To Get Certified or Not Get Certified? That is the Question!

The world is changing faster than ever before and that means that we – the professionals of today – need to change with it. This is particularly the case for professionals involved one way or another in developing or delivering digital services – and let’s be honest, that’s most of us these days. The knowledge and competences needed to add value in yesterday’s market may not be relevant anymore for the challenges of tomorrow. So it is increasingly critical to keep our skills up to date and embrace the concept of lifelong learning.

So far so good. But what about certification? Is there a separate value in becoming certified as opposed to just following a training, or brushing up your skills by reading relevant books or other materials? There is extra effort and cost involved in getting certified. So why should you bother?

Three Reasons To Get Certified

A recent survey with more than 29,000 responses worldwide* revealed some very interesting insights about the value of (in this case IT) certification. EXIN recently created an infographic to summarise the statistics around the impact of certification.

Here are three reasons why you might want to think again next time you are faced with the choice: To Certify Or Not To Certify?

1. It makes you happier at work

Research has shown that certified professionals are both more confident and better performers in their work than their non-certified counterparts. This aligns with the findings of this most recent survey. More than a fifth of respondents reported that it helped improve the rating they received in their performance review, and more than a third found that they were able to perform complex tasks more confidently as a result of completing their certification. Improved performance at work, combined with the external authority and recognition which certification provides, leads to increased confidence. And this, in turn, makes you happier at work and more likely to go home with a smile on your face!

       2. It gives your career a massive boost

It’s one thing to say that you have certain knowledge and skills – and to hope everyone believes you – but it’s another to be able to prove it via an independent, globally recognized certification. Getting certified helps you profile yourself and provides direct career benefits. In fact, more than 30% of survey respondents reported that they got either a salary raise or a promotion as a result of obtaining the certification, and a whopping 65% said it had a positive impact on their professional reputation. But the value of certification goes even further than this. It shows that you recognize the need to keep your skills up-to-date in order to be future-ready and that you are committed to developing yourself continually throughout your career. And this makes you a valuable asset for any company in these fast-moving and competitive digital times.

        3. It’s more accessible than ever before

Whilst gaining certification has not become ‘easier’ – which is a good thing since anything too easy has limited value! – it has become much more accessible. There are so many options in terms of how you can prepare for certification, from classroom-based training to online learning, and even 100% self-study based on available study materials. And you can choose exactly where and how you take your certification, including the option to take an exam online anytime and anywhere that suits you. (Click to learn more about this).

To Certify Or Not To Certify? is a question that only you can answer! But next time you are confronted with the question, remember that putting in that little bit of extra effort to obtain certification may turn out to be the smartest professional decision you have ever made.

About Suzanne Galletly As Portfolio Director at EXIN, Suzanne is responsible for the development of EXIN’s certification portfolio, in line with market needs. Suzanne is certified in several progressive areas such as Agile Scrum, SIAM and VeriSM™, as well as in more traditional areas such as ITIL Expert, ISO 20000 Consultant, PRINCE2 Practitioner, and MoP Practitioner. Suzanne has 7 years’ experience in the IT service industry followed by more than 12 years’ experience of competence development in the IT certification industry.

About Suzanne Galletly

As Portfolio Director at EXIN, Suzanne is responsible for the development of EXIN’s certification portfolio, in line with market needs. Suzanne is certified in several progressive areas such as Agile Scrum, SIAM and VeriSM™, as well as in more traditional areas such as ITIL Expert, ISO 20000 Consultant, PRINCE2 Practitioner, and MoP Practitioner. Suzanne has 7 years’ experience in the IT service industry followed by more than 12 years’ experience of competence development in the IT certification industry.

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