As I mentioned in previous articles—and this is my personal opinion—the ones who should be paying for certifications and even professional memberships are the employers. After all, they’re the ones with the resources and ultimately the ones who benefit most.
In some of the companies I’ve worked for, employers offer to pay for certifications in exchange for retention clauses—which, most of the time, are just ridiculous. These clauses, as I’ve discussed with many of my peers, end up discouraging people from asking for support because they don’t want to “sell their soul to the devil.” My comment here is: don’t be afraid. If the clause doesn’t make sense, try to negotiate and find a more reasonable solution.
“Why so much negativity in these articles?” You might be asking that by now.
It’s not negativity—this series of articles is meant to share my reflections on what’s really happening out there. I want to say what few dare to say, and it’s a way to push for positive change in areas that aren’t working as they should.
Fortunately, over the past few years, I’ve also had the chance to be part of companies that encourage and sponsor their employees through training and certification programs—and these have positive, measurable results:
- More competitive teams (as long as budget distribution is fair across all team members).
- Higher service quality, leading to happier, more satisfied customers.
- Promoting education builds healthy internal competition and makes employees happier. Yes, there’s always the risk that someone will leave after getting certified…
But there’s also a real chance that they’ll stay and contribute even more to the organization’s growth.
What to Do If You Need Sponsorship for a Certification
If you’re currently working and want to take a course or earn a certification, think through the following:
- Am I happy in this organization? Do I see myself working here in the next 1–3 years?
- Is the course/certification relevant to the company’s mission? What benefits would it bring to the company if they sponsor me?
- Is the course/certification relevant to me? What skills will I gain? How will those skills benefit my role?
- Am I willing to share what I learn from the course or certification prep with my team? (This would be a major benefit—not just for you, but for everyone.)
If you can answer these questions and build a solid case, go talk to your HR department and your manager, and explain why it makes sense to invest in your growth.
Factors That Influence the Value of a Certification
- Issuing Entity:
Certifications from well-known, accredited institutions are generally more respected than those from lesser-known sources.
My recommendation? Go on Twitter or Reddit—see what real people are saying about the cert or the issuing body.
(You’re not just going to take their word for it from their own website, right?) - Course and Exam Content:
A certification that tests relevant, practical knowledge through real scenarios is more valuable than one that focuses on trivia or rote memorization. - Certification Process:
A certification that requires challenging exams and practical experience is more meaningful than one that’s too easy to obtain.
Personally, I love certs where you have to analyze real cases and write reports based on your findings. - Price and Maintenance Costs:
Make sure there’s a clear return on investment.
Research the total cost, including the exam, prep courses, and renewal/maintenance fees.
Conclusion
The certification market involves multiple players, each with their own intentions (some good, some not so much). It’s important to understand the perspective of each. But here’s the bottom line: certifications are not a substitute for knowledge, experience, and skills.
Companies should absolutely invest in the development of their people—but it’s also our responsibility to define our own learning strategy.
If we want certifications to be more than just window dressing on our resume or LinkedIn profile, we must focus on continuous learning and acquiring skills relevant to the job market. This way, certifications will have real value, as they reflect our capabilities and our commitment to education.