{"id":60264,"date":"2020-11-19T06:00:37","date_gmt":"2020-11-19T11:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/?post_type=articles&p=60264"},"modified":"2023-06-05T17:23:38","modified_gmt":"2023-06-05T21:23:38","slug":"how-credentials-can-help-you-find-your-next-career-opportunity","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/articles\/professional-development\/how-credentials-can-help-you-find-your-next-career-opportunity\/","title":{"rendered":"How Credentials Can Help You Find Your Next Career Opportunity"},"author":52,"featured_media":60265,"template":"","tags":[3757,5181,27897,19257,751,184],"class_list":["post-60264","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-career-advancement","tag-career-growth","tag-career-pathways","tag-credentialing","tag-credentials","tag-professional-development","global_topic_tax-professional-development"],"acf":{"sponsored":false,"gated":false,"gated_content_type":"","file_attachment":null,"gated_content":"","form_instruction_header":"To access the full article, please fill out the form below:","pardot_html_embed":"","author_override":true,"author_name":"Sarah Gallo, CPTM","author_image":"","author_bio":"Sarah Gallo is an associate editor at Training Industry, Inc., and co-host of\u00a0The Business of Learning<\/a>, the Training Industry podcast.","excerpt":"In today\u2019s dismal job market, credentials can give job candidates a competitive edge and help them gain valuable employment when they need it most.","main_content":"After surveying 13,200 U.S. adults in the first two weeks of August, Pew Research Center found<\/a> that, of those who said they lost a job due to COVID-19, about half are still unemployed. This economic disruption has led to widespread financial insecurity: The survey also found that one in four adults reported having trouble paying their bills since the beginning of the pandemic, and about one in six reported that they have borrowed money from friends or family or have received food from a food bank.\r\n\r\nIn today\u2019s dismal job market, credentials can give job candidates a competitive edge and help them gain valuable employment when they need it most. Follow the three steps outlined in this article to take your career to the next level through the power of certification.\r\n

1. Take the Leap<\/h2>\r\nSometimes, \u201cyou have to spend money to make money,\u201d says Rachael Weaver, CPTM, director of community and volunteer engagement at Capital Caring Health. Although pursuing a credential \u2014 especially after being laid off or furloughed \u2014 may seem like an unnecessary cost at the time, Weaver says it\u2019s well worth the investment. \u201cYou have to have a willingness to say, \u2018I\u2019m worth it.\u2019 You have to invest in yourself.\u2019\u201d\r\n\r\nWeaver, who recently earned the Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM) credential, says that when she realized there was a certification program designed specifically for the training manager role, she was \u201call on board.\u201d After all, part of being a lifelong learner is being humble enough to recognize that \u201cyou don\u2019t know what you don\u2019t know,\u201d she says.\r\n\r\nThere are numerous industries that value credentials, including learning and development (L&D), human resources (HR), information technology (IT), health care and project management<\/a>, among others. There\u2019s also no shortage of credentials on the market: Credential Engine estimates that there\u2019s more than 738,000 unique credentials<\/a> in the U.S. alone.\r\n\r\nTo determine which certification program is right for you, start by looking at where you are in your career and which skills you need to advance, suggests Tad Dunn, CPTM, a disability leave services (DLS) trainer at Amazon. Weaver echoes this sentiment, adding, \u201cYou\u2019ll want to check that the program is as comprehensive as you need it to be and that it\u2019s focused where you need it to be focused.\u201d It\u2019s also important to research the certifying body to ensure it\u2019s reputable, she says. One way to do so is by looking at which companies hire people with the credential you are considering.\r\n\r\nCertification can help highlight and then fill any skills gaps you may have, leaving you better prepared to leverage L&D for business outcomes \u2014 which, in today\u2019s economy, is an invaluable competitive advantage.","full_width":false,"content_band":[{"acf_fc_layout":"social_callout","blockquote":"It\u2019s important to stay positive as you search for your next career opportunity. "},{"acf_fc_layout":"content_area","wysiwyg":"

2. Stay Connected<\/h2>\r\nOne of the most valuable \u2014 but often overlooked \u2014 benefits of certification is the professional network it provides. Going through a certification program connects you with industry professionals who share many of the same career goals, and challenges, as you.\r\n\r\nOnce you earn your credential, try to make connections and network with others in your field, suggests Jackie Corbett, MSHA, CPTM, learning series manager for clinical operations at Partners in Health. After being laid off due COVID-19, Corbett says, she looked to the connections she made through the CPTM program for support. Whether it\u2019s asking a peer to review your resume, introduce you to his or her contacts in the field, or simply talk through common interview questions, most people are happy to lend a helping hand to their peers \u2014 especially during times of distress.\r\n\r\nMany certification programs offer continuing education opportunities such as roundtables, industry talks, coaching<\/a> and more. For example, learners who earn a credential from the Project Management Institute (PMI) can become a member of a local PMI chapter and have access to PMI\u2019s job board, along with various other networking and continuing education initiatives. Participating in these opportunities will keep you connected with your peers and ensure your skills are \u201cup to date and fresh,\u201d says Julianne Lindo, CPTM, instructional design manager at CenturyLink.\r\n\r\nCorbett, who participated in various continuing education opportunities as she looked for her next role, said it was \u201creally great\u201d to connect with other learning leaders. Although whom<\/em> you know is not always more important than what <\/em>you know, it doesn\u2019t hurt to have a strong network of L&D professionals<\/a> in your corner.\r\n

3. Market Yourself<\/h2>\r\nWhile training managers certainly need what Lindo refers to as \u201ctraining acumen\u201d (i.e., knowledge of the skills and competencies of the training manager role), they also need business acumen<\/a> to demonstrate their value throughout the interview process. Speaking the language of the business during (and after) the interview process will help validate your expertise in strategically aligning training to business goals \u2014 which is the most important process capability of great training organizations<\/a>.\r\n\r\nTo leverage your credentials in the interview process, Weaver suggests making connections between your credential and the job at hand. For example, internal consulting<\/a> and the ability to drive strategic alignment<\/a> are skills that \u201cmatter in any department or organization,\u201d she says. Employers want to know how you can apply what you\u2019ve learned on the job. By connecting your credential to the job\u2019s key roles and responsibilities, you\u2019re proving that you can apply it to the job and \u201cmake the company better as a result.\u201d\r\n\r\nTo achieve the most out of your credential, you have to market yourself. Remember that putting your credential in your email signature, on your resume and on your social media profiles is not \u201cshowing off,\u201d Dunn says. \u201cYou\u2019re advertising yourself and what you\u2019re skilled at.\u201d Weaver agrees, noting that credentials \u201cprove you are a true professional.\u201d They prove that you are committed to both your profession and your own professional development.\r\n\r\nNavigating the job market can be stressful enough without a global pandemic and resulting layoffs. It\u2019s important to stay positive as you search for your next career opportunity. Dunn, who worked at his previous employer for 16 years, says it took him six months to find a job after he was laid off. But now, he works at one of the biggest companies in the world in a position with \u201cso much opportunity,\u201d he says. Taking the initial leap to pursue a credential, staying connected with your peers and the industry, and marketing yourself to employers will position you for success in the job market. Even in today\u2019s uncertain job market, \u201cthere\u2019s a spot out there for everyone,\u201d Dunn says. \u201cIt just takes time. Don\u2019t give up.\u201d"},{"acf_fc_layout":"social_callout","blockquote":"Credentials can give candidates a competitive edge and help them and gain valuable employment."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content_area","wysiwyg":"[hubspot type=\"form\" portal=\"47185625\" id=\"fd09665f-80ba-4705-8ce9-79bd058135bb\" version=\"v4\"]