Benefits of Certification and Professional Organizations

In my last piece, I discussed some of the lessons learned while searching for employment. I’ve noticed it’s becoming increasingly common for jobs descriptions to require professional certifications or membership to industry associations. This comes at a time when the number of university graduates swells and competition for limited job openings (especially entry-level positions) is increasingly difficult. I recently heard back from a hiring manager that there were 442 applicants for two positions being offered, so the odds are indeed tough.

Across Canada there are a multitude of professional associations covering all segments of the economy, many of which can be found here. Many more such associations exist in the United States and United Kingdom. Applicants need to be sure the certification is legitimate and recognized throughout their industry. I learned about certification that was available to me by speaking with associates in my field and was encouraged to apply for certification in order to enhance my chances of being selected for job openings (more on this later).

I became a certified Environmental Professional in Training (EPt) with Eco Canada in 2012, which is the only certification available to new graduates in my field with less than five years of work experience. The certification gives me access to a professional network on LinkedIn, where I can connect with more than 8,000 members who hold discussions on topics such as current events and job opportunities. There are even discounts to upcoming seminars and conferences, allowing for further networking opportunities. The Eco Canada website has a job board and provides additional information on industry trends and advice. Certification has become increasingly important in my field since it’s easy for job seekers to make false statements. The Canadian Environmental Certification Approvals Board states that “certification is crucial in the environmental sector where green-washing makes it difficult to separate the self-proclaimed experts from the real ones.”

Has certification helped me land a job? I would say not directly, although the legitimacy it represents and networking connections it provides is valuable. Some of my colleagues have not heard of the EPt designation, as the certification is still relatively new, but it is becoming more common as time goes on. For professionals looking for employment I would argue certification is worthwhile and makes you a more valuable commodity on the job market.

One area I struggle with is training received while employed, which doesn’t result in a certificate or designation. I’ve attended workshops during work contracts that aren’t recognized outside of my company’s human resources/training department. For example, this past summer I attended a day-long team-building exercise on the concept of Lean Six Sigma which attempts to eliminate waste and non-value added activities in the workplace. LEAN is all the rage in management these days and is now appearing on some job descriptions. Unfortunately, since I can’t provide any record of training received during my employment, it’s mostly useless to me. Of course that isn’t to say workplace training itself is a waste of time; in fact, I try to obtain as much free training as possible to give me an internal competitive advantage among colleagues.

Conclusion

There are professional certifications available regardless of your field which can be found through discussions with those in the industry or by examining job descriptions. Certification can be another way to improve your skill set to be recognized for your accomplishments. In a world of personal branding and marketing, any advantage that helps in landing a job is worth the effort.