It pays to invest in learning and skills development, especially when it comes to employee certifications.
Employers use certifications as a sign that an applicant has the necessary knowledge and skills for the job and shows commitment to keeping their skills current.
Fresh graduates, on the other hand, have a higher chance of landing a good job in a good company.
Meanwhile, for seasoned employees, certifications bring in more opportunities for career advancements. The management can see it as a sign of their determination to succeed as well as their preparedness to handle bigger responsibilities.
To get you started, we shortlisted eight certifications that not only appeal to the eyes of recruiters but can also fast-track your career growth in the corporate setting.
In the Philippines, skills-based employee certifications can be divided into three areas:
1. Basic – Fundamental skills expected from an employee regardless of age, role, and position.
Examples: communication skills, time management, collaboration, work values, and other soft skills
2. Common – Skills relevant across the industry. In other words, the common denominator. These skills may be useful in various sectors.
Examples: leadership skills, data management, project management, sales, analysis, cloud computing
3. Core – Industry-specific skills. These are qualifications that are unique to the trade.
Examples: accounting, medicine, software development, engineering
These three areas are based on the competency requirements of TESDA’s training regulations. Source: OECD/ILO (2017), Better Use of Skills in the Workplace: Why It Matters for Productivity and Local Jobs,
For the first section, we will focus on employee certifications that cover both basic and common skills.
Take note that while these certifications can glitter up your resume, you still need to make sure you can apply what you’ve learned in practice. There’s a possibility that recruiters will ask you how you’ve implemented such concepts or investigate your capability to implement it in the actual work setting.
The American Society for Quality (ASQ), a global organization of quality professionals, defines Six Sigma as “a method that provides organizations with tools to improve the capability of their business processes.”
This certification has three tiers:
As a tool for process improvement, Six Sigma uses the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) strategy. It can help you improve in the following areas:
The training lasts around five days. The cost differs from one training company to another. However, based on estimates, fees from reputable companies can range from Php 7,000 to Php 185,000 (yellow belt to black belt).
Do your due diligence on training companies before taking certifications, so you can learn and apply the correct Six Sigma competencies.
The Kaizen certification is all about continuous improvement. It aims to teach you how small but consistent positive changes can turn into significant breakthroughs. In addition, it seeks out inefficient processes or costly activities with no clear value, eliminates them, and replaces them with value-adding initiatives.
Kaizen blitz, a process improvement exercise conducted by employees, can be a powerful way to achieve sustainable and positive changes within an organization. It can last hours, days, or weeks. Like Six Sigma, it uses the DMAIC approach.
Learning fees also vary. Just be wise enough to select an institute that can provide extensive Kaizen training so you can fully grasp its concepts and processes.
If you want to pursue a career in project management, getting a PMP Certification can increase your chances of landing a job. This certification is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), a global association for project managers.
This certification is the gold standard for project management, meaning it is globally recognized. At the same time, getting PMP-certified allows you to work virtually in any industry and in any location.
When you’re job hunting, a PMP certification validates your project leadership skills. It also emphasizes your ability in the following areas:
If you’re planning to get this certification, we recommend that you apply directly to PMI.
For alternative project management certifications, you can also check out the programs offered by Google, Cornell University, and other available courses on Coursera.
Effective communication is the foundation of trust, productivity, and collaboration in the workplace. At the individual level, it’s an essential soft skill needed to advance on the corporate ladder.
Business communication is not only about verbal skills. It also includes written, nonverbal, active listening, and reading abilities. Being a good writer (emails, proposals, etc.) equals being a good speaker. You must learn how to articulate your ideas so that management can easily see their value and potential to effect change in the company.
The good news is that business communication courses are abundant from credible organizations. You can either take it online or enroll in a university. You can also find free and paid business communication courses through a quick online search.
Some of our recommendations include:
These are just some of the best. There are a lot more.
Data is a powerful tool. But raw, unprocessed data is clutter.
To harness its potential, companies need someone who can process and make sense of data for them. If this job interests you, taking data management certifications can land you a lucrative job opportunity.
Here are our top five data management certification recommendations that can make your resume stand out:
Apart from the general list of certifications above, professionals working in specific fields may benefit from role-specific certifications.
Accountants: Cloud software certifications (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.)
Marketers: Google Analytics, Google Ads, HubSpot Certification courses, and other software-specific certifications (e.g., SEMrush)
HR: CHRP, CHRMP, CPHR
Creatives: Adobe Certified Associate, AIGA Certificates for Creatives
I.T. Professionals: COBOL, Java, Microsoft, Oracle, and specific ‘software language/s’ used by a company, if there are any.
At Booth, we seek professionals with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, training, and development. Our goal is to provide vast employee growth opportunities by organizing training and development programs, such as Kaizen and Six Sigma.
If you’re currently looking for a company where you can grow and thrive, join our team today!