Certifications in 2021

Many have asked the questions:

1. Will a certification get me the job?
2. What certification can I get in 6 months?
3. Are certifications worth it in 2021?

Let us evaluate these questions more closely.

Will a certification get you a job?

No, certification alone cannot guarantee you a job. But it is one of the most common validations of skills used to impress potential employers and prove knowledge or skills required for a particular role. Certification in IT has become an industry-standard, aligned to job roles, software products and services.

The first question asked by employers is not what IT degree do you have? But instead what certification you recently achieved. Employers are looking at transcripts to validate potential candidates’ knowledge, expertise, and willingness to keep their skills current.

According to statista.com, an IT certification is an honorific document demonstrating a professional’s competency in a certain aspect of technology. IT certifications help to boost the credibility and marketability of related IT skills. More than 60 percent of U.S. companies that place a high value in the understanding and utilization of technology consider IT certifications to be very valuable in their hiring process.

What certification can I get in 6 months?

Yes. Generally, certification exams stay in the market for up to 3 years before they retire, but times are changing. Certifications are rapidly being replaced by newer and more relevant exams sometimes within 12-months. Some certification exams such as Python Coding Specialist, only require 150 hours of hands-on-experience or lectures to prepare. So despite the quick retirement turnaround, or changing industry trends, keeping up and getting certified within 6-months is possible.

Microsoft is one of the leading vendors who have shifted from product-based certifications to a focus on role-based certifications. During their data-driving exam development process, Microsoft focuses on 20-30 skills that should be measured on an exam creating a blueprint for their SME’s when writing the exam questions.

This change may leave a gap in the market when considering individuals like specialized coders, software developers or engineers wanting to specialize in specific core areas like Python, C# or .Net. The availability of a vendor-neutral international certification exam for these topics is still valid because they focus on a specific skill set instead of mixed concepts. These certifications can also highlight or amplify the transcripts of those who hold them.

Some important certification exams that have been retired in early 2021 without replacement includes the 70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3, 70-483: Programming in C#, and 70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications.

With certifications that enter and leave the market, forced by changing industry trends, it can be difficult for academic institutions and individuals to plan 6-12 months in advance. The reality is that what exists in the market today, may not exist in 6-12 months.

Are certifications worth it in 2021?

How does it compare:

Yes! Not everyone is fortunate enough to enter the job market with already 10+ years’ experience on their resume. Obtaining a 3–4-year degree might also not be something that can support an individual’s career now, when the industry, especially the IT industry, is changing so rapidly. For these reasons and many more, certifications are worth it in 2021.

Traditionally, the representation of students learning accomplishments was in monolithic, analogue forms such as degrees, which gain their merit from the prestige of the issuing institution to a large extent.

While not to imply an end to the signalling value of degrees, diplomas or certificates, a degree cannot communicate to an employer either the abilities a student has acquired or what level of mastery a student has displayed. Instead, it primarily conveys the amount of time that the student has spent earning the certificate.

Competency-based certifications:

Competency-based performance indicators is a better alternative to a time-based skills evaluation system. It provides a much more granular view of the results of a student learning and encourages the design of programs tailored to fit various levels of learning ability.

Therefore, competency-based performance indicators should be, like with certification, at the core of assessing skills. The new Google six-month-long professional certification program is a clear indication as to what the future of EdTech will look like and places great value and relevancy on the conception of short certificate programs.

Certification programs like these, are designed to focus on the changing jobseekers’ landscape, evaluate competency instead of time-spent and the future of work. Amongst many things, competency-based certifications boost your skills, your confidence, and your salary!

Digital transformation, the driving force:

Now, digital transformation, a topic on every agenda is a growing global phenomenon accelerating the need for skilled and certified individuals. It is a fact that the success of the digital transformation is directly related to having the right talent with validated knowledge and capabilities. And having a certification takes the guesswork out of employing or retaining the right person for the right job.

Conclusion 

Knowledge Pillars offer unique vendor-neutral certification exams performed live-in-the-app. This innovative technology is changing the future of skills validation. Test takers are asked to perform task-based activities which measure the capabilities and applied-skills of that individual, solving diverse problems and situations related to that certification exam domain, separating those candidates that ‘know’ from those who can ‘do’.

The (WCE) WordPress Certified Editor and (PCS) Python Coding Specialist recently launched to the global market. Knowledge Pillars reveals that its (CSC) C# Coding Specialist, (DCS) .Net Coding Specialist, (JCS) JavaScript Coding Specialist and (HCCS) HTML/CSS Coding Specialist will reach the market soon.

The need to be certified is not a fad. The need for certification is absolute and here to stay.