Why you should consider a career in the debt collection sector

Due to a company restructure following acquisition, I was unfortunate enough to be made redundant in late 2020. Four years on from graduating with a 2:1 degree in textile design, I had completed a CIM Level 4 Certificate in Professional Marketing and gained a few years’ experience in highly technical B2B marketing roles in both a global company and an SME. I should have felt confident to quickly find another job, but the economic impact of and uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic left me feeling incredibly vulnerable. Not only was I concerned about how I would develop my career from here; I also had to face the very real prospect that I may have to claim benefits and even get into debt for the first time in my life.

When I saw the role of Digital Marketing Executive at the Credit Services Association (CSA) being advertised, it appealed to me instantly because of both how niche and wide-ranging it was. When I started researching what the Association and wider debt industry was all about, I soon realised that it is both a specialist area of financial services, and a universal subject that touches everyone’s lives. I was excited to be able to bring both my technical B2B marketing knowledge and creative skills to such a rewarding and important role for a UK trade body based in my home region of North East England.

Before I applied for the role, I had a perception of what debt collection involved and who it impacted, but I had no idea about how heavily regulated the industry is today and how hard the companies who uphold the highest standards sometimes have to work against misconceptions about what they do and why. I also had never considered a career in the debt collection sector or thought of it as a field that could be so interesting and varied and offer so many career opportunities. Roles in debt collection firms range from frontline collectors who deal with vulnerable customers, to regulatory compliance experts and everything in between.

Having only worked at the CSA/in the sector for a few months, I have already learnt so much and have such a greater understanding of what an important role the industry plays in the economy, society, and people’s everyday lives. Debt collection is always going to be needed and those that can gain the skills to do it to the highest, most ethical standards will not only be able to forge a successful career for themselves but also make a real difference in a rewarding job.

A career in debt collection may not be top of most people’s wish list but, at a time when the need for these skills is growing, it is an area of huge potential for those that find themselves out of work in a recession. There are many transferable skills that can be brought from other sectors where jobs are currently scarce, such as hospitality, and the additional specific complex skills that are needed to work in the sector can be gained through the cutting-edge learning & development that training providers like the CSA offer from apprenticeships at a range of levels in Credit Control, Advanced Credit, Regulatory Compliance, Counter Fraud, and Debt Advice, to programmes like the Collector Accreditation Initiative (CAI). These offer employees of CSA member firms and wider organisations that require these skillsets, such as Local Authorities, government agencies, insurance firms, and banks, the opportunity to gain qualifications and training that will enable them to build a successful career pathway in professional services.

 Since there are so many people feeling like they don’t know where to turn when it comes to jobs, careers, and their personal finances, I hope my story shows that there are opportunities out there in the most unexpected places!

CSA Apprenticeships

Back to news