Professional Certifications: Why?

A certification of professionalism accredits a person's professional knowledge, as its name suggests. That is, that person who holds a professional certificate degree will be accredited by the state, community, or county where they reside, to perform a series of competencies and specific qualifications of some sector of their profession. In conclusion, a professional certificate is an official way to recognize that we know how to perform a specific job with extensive guarantees.

In this article, we will proceed to present the top 10 benefits of earning professional certification, and why it is so important to acquire one for your career development process and the achievement of higher and better professional milestones. Also, we will include some reasons why it is also beneficial for employers to have certified employees. Keep reading!

Top 10 Benefits of Getting Professional Certification

For the Employee 

1. Upgrades qualification 

The first reason and benefit why certification is so important for professionals is that the possession of a professional certificate facilitates recruitment as it assures companies that candidates are prepared to perform the necessary skills for the position offered. The training to obtain a certificate of professionalism follows a program strictly designed for the subsequent development of that profession and therefore, effectively teaches the keys to how to perform at their jobs, which is better in many cases than a university career or professional training, which have complementary training that probably will not be developed at the time of the employment.
 

2. Improves personal development

Obtaining professional certification improves professional development and personal development since they provide security to the employee, making them a more competitive and differentiated candidate than the rest. Having this new knowledge will make you feel that you are more capable than others that could possibly compete professionally with you, which will also make you more confident about your capabilities and personal aptitudes.
 

3. Raises possibilities of employment 

The reason why a professional certification might be incredibly beneficial for anyone in their career is that it automatically improves the chances of being employed. In many professional fields, workers carry out their jobs without prior training or a qualification that supports their knowledge, having started their professional career in a self-taught way or as apprentices. This situation causes that when they enter a situation of unemployment or want to change companies, they cannot prove their professional knowledge to a new company or any type of entity. Training in a certificate of professionalism allows you to have a guarantee that endorses your knowledge, which assures greater employability, and in many cases having important knowledge of the profession they have been performing.

The stats below show how important certifications are for employers of the IT sector when hiring people for positions. The same happens in the majority of markets, too, even more so in the modern ones where technology has a bigger role.

4. Allow you to validate your studies

Those who get the best positions are the people who continue to study and train constantly. Continuing your education after getting your main degree is an important part of professional life. Another one of the great advantages of professional certifications is that they will always allow you to continue developing. These certifications are usually equivalent to the first year of studies of a three-year career. Then, you have the possibility to continue with your professional training and complete the full extension of a technical career.
 

5. Quality of knowledge 

Another advantage of having a certification is that it gives you an important part of the technical knowledge of a professional sphere. You cannot expect to join a field without having the knowledge of that specialty. These could open the doors of the particular field to you easily.

On the other hand, the studies inherent in certification will not only allow you to acquire new skills and techniques associated with your field of specialty but also give you transferable competencies. Many of these are basic and are acquired through constant training such as discipline, communication, and teamwork.

For the employer
 

1. Improves client satisfaction 

The majority of professional certifications teach customer satisfaction as the main focus of the business strategy. This is one of the main benefits of it. In this way, they cease teaching employees to have a focus on the product/service and orient it on the customer. The reason for this different approach is that in order to satisfy the customer and in turn be the best possible organization, it is necessary that employees know them deeply, what motivates them, what their expectations are, their lifestyles, their behavior, their opinions, etc. With this information, you will manage to understand your client and it is way easier to achieve their satisfaction. That is why certifications usually address 5 elements that are basic to create value in your clients: quality, relationship, performance, price, and benefits. 
 

2. Improves the brand image and conquest of new business in new markets

Another benefit that your employee’s professional certifications will bring to your business is that they will improve the image of your brand. It will be reflected in the management of quality, the environment, information security, or safety and health at work, among other factors. It will also show that your organization cares about the way it is perceived by its customers, suppliers, and the overall community in which it operates. 

This also shows that your organization is open to new business opportunities and alliances in different and new markets. Employers will be able to expand your business, even enabling you to play on the same court as the big players of the game, where an important asset is having certified employees, as it assures them that your organization has the level they need in order to work with you.
 

3. Enables you to save on resources to invest in the development

In the short term, the benefits of professional certifications of your employees will translate into great improvements in the organization's internal processes. Eventually, this will reduce rework and waste operations, as well as it will increase product quality and compliance. Because of this, you will be able to save money on these operations, which will be now available to invest in the development of new and better products, in the training of personnel, in reforms and updates of facilities and equipment, or in the acquisition of new technologies. In the long term, it is logical that there is an increase in the turnover of your organization since customers become loyal and the credibility in your products or services provided will determine the arrival of new business partners.

Conclusion

Having a certification ensures the quality of your service, which will make you extremely useful and beneficial for any type of organization that you will work with, whether for profit or not. Not only will you be more efficient, prepared, and better organized, but you will also acquire the tools to react more quickly to changes and demands that your specific professional area demands. Remember that finding the right certification for your field and both professional and personal goals is a must in this process, but once you do, it will all be a positive learning experience.

As for the employer, regardless of the organizational model, if the goal is to create goods or perform activities that are of value to customers, managing quality is important, and one of the ways to ensure this quality and attract more customers is by having well-prepared employees, which will be the exact product of them having professional certifications. On the other hand, if you are going to start financing rounds, look for foreign investors or partners or intend some kind of international expansion, the profiles of your well-trained employees are one of the best waysto gain trust and credibility. The necessary requirements in the certification process are known all over the world and represent a guarantee without borders.