Yesterday, I posted about how to discover your ideal role in tech according to your experience. If you missed that, go back and read it.
Today’s blog is about: Certifications. Drumroll, please. 🥁
If you’ve been keeping up with LinkedIn lately, you’re probably aware of the heated debates surrounding certifications. Some champion them, while others question their worth. My aim for this episode isn’t to take sides.
I’m here to provide you with a valuable resource to help you assess whether certifications are a NEED for you, or if you already possess one, how to maximize its potential to enhance your job prospects.
But before we dive into that, let’s address the elephant in the room.
Job descriptions often pepper in phrases like “certifications needed” or “required knowledge in this.” It’s natural, as we read these descriptions, to perceive them as gaps in our qualifications. But what if you already have the skills required to excel in the role?
For instance, consider Program Managers, many of whom—myself included—might not possess a PMP certification but are well-versed in the job’s demands.
This conundrum underscores a crucial question: Where do we draw the line between necessity and a nice-to-have?
So let’s begin calling out some common misconceptions about certs:
- The notion that even for non-technical roles, you need a solid grasp of technology.
- The belief that pivoting into tech requires a certification as a MUST HAVE.
- The feeling of not possessing enough knowledge for the shift, rooted in a lack of experience.
I’m here to debunk these myths, preventing you from pursuing certifications out of a sense of inadequacy.
- You don’t necessarily need a technical background to excel in non-technical roles. I am a Program Manager without a PMP cert and I did just fine. I have helped many professionals do their transition into customer successs, program/project management WITHOUT a certification.
- It’s time to start seeing job descriptions as what they are: WISHLISTS not CHECKLISTS. Once you do that – you won’t believe when they say “must hold a cert in ______” – It’s just not true, they only want someone to be able to do the work and the reality is if your experience matches a role from step #1 – you probably don’t need more.
- Self rejection is a huge problem amongst us techies – and it’s the real reason people don’t break into tech. You might not think you have enough to make this happen BUT YOU DO!. Hopefully my story and these blogs can show you that.
Pause for a moment, and let those truths sink in.
Now, let’s explore when pursuing certifications might be worthwhile pursuing:
- If you have a genuine passion for learning and wish to enhance your tech-related knowledge—motivated by the sheer joy of learning rather than a sense of lack.
- When you’re prepared to construct your projects, effectively demonstrating your capabilities through tangible outcomes.
Bear in mind, a certification by itself won’t mesmerize employers. It might not even aid you in handling interview questions if you haven’t practically applied the knowledge.
During interviews, the focus is on your skills, not the certifications you hold. So, when considering certification, contemplate how you can tangibly employ that newfound knowledge.
And now if you already got some certs, here are three strategies to extract the utmost value from them:
All these ideas revolve around applying your knowledge. Once you’ve applied what you’ve learned, you can showcase it on your resume, building a more compelling case for yourself as a potential candidate.
- Develop a personal project that addresses a specific problem.
- Reach out to small businesses or nonprofits, offering your expertise.
- Create an initiative within your current job role. I personally embraced this approach, transitioning from a customer service role to spearheading report generation and presentation tasks. This journey led to acquiring new tools like SQL and Tableau and a notable addition to my resume.
Remember, growth happens beyond your comfort zone—embrace the challenge!
This is where the real difference is made.
CONLUSION:
For those contemplating certification acquisition: Evaluate whether a certification truly fills a gap in your skills, rather than perceiving it as a remedy for inadequacy.
If you already possess certifications but still face obstacles in securing jobs, focus on cultivating experience that aligns with your certifications. Choose a path and dedicate yourself to it.
I trust this episode has provided substantial insights, which you can readily apply. Remember, this piece is just one fragment of a larger puzzle.
Last time, we explored discovering your ideal role.
Today, we tackled certifications.
Next up: Crafting your impeccable resume!
Until next time!