Why Certifications Are Important

Why Certifications Are Important

Certifications are definitely important for your career mobility and growth as they document that you have “certified” knowledge in your area of certification and have passed the requirements needed to perform a certain role.  Credentials and certificates from recognized institutes or organizations serve to improve your knowledge, document your skills and expertise, and bolster your qualifications.  They highlight that you meet the standards for the certifying agencies.  Some examples of recognized certifications that you may be familiar with are PE (engineering), PMI (project management), CPA (finance) and APICS (supply chain).  They add credibility to your education profile and help you to stand out in competition with your peers in the job search.

When you supplement your skills and education with certifications for your field and career choice, you ensure potential hiring managers and internal company leaders that you are trained in and aware of the standards in your field.  This education will help you to foresee and prevent issues and help you to track and deal with them as they arise.  They will also will help hiring managers as a measure to reduce their risk when making the decision to add you or someone else to their team. 

Certifications from recognized agencies are important as they will help you to stand out amongst your peers, they will help improve your potential for career growth and to obtain that key role or promotion when the opportunity arises.  Make sure that any licenses or credentials that you have obtained are displayed prominently on your resume.  Include the certifying agency and the date you obtained the certification.   Typically, your certifications will be listed in the “Education” section after any college degrees or technical school training labeled “Education and Certifications”.  Additionally, it is appropriate to show certifications in the “Primary Skills” section of your resume’.