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Why Certify? |
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Note: All the figures in this article are taken from the survey conducted by CertMag Certification Magazine.
Whether it is the boom time of late 90's or the downturn after the dot-com bust, IT certification has been an area of constant growth. In recent times due to the slow down in the IT industry more and more people are losing their jobs. The requirement for skills has gone up and to stay above water in such a competitive environment, greater number of people are putting efforts towards certification. According to MCP Magazine's annual survey, following are some of the reasons why people are taking certification so seriously:
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Skills and Knowledge! |
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The most important benefit of certification is that the process of certification increases your skills and your knowledge to a great extent. Majority (65%) of the certificants feel that technical certification has made them more confident about their jobs and the work they perform. More than half (52%) feel that technical certification has improved their problem-solving skills on the job, and half of them feel that their technical certifications have increased their overall job productivity. |
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Job security! |
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More than three-fourth (79%) of the certificants planned to pursue additional certifications in the coming year. So, despite the IT market slump, lost jobs and cut wages, a vast majority of IT professionals will seek additional certifications throughout 2003. And the key word is "additional" - for the typical certificant already had nearly four technical certifications and had been attaining a new certification every year.
In the face of this down market, why are certificants seeking additional technical certifications? It is best expressed in two words: job security . In the boom times, one constantly reviews the rate of growth in salary as a key personal-success measurement. However, in the down times, job security is paramount. While the return on investment (ROI) one receives from a technical certification in terms of salary increases is always important, the role of the certification in keeping one's job becomes the crux issue in these down times.
More than half (59%) of the certificants said that they feel more secure in their current job due to their certifications. And more than two-third (69%) feel that technical certifications play at least some role in their job security. |
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Money! |
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31% of the certificants received a job promotion within the first year after receiving their primary technical certification. One can argue whether a technical certification played a major role in receiving such promotions, yet 92% of the certificants who did receive promotions feel that their primary certification played a significant role in that promotion.
Nearly half (43%) of the certificants surveyed received a salary raise within the first year of receiving their primary certification. 80% of certificants feel that their raise was significantly due to their certification. The average certificant who did receive a raise within the first year of earning a primary certification realized a healthy 19% increase. The average certificant realized a 7% raise within the first year of receiving a primary certification. The average certification generated a $3,487 increase in salary.
Another economic factor for certificants to consider is ROI. ROI from certification is integrally tied to the cost of the certification. In 2002, the average technical certification cost $1,100 and generated a $3,487 increase in salary. That is, the average certification provides a 3.2-to-1 ROI. That is, for every dollar invested in a certification, the certificant realizes a $3.2 return in the form of a pay raise.
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Respect! |
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Another most important non-economic aspects of certification includes on-the-job respect. 58% of the certificants surveyed feel that they get more respect from managers and colleagues due to their technical certifications. |
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Career opportunities! |
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Despite of the IT downturn, and relative job scarcity, certificants jumped companies upon receiving their certifications. 16% (lowest till now) of the certificants jumped companies within six months of receiving their primary certification. |
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Entry! |
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Whether you're new to the IT industry or a seasoned professional, IT certification makes you more marketable and gives you the credentials to land your dream job. It's extremely difficult these days to enter your field of work if you don't have the relevant degree in the new field you want to go into. It is a catch-22 problem " you can't get the job if you don't have the experience and you can't get the experience if you don't have a job " . Certification is one of the most powerful ways to break this cycle and get an entry into the field of your choice. An ever increasing number of people are using certification as a tool for solving the problem of getting an entry in their desired fields. |
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