This is perhaps the first question on the mind of every forward looking and upwardly mobile professionals.
While it is advisable to be professionally certified, it is
equally wise not to get lost in the race of piling up certifications and titles
without regards for relevance or fit for purpose.
What is Professional Certification?
Professional Certification is a designation or title earned
by an individual to guarantee expertise or ‘technical know-how’ on a particular
job or discipline. In actual fact, some recruiters and hiring managers believe
that the certificate holder has the required knowledge, competence and skills
to perform the job or task [based on generally acceptable standards].
Almost every profession, field or occupation has numerous
and conflicting certifications from both local and international certification
bodies or authorities. The main concern is now on importance and relevance of
these certifications.
Do you have to sign up for certifications, tactlessly?? How
do you identify relevant professional certifications??
In this article, we will discuss two sets of workers in
relation to professional certification status.
- Workers
with Professional Certifications.
- Workers
without Professional Certifications.
WORKERS WITH PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Let’s classify the certifications into 3 distinct groups
based on what motivates the workers to acquire the Certification.
- Status-Driven
Certification
- Position-Specific
Certification
- Future-Bound
Certification
Status-Driven Certification: This is a
certification a worker acquires based on an impulse or based on general
perception of colleagues or peers. This type of worker may not have a
well-defined career path yet, the need to join the league of professionals with
titles behind their names supersedes the relevance of the certificate to his
immediate or future aspirations.
Position-Specific Certification: This is a
certification that is acquired because of the demand of the job. Some workers
in this group found themselves in an industry or job that is
certification-driven and hence, there is need to get relevant certificates.
While other types of workers in this category are those who
have identified their career path or interest and are acquiring relevant
certifications to gain more knowledge, expertise and career advancement in
their chosen fields.
Future-Bound Certification: This is the type
of certification a worker acquires in anticipation of a future career switch or
career transition.
The Certification may not have any connection with current
role or job responsibilities but the holder is preparing and positioning
himself for future opportunities.
If accidentally you have certifications in unrelated fields;
here is what you can do;
During job application process (on your Cover
Letter/CV/Résumé/LinkedIn), only highlight the certifications that are relevant
to the industry or the job you are applying for.
2. WORKERS WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Nothing justifies a worker/entrepreneur/business owner
with many years of experience without a relevant professional
certification. It is still a mystery how such people remain relevant and
competitive in the face of ever-challenging and ever-evolving business
environments.
Here are justifications for acquiring
relevant certifications;
- To
uphold industry standards and professional ethics.
- To
be more valuable to employers (or clients as a business owner)
- To
have a competitive edge over non-certified peers.
- For
promotion opportunities at work.
- For
better job opportunities and career advancements.
- To
earn higher salary and benefits.
Professional certification does come with a cost; therefore,
every aspiring holder should conduct a comprehensive research on industry
acceptability, cost implications, exam logistics and other requirements of the
desired certification programme.
HOW DO YOU DETERMINE RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION?
- Check
job descriptions or job requirements of roles you are interested in. Look
out for required certifications.
- Join
professional groups or associations relevant to your career interest. Pay
attention to discussions on industry expectations and requirements.
- Check
profiles of experts with similar career aspirations. Compare profiles and
identify knowledge or certification gaps.
Sources to check: LinkedIn, Job Boards, Company Pages,
Personal websites of experienced professionals in your field.
GENERAL PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
There are few professional certifications that are
acceptable and applicable across all industries, fields and professions.
Examples include but not limited to;
- PMP–
Project Management Professional. Required by any organization that wants
to initiate, plan, monitor and execute projects successfully.
- Six
Sigma Green Belt– This certification is required in any organization
that wants to improve quality and processes.
- ISO – International
Organization for Standardization- ISO 27001 Lead Auditor or Lead
Implementer- required by organization that wants to protect data from
comprehensive range of threats.
Certificate holders need not worry about relevance to job,
these certifications are widely accepted across different sectors and regions.
Conclusion;
➦ To young graduates; the
highest priority should be getting a job and accumulating significant number of
years of work experience before signing up for relevant professional
certifications.
Most times professional certifications cannot replace number
of years of work experience.
➦ To professionals,
Certification is a process and not a destination, it should therefore not be
the ultimate achievement a professional should focus on. Every professional
should endeavour to perform beyond expectations within the ethical standards of
his profession.
➦ Professional Certification is
a tool used to enhance relevant skills and knowledge for a specific career
path, it does not always guarantee a job or higher pay but it does demonstrate
willingness to learn and readiness to embrace industry best practices on the
part of the holder.
And…….
YES, that professional certification is
necessary if it is relevant to your career interests.
NO, that professional certification is not necessary
if it has no relationship or correlation with your present or future career
interests.