How Certifications Affect Job Marketability

What is certification worth? I spent a year researching this before creating my certification programs, and here’s what I found. 👁️🗨️ A Python certification isn’t very valuable, but Google’s Python certification is. The differences are the reputation and evaluation criteria. Google certifies people on its approach to Python development. It’s not enough just to call someone a Certified Python Developer or, in my case, a Certified AI Product Manager. I had to explain what they learned and why that made them capable of doing the job. My curriculum certifies people on my frameworks and approaches, and most certifications make a similar justification. 👁️🗨️ I talked with hiring managers to understand how certifications impact their perceptions of candidates. Two types of certifications make an impression: differentiators and prerequisites. A differentiator makes the holder stand out because few others have it, or it is superior to similar certs. A prerequisite doesn’t make the holder stand out, but not having it puts people at a disadvantage. 👁️🗨️ What makes a certification a differentiator? It’s all about credibility. That can come from a company, academic institution, or the instructor. The first two are simple, but the last one needs examples. Zach Wilson worked as a data engineer at 3 Big Tech companies and has solid social proof (he’s followed by over 300K people and called an expert by other experts). Rita McGrath is a business professor at Columbia and authored multiple best-selling books on business strategy and innovation. Joe Reis is a best-selling author and well-recognized speaker, ran a data consulting company for years (still does), and has strong social proof. 👁️🗨️ Will certifications get you a job? Not by themselves. Differentiator certifications can support promotions, a career transition, or getting called for an interview. It won’t be THE deciding factor for a job offer. What you’re certified on should make your answers to interview questions stand out. The frameworks and approaches taught will structure your answers like an experienced practitioner would. Let me know if this breakdown was helpful, and follow me here for more. #DataScience #DataEngineering #Analytics

Job seekers -- one of the best things you can do after a string of "no's", especially at the final stage: Lurk on LinkedIn and see who got the job, a few weeks after you received notice that the role was filled. This is not a perfect science, but if you see a pattern...this could help a lot with your framing of your existing experience or understanding what experience you may lack that could be hurting your chances. Example: You keep applying for Marketing Operations Manager roles, and keep doing well, but then are eliminated in the final stage. You lurk to see who got the job, and the folks who are landing the jobs all have Marketo certifications. You don't. This doesn't mean that the Marketo certification was the only variable here, but it is worth reflecting on your interview process to see if you remember any interviewers asking about Marketo experience or expressing concern over whether you have deep Marketo experience or not. On the contrary, if you lurk and the people who land the job have equivalent experience to you -- then that could mean that either 1) they had better networking connections at the company or 2) they had better framing of their experience/you might want to focus on interview skills instead of work skills. Not a perfect science, but free and underrated! #job #jobsearch #career #interviewprocess

Can a certification truly guarantee success, or is something more fundamental at play? The discussion highlights the paradox of the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. While it doesn't 'guarantee a job,' its absence can be a significant hurdle in the application process. In today's competitive landscape, resumes often face automated filters, making certifications like the PMP essential for initial consideration. The key takeaway: Seek both certification and knowledge. One without the other limits potential, but together, they enhance professional value. Would love to hear how others have navigated the certification landscape in their respective fields. #ProjectManagement #PMPCertification #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #ResumeTips #KnowledgeIsPower