Building confidence in credit

For those new to the B2B credit industry, earning one of NACM’s professional designations can be a big step. For Rachel Homer, credit assistant at Hajoca Corporation (Salt Lake City, UT), earning her Credit Business Associate designation helped her transition into the credit profession.  

“Prior to this, I had been in the health industry,” Homer said. “It is a very different industry. I never considered myself to be geared towards numbers, math, accounting, financial statements, etc., so to accomplish something so well and so different helped increase my confidence.” 

Big career changes pose their own challenges. Whether credit management feels like a slight redirection from your previous career path or a major leap, professional certification programs are there to prepare you for anything you might face in your credit career. Even credit managers who have been in the field for years can learn while earning a designation. 

“You’re never too old to keep learning,” Homer said. “As far as credit goes, I learned that there’s a lot to it and a lot I still have to keep growing in and learning.” 

For a lot of credit managers, earning a designation means taking classes for their first time in years. While this might be intimidating at first, it is a great opportunity to challenge yourself to learn more and go outside your comfort zone.  

“I have a four-year degree, but it has been a while since I have had to buckle down to the same intensity,” Homer said. “I would get nervous and stressed for my tests, but I also think that helped me study better. My successes were that I passed every class and test, and I developed an understanding of things I had no clue about prior to going for the designation.” 

Whether you’re looking to get acclimated to a new industry or are interested in expanding on your existing credit skills, earning a designation is an excellent way to challenge yourself and learn new things.  

“I enjoyed the challenge that it was to learn new things and the feeling of accomplishment when it was done,” Homer said. “I feel more confident in my job and in my abilities to continue moving forward in my career.” 

✏️Study Tip: “To keep from getting overwhelmed I would walk away from it for a while, decompress and start fresh the next day,” Homer said. “Prior to tests, I would review the material, make sure I had the tools I needed, and I would make sure to eat food that would help me be able to concentrate.”