“Is certification important to your team?” I have always asked this question for as long as I have been a part of training sales, which has been a long time. There are many different reactions to this question. Some feel strongly of their importance, while others feel they are not necessary to do the job. But for those who are unsure, let’s define what professional certifications are and their benefits.
A professional certification, (usually just called certification), is a credential or designation earned by an individual to assure qualification to perform a task or job. This happens through a completion of a course or exam. With a certification, one can demonstrate that they are a trained professional in a specific field and hold important hard skills to potential employers.
Now that we have defined certifications, what are some of the benefit...
…For an employer?
- When you allow your employees to certify, it not only helps your business but shows your employees that you care about their professional career. Though some employers may worry that some will leave with their certifications, employees actually feel noticed and valued by you as their manager and by their company which increases employee loyalty.
- Having employees who are certified gives your clients greater confidence in your business. It shows that your business knows what it is doing and puts you at an advantage from your competitors.
- Certified employees are better prepared to deal with day-to-day challenges and can make greater use of advanced features.
…For an employee?
- Many employers are willing to offer higher pay to those with certifications. The reason for this is that certified employees usually don’t require as much on-the-job training as those without certification.
- Employees with certifications create more opportunities for advancement in their career.
- Employees who have or who desire to get certified, show their employers that they are proactive and committed.
There are so many certifications out there in the IT Professional space that it can be difficult to know which certifications are right for you as an employee or even as an employer. Look for the ones that have an industry-wide standard or directly from a specific IT vendor. As always, be sure to do your homework.
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The Ask a Training Expert blog is published monthly by members of the ServiceNow Training Solution Consulting team. For more information about ServiceNow Training and Certification, visit our website. Please comment on this article to see your question featured in upcoming blogs.
