Ben Franklin said it best in this quote: “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest”. Earning a certification is an investment in knowledge and certainly pays dividends. The preceding post started with a discussion of the values of earning a certification, including the fact that it indicates that one is skilled, knowledgeable and competent.  Here are ten additional reasons for you to become certified in your specialized discipline:

Certification:

  1. Shows you are committed to ongoing professional development and that you embrace a learning attitude.
  2. Proves you are an expert and brands you as the “go to” person for help and advice.
  3. Sets you apart from your competitors, or so meone doing the same type of work.
  4. Increases your confidence and boosts your self-esteem.
  5. Adds to your credibility. People begin to pay attention to what you do and what you have to say.
  6.  Gives you another qualification to add to your portfolio.
  7. Enhances your chances for partnerships and joint ventures, or if you are an employee, puts you ahead of the herd for internal career opportunities.
  8. Validates your skills and capabilities.
  9. Puts you in a position to raise your fees or demand what you are worth.
  10. Is an investment in your career, whether you are an employee or you are self-employed

Regardless of where you stand, the undisputable fact is that there are myriad of ways to upgrade one’s skills. Distance learning and virtual classrooms are becoming more mainstream, making it easier to learn from the comfort of your home and at your own pace. So are you ready? Get off the fence and jump on board. Certification certainly has its privileges, and earning yours may be easier than you think.

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Daisy Wright is a Certified Career Management Coach, Certified Resume Strategist, and author of No Canadian Experience, eh? As President of The Wright Career Solution and an International Career Strategist she offers high impact job search strategies to professionals who are serious about their careers. To learn more about what Daisy does, visit her website:  www.thewrightcareer.com or her blog at www.daisywright.com.