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Thom Mandl 
Thom Mandl
Operations Executive | Transformational Leadership to Build Engagement, Drive Performance and Create Value
Published Aug 1, 2023
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Professional certifications can cost hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars. Perhaps even more importantly, they often require a significant investment of time and energy – both of which are in short supply for busy professionals. But as both an employer and job seeker, I am convinced that the right certifications play an important role in hiring, promotion, and ultimately performance.
In this article, I will outline the most significant benefits of professional certifications. In my next article, I will suggest some simple steps to decide which certifications may be right for you.
Professional certifications demonstrate your expertise and proficiency in a particular skill or field, which can make you a more attractive candidate, enable superior job performance, and often lead to career advancement.
The top reasons for earning a professional certification are:
Let’s look closer at each reason:
1.Validation of Skills and Knowledge: Earning a certification indicates that you have met specific standards and possess a certain level of knowledge and skills. It provides third-party validation of your abilities, which can be valuable when applying for jobs. For example, some manufacturers require certification in Lean or Six Sigma to weed out candidates who have simply picked up some of the buzzwords but do not understand the improvement methodology and could not effectively lead a project.
Third-party validation of skills from a professional certification is far more powerful than self-promotion and helps mitigate risk for employers.
2.Competitive Advantage: In competitive job markets, certifications can give you an edge over other candidates who do not possess them. They showcase your commitment to continuous learning and professional development. As an employer, I look for people who have demonstrated they are lifelong learners and who will be willing to grow their knowledge and skills to meet the evolving needs of the company. Moreover, certifications reduce the risk associated with hiring for a particular skill, since it can be difficult to determine a candidate’s level of competency during the interview process.
3.Career Advancement: Many organizations consider certifications when making decisions about promotions and career advancement. Holding relevant certifications and performing at a higher level can open the door to new and more significant responsibilities within an organization. For example, an engineer at one of my companies was certified as a Lean Practitioner as part of a Lean transformation. Later, when a new opening became available, he was the logical choice to be promoted to an Operations Excellence role.
Tomorrow brings new challenges and we must continually upgrade our credentials if we are to progress in our careers.
-- Mike Sheahan, President Emeritus, ISCEA International Standards Board
4.Compensation Enhancement: Having certifications can positively impact your earning potential. Some employers offer higher salaries to employees who hold relevant certifications due to their increased expertise and value to the organization. In one of the companies I led, an employee took the initiative to earn a Certificate in International Trade to meet the growing export needs of our business -- which led to his promotion and a substantial wage increase.
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Certified individuals earn up to 25% more than their non-certified peers. – Association for Supply Chain Management
5.Networking and Community: Pursuing certifications often involves engaging with a community of professionals in the same field. This can provide you with valuable networking opportunities and access to industry events, helping you to stay connected and current in your field. As an example, the certification I earned in supply chain management led to an invitation to join the Board of Directors of the Association of Supply Chain Management – Northern Colorado.Beyond the benefits of giving back to a non-profit professional organization, I also made many long-term friendships and professional contacts.
By now, I trust you are convinced that professional certifications can be a valuable way to validate your credentials and enhance your career prospects. But how do you determine which certifications are right for you? In my next article, I will suggest some simple steps to assess the value of certifications and determine which may be right for you.
Thanks for reading! Please share your comments.
About the Author
Thom Mandl is an operations executive with over 25 years of experience in manufacturing with early career experience at two global market leaders, Ford and Procter & Gamble, where he gained valuable experience and skills that he continues to successfully apply at smaller manufacturers in a wide variety of industries. Thom has built a record of success in elevating companies to the next level by creating a high-performing culture while implementing best practices in strategy, business development, supply chain, and operations. He holds an engineering degree and MBA, and has earned professional certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, and Supply Chain Management. Thom can be reached at [email protected] or LinkedIn.
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3 Comments
Humayun Arif
Teacher & Trainer, Leader, Researcher, Multifaceted Writer And Blogger | Program Manager | Creative Writer | Photographer | Youtuber
2mo
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Amazing learning
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Association for Supply Chain Management Northern Colorado
Administrator at ASCM Northern Colorado
10mo
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Wow, the part from ASCM about people with certifications earning up to 25% more is great news.
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Mike Loughrin
Coach and consultant specializing in lean transformation, supply chain management, and strategy execution.
10mo
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5 great reasons for earning a certification. Very nice quote from the legendary Mike Sheahan.
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