We live in a time when profession pathways are the career norm rather than the exception. In any profession, there are times when the day-to-day can become mundane. That’s often the time you’ll begin to search for new challenges and greater intrinsic rewards. The ideal is to use your current qualifications as a springboard into a new role.
Consider migrating your current skill set into the booming global growth sector of Total Quality Management, where your existing qualifications and experience could provide you with the background you need to have a successful career in Quality Auditing.
Total Quality Management
“A system of management based on the principle that every member of staff must be committed to maintaining high standards of work in every aspect of a company’s operations.”
What Does a Quality Auditor do?
Much of what you’ll be doing is winning the hearts and minds of every person at every level of an organisation.
You’ll be challenged every day because you’ll be meeting with many people, finding out what they do, and how they do it. Seeing each team member become empowered to speak up and contribute to the development of processes that lead to zero errors and customer satisfaction will be enormously fulfilling.
You’ll participate in regular – often daily – audits of processes and compliance with ISO. You’ll be involved in process mapping and improvement methodologies, and you’ll be writing complex audit reports.
Quality Auditing is very much a team process and no two days will ever be the same.
General Qualities you’ll need to succeed
Based on Quality Auditor job postings, employers are on the lookout for candidates with these core skills:
- Proven skills in problem-solving, negotiating, successfully resolving issues through constructive communication, and ability to establish and maintain good working relationships at all levels
- Eye for detail, analytical, self-motivated and high level of emotional intelligence
- Soft skills of being persuasive and effective in articulating and fostering change
Six Professional Pathways Available Now
Accountants
With an increased need for greater transparency in both the Banking and Finance industries and the Australian Taxation Office, there has been a significant rise in the demand for qualified accountants with suitable quality qualifications for internal Quality Auditor roles.
Health Care Professionals
Many opportunities are available in the Aged Care Sector with the increase in community scrutiny of the levels of care. Both internal and external auditors are required. Hospitals, medical centres, pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment suppliers are all areas to explore.
Defence Personnel
Defence related industries are required to meet ISO 9000 standards to gain tenders. Defence contracting and Aerospace are both growth sectors, and multinational companies are expected to employ a large quota of local talent. If you are currently a Defence member, you will know that standards, system and procedures are fundamental to all operations, which means you are well placed to move seamlessly into a Quality Auditor role.
Occupational Health and Safety and Risk Assessment Professionals
You are already skilled at performing audits, writing reports, modifying environments and procedures. Where else could you go with your career if you were to take these skills into Quality Auditing? Would your career be more fulfilling if you were helping to shape corporate cultures where every member of the team matters?
Education Professionals
Higher Education in Australia is governed by strict standards, mostly to ensure low attrition rates and so graduates are well prepared for jobs. Robust internal assessments are required, and there is increasing demand for Quality Auditors in this sector.
Project Management Professionals
There is a growing call for projects to be subject to both Quality Assurance to ensure the project is conforming to the expectations of stakeholders, and Quality Testing, which is focused on system inspection and finding errors and implementing corrections. Quality Auditors with project management qualifications are highly sought.
Ways to increase your resume and marketability:
- Earn an online Diploma in Quality Auditing (BSB51615) from a well-respected provider
- Volunteer in a company audit process as an observer
- Attend company meetings where quality discussions and decisions are key
- Become involved with team processes across all aspects of the company
- Where possible, ask clients and suppliers about their quality processes
Once you have gained enough experience as a Quality Auditor, you’ll find that applying your skills will allow you to transition to multiple business sectors both locally and globally. Emerging economies report a large Quality talent gap and favour recruiting talent from Australia. Consider using your current profession to your advantage and take the logical career pathway into Quality Auditing.