Can You Afford to Not Be Certified? Global Knowledge

This is the time of the year when we make resolutions to improve on what has gone wrong in the past. It’s a great time to look back on your career, the things you’ve done, where you want it to go, and how certification fits in with your goals. I am a VMware Certified Instructor. Every time I teach, I get asked questions about certification. IT certifications are always a controversial topic. The question is always “Why should you become certified?”
It is important to think about how others perceive certifications. Some people believe certifications don’t accurately reflect a person’s knowledge of a product or technology.
Some certification exams are more focused on fact-based knowledge than practical, hands-on experience. In some cases, the exams can be passed without any real-world experience. If one is willing to work hard enough, anyone can cheat or “game the system”.
One possibility is that certifications are eventually devalued by those who are “paper certs” and “game” the system.
On the other end of the argument spectrum one could argue that some people put too much importance on certifications. Some IT managers believe that certifications are the only way to determine if an IT professional is qualified.
The truth lies somewhere between these two mentalities. The short answer to this question is yes, IT certifications can be very valuable if they are in a niche you are interested in.
When I weigh the pros and cons of what to do, I prefer hard facts. CompTIA’s recent survey provides some insight into the value of certification.
*96% of HR managers use IT certificates during screening or hiring criteria. IT certifications are a requirement for certain job roles in 72 percent of employers. * 66% of employers consider IT certifications valuable. 65 percent of employers use IT certificates to distinguish between candidates who are equally qualified. 60% of employers use IT certifications to verify a job candidate’s subject knowledge or expertise.
These statistics make it difficult to doubt the validity of certifications. These statistics are a valuable addition for your resume.
Certification shows a commitment and demonstrates that you have at least a basic level of technical knowledge about the product or technology. This certification is very valuable if you are looking for a new job or want to advance in your current position.
IT professionals are not always skilled in focusing on their own career advancement. It’s not uncommon for us to get caught up in the excitement of new-and perhaps career irrelevant-technology and “geek out,” which is an essential and fun part of our field.
It is important to focus on your career. This requires active participation. Sometimes I get too involved in work that I forget about certifications. As an independent consultant, I don’t have the time or resources to spend studying and preparing for certification exams. When I became an independent consultant, I had to change my mindset about certification. I now see certification exams as a regular career maintenance. IT professionals need to plan and take time from their normal work to do routine maintenance. This should look very similar to traditional scheduled maintenance. The idea is that your career will run more smoothly if you have access to new functionality frequently.
Technology is constantly evolving at an ever-increasing rate, which is obvious. This is probably the most difficult aspect of career development. Keeping up with the