To certify or not to certify. That is the question many professional are asking. Most want to know if professional certifications are worth the time, energy and financial investment. After all, professional certifications come at a cost and are not for the faint of heart.
Today’s workforce has become more demanding and is comprised of knowledge workers. As such, professionals should continuously refine skills and increase knowledge in their chosen profession.
Global competition, emerging skill shortages, and changing demographics force professionals to look for ways to set themselves apart in the workforce. As a professional, your goal is to add value. To achieve this, you should continue honing your craft, sharpen skills, learn about the industry, technologies and processes that impact the bottom line and increase your professional worth.
According to iCertGlobal, we live in a highly competitive and technology-driven world. This requires that professionals give their best to prove their excellence and stand out in the crowd. “Professional certification helps to scale up and stay updated with the latest technology trending in the industry. Along with many job opportunities for candidates, Professional Certifications also helps employers to select the potential candidate.”
Source: https://www.icertglobal.com/top-10-highest-paying-certifications-to-target-in-2020/detail
The 10 top-paying IT related certifications to target in 2020 according to iCertGlobal include the following:
1. Certified Information Systems Security Professional® (CISSP)
2. AWS Certified Solutions Architect
3. Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect
4. Big Data Certification
5. Data Science Certification
6. Certified In Risk And Information Systems Control (CRISC)
7. Certified Information Security Manager(CISM)
8. Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification
9. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
10. Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
As a lifelong learner, I’m an advocate of personal and professional development and have reaped benefits from acquiring professional certifications. There are organizational benefits as well. This is most true with consulting companies. Highly trained and certified professionals increase client’s confidence in a firm’s ability to deliver results. This is a win-win situation for all.
In closing, there are many benefits to earning professional certifications in any field. When faced with the question to certify or not to certify, consider this short list of benefits:
- Increased earning potential
- Build professional credibility
- Gain competitive advantage
- Increase networking opportunities
- Expand knowledge and professional skills
- Demonstrate commitment to the profession
This is just a brief list for consideration. If your goal is to build professional credibility, earn more money, stand out in a competitive job market, and mature in your profession, pursuing a certification may be right for you.
I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this topic.
With gratitude,
