Ahh, qualifications.
In my experience, they can expire a damn sight quicker than your life.
1) Ex Royal Navy marine engineer with a fistful of qualifications, including the authority to, ‘Take charge of one (steaming) Unit - i.e. Boiler Room and Engine Room - of a RN Warship, plus its ancillary equipment.’ That’s totally useless now because there are no steam powered ships left in the RN. My HNC engineering qualification that I gained at the end of a 4 year apprenticeship is now long out of date as well!
2) Ex Sales and Marketing Area Manager for a UK based international drinks company, with professional qualifications in man management. Again, not a lot of use as the company went bust in a big way, one year after I took redundancy, although not because of my man management techniques!
3) Ex English Literature secondary school teacher at an International boarding school. Yes, my degree is still relevant, although all of the additional ‘professional‘ qualifications probably account for nothing.
4) I’m now absolutely happy doing the square root of sweet FA, although I’ve just qualified as a ‘Skipper’ in a voluntary capacity, and am now licensed to take command of a fee paying inland boat with up to 12 passengers, plus crew. I ply my trade on one of the major canals in the UK as and when the fancy takes me. I’m also more than content with watching the scenery slide past at a very leisurely 3mph or 2.6 knots.
Hopefully, I’ll expire before this qualification will!
