Advice Article (http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=335&SiteId=cbmsnhp4335&sc_extcmp=JS_335_home1&GT1=10072&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=7db57f6a915247b2a3d163eac5fea7d3-234008976-KC-5)

Hope that helps in some way, and good luck!