Getting certification can be a major turning point in your career, whether you are just starting out, hoping to get a leg up on the next promotion, or you are hoping to cross over into a new career field after having worked in one expertise for an extended period of time. Sometimes, it can even be a requirement for a job position, especially those that demand highly technical skills from the employed individuals.
No matter where you work, there are certain reasons that apply for any job, anywhere, that show how getting a certification is an essential step in your career’s success. They can help you get promoted or just get the job you want, you just need to be sure to get the best certification for you.
Getting Ahead in Your Career
Certifications are more affordable and shorter in duration than a bachelor’s or even an associate’s degree, and are much more cost effective. In fact, they can be found in almost every field, and statistically improve your salary and average pay scale over employees who do not have a certification in the same job or field.
Whether you are in healthcare, finance, IT, or less commonly known certifications such as those for social services or construction, getting your certification does more than just help you complete your job in the best way possible. It indicates to your employers, and potential future employers, that as a career-driven person you are willing to learn and grow in your field of choice, a trait that is highly desirable in almost every industry.
Switching or Starting Your Career
Certifications are not only valuable to those individuals who know where they are going and what they want out of life. They can also be a major turning point of success for those who are either just starting out in their career, or looking for ways to switch their field over into a new field, without losing the breadth of experience nor starting back at square one.
While a few decades in the past, all you needed to get a job was a bachelor’s degree, today there much more a balance when choosing applicants between those with educational degrees and those with relevant and applicable certifications that guarantee they can do the work in their chosen field. It can give you a much-needed leg up on any job, ensuring you don’t start the position cold and without any knowledge of the field where you are going.
Tips for Getting Your Certification
First and foremost, the most important part of getting your certification is to ensure you get the right certification for your individual goals, both long and short term. In order to make sure this happens, first take the time to write out two lists, long term and short term goals, which you will later use to compare against every potential certification to make sure you are complying with what you want to get out of your career.
If you know your career is your intended field for the long haul, and you have yet to get any certifications, the best way to begin is to start with the beginner certifications and train up from there, getting increasingly specialized training that make you more and more of an asset to your company. This way, you are sure to easily comprehend the details of each training course, ensuring that you are both challenged and competent.
The general rule for getting certifications is that the more advanced a certification is, the more valuable it eventually will be to your career; however, the lower level certifications definitely shouldn’t be discounted. Lower level certifications both give you experience and knowledge about your intended career, and also are a necessary step in moving up towards the higher level certifications that will make a major difference in career opportunities and pay.
Certifications As the Next Career Step
No matter how you look at it, getting a certification in your career offers multiple benefits that directly affect your capabilities, salary, and even career opportunities.
