What is a Certification?
According to web definitions, certification is "the act of certifying or bestowing a franchise on". While on Wikipedia, you see it as "Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task."
Today, there are myriads of certifications out there in the world cutting across various professions, trades and designations. So the next question which often intrigues an upcoming professional would such questions as : 'What certifications should I invest in?' or 'What certification is most relevant to me?' or 'What certification is most beneficial?' etc.
I will make an attempt to answer the questions as follows.
What certifications should I invest in?
Yes, to seek a certification is a worthwhile investment and should be sought by any intelligent professional since tends to put a 'seal of approval' on your claimed capabilities and ability or competence to perform a job or task. I think this question is very relevant from a business perspective since you seek benefit as an investor and hence ROI(return on investment) is paramount. Then you should be considering certifications that will yield you better wages, salaries, remunerations, etc benefit such that when measured against the COST of your input or resource to obtain such certification should yield nothing less than 10%. Yes, because 10% at least beats the inflation rates of most prosperous societies today. You have to think as a businessman now. What value will your certification bring if what you invested does not yield any return. And since return must not always be seen in 'financial' sense, then you have to consider the 'brand' value it could earn you. Most business people in the world today, believe that 'brand' has intrinsic value which can be quantified. Most employers love certified individuals because it tends to improve their overall 'brand value' or 'brand equity'. So seek certifications which will improve your overall welfare and ROI.What certification is most relevant to me?
In order to answer this question, I must talk about the word 'relevance'. Relevance is simply the noun form of the adjective "relevant," which means "important to the matter at hand." That means that you should seek a certification that is important to the profession or business that you are currently into. For instance, you should seek CCNA only if you are into the profession or business of 'networking' or 'internwetworking'. It might not make any professional or business sense to seek a CCNA certification if your profession is within a retail business. Though the certification is enviable but it fails the relevance test and might not earn you the required ROI or brand equity or promotion in that industry. You should be able to map your certification aspirations with your industry and at least with your desired or aspired industry or professional level. Remember, the objective of your certification is a kind of 'marketing' or 'promotion' much in the same way most companies today certify as ISO to help improve their brand equity or TRUSTWORTHINESS(Most people tend to trust a certified person or company and his/its claims). Seek certifications in Customer Relationship Management if your immediate role borders on serving customers. By so doing, you are able to even convince your prospective employer that you 'were' competent at your previous activity and your present employer that you are FOCUSED on the job.What certification is most benefifical?
I already touched on this in my first answers. Here you are seeking for the benefit in relation to the COST of your certification investment. Remember, in calculating your investments you should take cognizance of the training hours and costs, purchasing of your certification exams vouches, hours of study and lost time to your loved ones, and all those 'inconvenience' costs and then calculate the attendant benefits such as job retainership, promotions, recognition, etc 'brand equity' it affords you. Yes, I am of the view that certifications should be sought to as a complement to skills and competence, otherwise, certification is vain. It makes no economic or ethical sense to be certified and then fails to execute the job or project. That in my view is tantamount to 'de-certication' or 'mis-certification'. Your certification should complement your skills and be relevant to it; it should complement your employer's business and industry and be relevant to it and also help POSITION you for your future career ambition.
Which Should Come first, Competence or Certification?
Most professionals or intending professionals tend to confuse the importance of certification. Certification is only a seal or attestation to your capability or competence and not the other way round. Your certification should serve as a 'marketing' or 'promotion campaign' towards your CAPABILITY or COMPETENCE. Why? The prospective employer or business client does not know you, except by recommendation from previous employers or clients or by spiritual means, or revelation and is most oftentimes human and seeks 'something' to help him make or take an informed decision, so your certification might serve as a way to sift you in from the bunch or crowd that have applied for the job or contract. For a professional, it will be wise to seek competence first and later seek certification(though this rules does not always apply); for the business entity, it can come in any order since your objective is to secure the contract of which the execution can be OUTSOURCED to a more competent entity/firm.
So get certified today and seek relevant certifications....