Certifications Drive Career Development

Apr 8, 2024 | Career Advice, Professional Development

For any professional, career development is the key to unlocking further opportunities and finding success in their respective industries. Career development also fosters a self of progress and improvement of one’s professional and personal self. Obtaining a certification can significantly drive career development in several ways as they serve as tangible proof of expertise of a specific set of skills in a particular technology and/or specialized field.

This blog post serves as a guide in understanding how certifications drive career development, for who, and for what reasons. It can serve as a valuable resource for those interested in earning a certification, but are stuck on the benefits and investment of this kind of education. For those interested in learning the difference between earning a certification and a college degree, check out this other post on our blog: Certificate Programs vs. College Degrees.

Career Development through Validation of Skills

Serving as tangible proof of expertise, certifications are a way to validate knowledge and demonstrate a commitment to professional development and overall career advancement. Those who commit the time and effort it takes to learn a new skill or upskilling one to perform better in their career are those who often catch the eye of future employers and their hiring managers. Enhancing credibility through earning a certification can also…

Provide Networking Opportunities: Many certification programs offer opportunities to connect with other like-minded professionals in your industry through online forums, workshops, and alumni events. Building a network of those who are in similar professional trajectories and positions as you can be helpful in providing valuable insights to potential job leads and offer mentorship in the search for further career development and advancement opportunities. New to the world of digital networking? Check out this resource: Networking in the Digital Age.

Leverage your Adaptability and Relevance: All industries, but especially the tech industry, evolves rapidly and often so fast we can barely keep up with all of the advancements. Earning certifications demonstrate a commitment to staying up-to-date with industry developments, especially if you’ve been in a specific industry for a long time and haven’t freshened up any of your skill sets. Ensuring your skills remain relevant and adaptable in a constantly changing job market is crucial for developing your career to the next level.

Take it from Carrie, an alumni from our certification programs from almost 10 years ago. She says that without the skills learned through our programs, her career wouldn’t have developed in the way that it did. Watch our interview with her here: Alumni Success Story Series with Carrie Brennan or read it here: Marketing Skills to Last a Lifetime – One Student’s Success.

Enhance Current Skills with New Ones: Improved performance in current and future roles should be a priority of every professional and earning a certification deepens understanding of particular technologies and methodologies. The two go hand in hand with one another when it comes to enhancing current skills to stay relevant to the ever evolving changes that happen to a range of skill sets, especially as many industries evolved more fundamentally with technology and digital literacy/skills. Earning a tech certification can be what enhances how a professional gets their job done in the most effective and efficient way, both for themselves and their employer.

The graphic design certificate taught me the nuts and bolts that were missing from my theoretical fine arts degree. I’ve been in marketing for eight years now, and the first job that I got was with the assistance of the certificates and skills learned from Digital Workshop Center. I definitely would do it again because I would not be where I am if I hadn’t been able to open those initial doors.

Carrie Brennan

Commercialization Analyst & Business Support

Validated Skills Drive Career Advancement

Earning and holding certifications can open doors to higher-level positions or specialized roles within your field, advancing current professional endeavors or help you break into new ones. While career development is a priority, most professionals develop to achieve career advancement in their current fields and/or new ones. Certifications enable those who still have to hold a job and have commitments to family and personal responsibilities the chance to develop their careers for those advancements. Those who have earned certifications found that over time, they had…

Increases in Job Prospects & Opportunities: There are some employers who prioritize candidates with relevant certifications when considering filling vacant roles, and “often provide opportunities for career growth, higher salaries, and promotions to those who hold relevant certifications,” according to a recent LinkedIn article posted in the Navigating Your Career Journey Newsletter: The Role of Professional Certifications in Career Growth. Earning a certification (or two) can make you more of an attractive candidate and increase your chances of landing those positions that might be just out of reach with your current skill set.

Salary Bump Potential: Certified professionals often earn higher salaries compared to those who have no certifications, according to a FortuneRecommends article: Experts say that earning relevant certifications can boost your salary by as much as 20%. Here’s how you can boost your own pay. Employers and hiring managers may also be more willing to offer higher compensation to those who are certified in relevant skill sets that are in demand because as mentioned before, certifications are a way to showcase expertise and a commitment to keeping skills relevant and up-to-date.

The journey of career development helps professionals prepare and pursue growth in current and future roles. As outlined in this post, certifications stand as validating proof to an individual’s commitment to continuous learning and skill development. By earning certifications, professionals not only validate expertise but open doors to a myriad of opportunities including networking, mentorship, and job prospects that might have always seemed to be a bit out of reach. Through the testimonials of professionals like Carrie Brennan, it’s evident that certifications like ours have the power to transform careers, enabling professionals to enhance existing skills and acquire new ones essential for success in today and tomorrow’s dynamic job market.

For those seeking to embark on a journey of career development and advancement, we offer comprehensive certification programs tailored to meet and keep up with industry demands. By becoming a part of our community, you gain access to a wealth of resources including career coaching, networking opportunities, and the support needed to thrive in your chosen field. We invite you to explore the benefits of becoming a DWC student by delving into the success stories of our awesome alumni, and take the first step towards realizing your career aspirations by registering for an informational session to learn more about our programs. We can’t wait to meet you and help you develop your career forward!

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