Business author Peter Drucker believed knowledge workers, which most of us are, must go to school every 3-4 years. Skills change slowly, while knowledge becomes obsolete very rapidly. You can become obsolete if you do not pursue new learning with regularity.
Your personal reinvention can be obtained through training, education or certification. Training refers to an act of instilling skills through determined instruction. Education provides theoretical knowledge. Either may be obtained on your own or in a classroom or institution. Certification must be conferred by a certifying organization.
Certification is a method to prove to the world your mastery of a body of knowledge. The certifying body assures the certified individual has the qualification necessary to perform a job or task.
Interestingly, there is significant variety in certification. Some certifications follow hot new technologies and trends. Others have become standards in the workplace. A sure-fire way to stimulate your career is to obtain certification, making you marketable within a workforce sector. Understanding how to focus on the right certification to improve your strengths will provide dramatic professional growth. To that end, let’s look at a few certification types.
Entry-Level Certifications
If you lack education, certification can become a great equalizer when seeking a new career. When transitioning from military, entry level certifications allow examination with little experience. They are usually generalized across multiple career fields and their cost is reasonable. Entry level exams cover terminology, basic knowledge, and certify the ability to understand concepts learned.
Within Information Technology (IT), crossing multiple career fields is a great way to start. Broad-based certifications will pay dividends by enabling you to compete for multiple entry level IT positions and by providing better personal return on investment (ROI). Some certifying organizations such as CompTIA®, specialize in providing credentials for boosting the initial performance of IT professionals across multiple IT fields. As referenced in The Transitioning Military IT Professional, entry level certifications are designed to assist those entering the field by providing quality certifications that are recognized by hiring officials and employers. In addition to being commonly recognized in commercial industry, many CompTIA exams meet Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 8570.01-M requirements, essential if you desire to work in IT as a defense contracting.
Advanced Certification
Advanced and more specific certifications are essential as you mature and grow within your career field. Why? Regardless of your stated knowledge, nearly all managers regard certifications as an effective measurement to judge your worth. Therefore, they look for the appropriate certification on resumes. Many hiring managers believe certification distinguishes a dedicated individual and ensures the right person is on the job. Further, many believe a quality work culture is created by hiring certified candidates; which makes the organization more competitive to the customers. Therefore, as you transition from the military, it is in your best interest to certify early and remain current in your chosen field.
Typically, advanced certifications are higher in cost and might require another certification as a prerequisite. Many advanced certifications are experience based, meaning that you will have to demonstrate ‘seat time’ before you can even apply. You will need to prove comprehension, application, and analysis on these exams, as many will present scenarios that will test your experience.
Management Certifications
If you are seeking a management track, get project or program management certified. The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers many certifications. There are over 750,000 active Project Management Professional (PMP) certified managers world-wide. If the job announcement requires or desires the PMP, The Transitioning Military Project Manager suggests your job search will be challenging, if you are not certified. Additionally, if you are planning on obtaining the PMP, do it before March of 2018, as the exam is going to change to correspond with the release of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide, 6th Edition.
Professional Certifications
There are specific career field certifications, such as the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) for Human Resource Specialists. Many other career fields offer certification as well, such as the Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), offered from the National Contract Management Association (NCMA). If you are still on active duty, the book The Transitioning Combat Arms Professional suggests obtaining Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification from the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) before you transition. It is free for DoD employees and is widely recognized by employers within the defense contracting environment. For a comprehensive look at other career field certifications check out.
Wishing you a lucrative transition!
