Technology is growing at a dizzying pace, so companies need to know their dollars are being used effectively and efficiently. It’s about new IT initiatives and the staff who will help them get there. Being certified can help you get better and more rewarding jobs. According to a recent survey, 59% of candidates pursue certification to advance their careers and be promoted.1
In addition, certifications can help your organization retain valuable employees and increase productivity, efficiency, and engagement.
Now is the time to make certification planning a priority
Balancing training and work can be tough. Make a case for training initiatives that fit your career goals with a skills and training analysis. Here’s how to make a strong plan to achieve your training goals this year:
- Assess your certifications
Take a look at your current training and certifications. Along with assessing your current capabilities, this will give insight into areas you might need to work on in the future. Did you complete the training but not the exam? It’s a great chance to see if that’s the right next step for you. You may want to ask yourself if it would it be better to pivot your current trajectory to one that aligns more closely with emerging tech. Check to see if any need renewing or if they’re expired. If you have a certification that’s more than five years old, you should look at the vendor’s website to make sure it’s still valid. - Identify any training gaps and cross-training opportunities
94 percent of executives say it’s challenging to find skilled technology workers, according to Robert Half. In an age of digital transformation and modernization, IT professionals will also benefit from being able to help organizations move towards cloud or multi-cloud initiatives. VMware’s Cloud Management and Automation and Security certifications ensure comprehensive skill sets. Be sure to also check out our limited-time special offer on our newest VMware Cloud certification.
By identifying your key areas for upskilling, you can leverage your learning opportunities to overcome any future career challenges. Need additional help with navigating types of certifications we offer? We have a great certification website to help you and your team stay on top of your IT game. - Performance indicators are important
What’s most valuable is training that impacts business results. Choosing the right metrics is the key to success. Think about your career priorities: “What kind of return on investment can you expect?” Knowing your numbers can help you justify the financial investment. Training that supports business goals, like improving performance, reliability, risk management, and cost reduction, can boost your career. - Build your career map
Identifying your KPIs is the first step but understanding how certifications can help you is the next step. After you have identified your KPI’s above, you will need to build a case to understand how these certifications align to your career journey. How will the training impact your role in terms of current projects you are working on, including job satisfaction and productivity?
If you work for an organization that will support your efforts financially, creating a business case for key stakeholders on how the upcoming certifications will impact your organization would be ideal. Be sure to include key areas of impact both from a customer experience perspective as well as how certifications and training can generate a competitive advantage. Take time to listen to objections and concerns from management and help them understand how this will help you fill gaps you are currently struggling with. Not sure how to approach your manager? We have a blog on 3 simple steps to approach your manager to pay for training. - Know that it won’t happen overnight
Learning technical skills takes time. The process can take years for some people. In addition to formal training, informal training will play an instrumental role in your success. Finding ways to expand your skillset will also help you figure out what to do next. Take part in new IT initiatives at work. You’ll get the most satisfaction from projects that expand your skillset.
Don’t forget that training is a process, not a destination. Because many salaries are based on your ability to deliver results for the organization. At each step of this process, you’ll have to reevaluate based on the targeted business outcomes. Make sure to adjust the plan if you can’t use your newly acquired skills on the job.
Let us help you plan
Can’t decide where to start? To help you focus on your learning journey, we have a few options.
Webinars
We have webinars that cover specific topics you may be interested in. Our webinars are designed to give actionable insight and tools to help you on your career journey as well as expose you to different topics of interest such as this upcoming cloud webinar: “3 skills You Must Master When Migrating to the Cloud”. You want to make sure you’re making the right decisions and know what skills you need to master to crush it on your next project. After this webinar, you will be able to discuss the benefits of moving from on prem to the cloud and avoid many of the common migration pitfalls.
Learning Paths and Certification Tracks
We offer multiple ways to connect the dots on your charted journey through our VMware Learning Paths and our VMware certification tracks. Once you are ready to dive deep into a certification, please visit our Certification page to get all the details on your specific interest.
1Pearson Vue, “2023 Value of IT Certification”
