Shannon
01-23-2008, 10:48 AM
Certificate programs can propel career
Credentials from a respected institution can propel career, give resume a boost
By Alan R. Earls, Globe Correspondent, 9/29/02
Michael McGowan was ready to make a career change.
The 40-year-old Somerville resident wanted to leverage his extensive experience in the production end of publishing for a move to the Web. To make the transition, he signed on with Boston University for a 16-week Web Design certificate program -- an intensive 5-day-a-week program that McGowan completed in May 2000. As he had hoped, getting the certificate quickly led to a job offer.
''The employers I interviewed with clearly seemed to value and respect the certificate as a legitimate credential,'' said McGowan. Although he has since been downsized, McGowan still feels the certificate was a good investment. ''Even though the Internet economy has gone down, the certificate is another skill set that I bring to the table,'' he said.
Certificate programs have boomed in recent years as technology and business practices have changed at an ever-faster pace and as individual career paths have grown more circuitous. According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, for many academic institutions, adult learners (including those in certificate programs and other part-time postbaccalaureate studies) account for more than half of all enrollments and are usually a significant source of profit.
It's a big business. Harvard University alone, according to the Chronicle, takes in about $150 million per year from some 60,000 continuing education students -- far more students than are enrolled in its traditional graduate and undergraduate programs.
While exact numbers for those participating in certificate programs regionally or nationally are hard to come by, a study by the National Center for Education Statistics showed a sharp increase in adult participants in all kinds of continuing ed programs at the nation's colleges -- including programs sponsored by individual employers. In 1991, the center said about 58 million people participated. By 1999, the number had grown to an estimated 90 million. In the same year, regular college enrollment was pegged at just 15 million. For students, a certificate program can range widely in price but typically represents an investment of a few thousand dollars -- less than the cost of a degree but hardly pocket change.
However, human resources professionals warn that not all certificate programs provide the same career value. A lot depends on your field, according to Elaine Varelas, managing partner for business development at Keystone Partners, a Boston career transition and management consultancy.
In the HR field, for example, a certificate can be helpful but ''is not a make or break thing,'' she said. By contrast, a certificate program for a teacher may be a critical step to getting a job. How much effort goes into getting the certificate is also important, she said. ''If it is difficult and comes from an organization that actually has some integrity and standards, that is a plus,'' said Varelas.
Certifiably worth it?
While certificates from academic institutions are a way to enhance your employability, there are also a vast array of nonacademic certification programs offered by training companies, employers, government agencies and professional associations.
In the information technology field, certification -- often offered by vendors of new technology -- has become de rigueur. For instance, a series of Gartner Group studies showed management support for IT certification rising from 65 percent in 1994 to 77 percent in 1997 and to 85 percent in 2000.
Elaine Varelas, managing partner for business development at Keystone Partners in Boston, said that while a certificate from an academic institution can be very positive, sometimes certification from a government agency or even a private organization can be even more valuable -- depending on the field. She noted that truck drivers certified by the government to handle hazardous materials are much more employable than others.
Similarly, Ted Chaloner, principal of Boston-based Chaloner Associates, a placement firm for communications professionals, noted that certification from NIRI -- the National Investor Relations Institute -- is highly regarded because it focuses on the most up-to-date legal requirements mandated by the SEC. By contrast, though, Chaloner said he has seen very little correlation between the certification provided through the Public Relations Society of America and either hiring or promotion in that field.
-Alan Earls
Varelas also warned that a certificate by itself might not be enough to ensure advancement or a swift change of careers. ''Employers want to see other factors in your background that make the whole picture complete,'' she said. Furthermore, she said, ''There is a wider range of acceptance of certificate programs than there is for conventional academic degrees -- some are highly valued, others hardly valued at all.''
One factor that may help in weighing the relative merits of different certificate options is hard versus soft content. Some certificate programs focus on highly current skill sets relating to new technology or new legal requirements in a particular field, notes Bob Eubanks, president of Swift Murdock, a Harvard HR consulting firm.
More generally, he said, ''Any kind of certificate can be a way of demonstrating seriousness in a tough economy -- it demonstrates the kind of initiative that employers want.'' In a tight job market, he noted, employers value highly skilled employees because they need individuals who will be productive.
Echoing Eubanks, Len Vairo, managing director at Christian & Timbers, Burlington, an executive search firm, said, ''I like to see job candidates with certificates and other additional credentials because it shows that an individual is interested in self-improvement and keeping up with new information.'' What's more, said Vairo, if an employer has paid for the program it is indicative of ''an investment they have made in a good performer.''
''In general, if you are making a pound-for-pound comparison of similar job candidates, the one with the additional certificate will be the winner,'' he said. Still, despite his endorsement of certificates in general, Vairo said ''the program should be appropriate to your particular career direction and they are never a substitute for solid achievement.''
He advised caution when it comes to listing on a resume certification programs that may have brand name panache but do not represent a major study effort. ''Sometimes you can kill a great resume if you put down too many of these,'' he said. ''It looks like puffery.''
An HR professional at State Street Corp., Jennifer McDonald, 28, knew some of the pros and cons of certificates when she signed up for Northeastern University's certificate in human resources management program. The Boston resident's decision to enroll was simplified when a manager recommended she take the program as a supplement to her bachelor's degree, which was not directly related to HR.
''The coursework was very hectic, but I found I could do it and it has given me a reality check on the pros and cons of eventually pursuing a master's degree,'' she said. Since completing the course in 2000, McDonald has earned a promotion, which she said was at least partly related to completing the certificate.
Cambridge resident Ilavenil Subbiah, 40, hoped to make a career transition with the help of a certificate program. She was moving from a background in cognitive psychology to graphic design.
Subbiah's interest in design began with an illustration gig in 1994 for Daniel Dennet's book, ''Darwin's Dangerous Idea.'' She eventually took on other illustration and design projects. ''Although I enjoyed the creative aspects of designing I was frustrated by my lack of technical know-how,'' she said. Subbiah said she spoke with a number of established graphic designers before selecting a certificate program at the Art Institute of Boston.
''It is a flexible program,'' Subbiah said. ''I was able to build the program to suit my needs and interests, even with strict program requirements and core courses.'' After completing the program, she felt ready to launch her own design practice. ''I am more confident now when I approach a design problem, and I am comfortable talking to clients about all aspects of design,'' she said.
While McGowan, McDonald, and Subbiah all found what they were looking for in a certificate program, it still pays to be a careful shopper. Mark Gould, director of management development at Boston University's Corporate Education Center in Tyngsborough, advises those shopping for a program to look ''under the hood. The key is to ask around and see how the program is perceived in the marketplace,'' said Gould.
Gould also advised looking into the caliber and reputation of instructors and whether the program is likely to provide opportunities for networking within your chosen field. And, he noted, ''It helps to have a credential from an organization that is well known and widely recognized.''
Alan Earls is a freelance writer. He can be reached at alanearls@attbi.com.
Credentials from a respected institution can propel career, give resume a boost
By Alan R. Earls, Globe Correspondent, 9/29/02
Michael McGowan was ready to make a career change.
The 40-year-old Somerville resident wanted to leverage his extensive experience in the production end of publishing for a move to the Web. To make the transition, he signed on with Boston University for a 16-week Web Design certificate program -- an intensive 5-day-a-week program that McGowan completed in May 2000. As he had hoped, getting the certificate quickly led to a job offer.
''The employers I interviewed with clearly seemed to value and respect the certificate as a legitimate credential,'' said McGowan. Although he has since been downsized, McGowan still feels the certificate was a good investment. ''Even though the Internet economy has gone down, the certificate is another skill set that I bring to the table,'' he said.
Certificate programs have boomed in recent years as technology and business practices have changed at an ever-faster pace and as individual career paths have grown more circuitous. According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, for many academic institutions, adult learners (including those in certificate programs and other part-time postbaccalaureate studies) account for more than half of all enrollments and are usually a significant source of profit.
It's a big business. Harvard University alone, according to the Chronicle, takes in about $150 million per year from some 60,000 continuing education students -- far more students than are enrolled in its traditional graduate and undergraduate programs.
While exact numbers for those participating in certificate programs regionally or nationally are hard to come by, a study by the National Center for Education Statistics showed a sharp increase in adult participants in all kinds of continuing ed programs at the nation's colleges -- including programs sponsored by individual employers. In 1991, the center said about 58 million people participated. By 1999, the number had grown to an estimated 90 million. In the same year, regular college enrollment was pegged at just 15 million. For students, a certificate program can range widely in price but typically represents an investment of a few thousand dollars -- less than the cost of a degree but hardly pocket change.
However, human resources professionals warn that not all certificate programs provide the same career value. A lot depends on your field, according to Elaine Varelas, managing partner for business development at Keystone Partners, a Boston career transition and management consultancy.
In the HR field, for example, a certificate can be helpful but ''is not a make or break thing,'' she said. By contrast, a certificate program for a teacher may be a critical step to getting a job. How much effort goes into getting the certificate is also important, she said. ''If it is difficult and comes from an organization that actually has some integrity and standards, that is a plus,'' said Varelas.
Certifiably worth it?
While certificates from academic institutions are a way to enhance your employability, there are also a vast array of nonacademic certification programs offered by training companies, employers, government agencies and professional associations.
In the information technology field, certification -- often offered by vendors of new technology -- has become de rigueur. For instance, a series of Gartner Group studies showed management support for IT certification rising from 65 percent in 1994 to 77 percent in 1997 and to 85 percent in 2000.
Elaine Varelas, managing partner for business development at Keystone Partners in Boston, said that while a certificate from an academic institution can be very positive, sometimes certification from a government agency or even a private organization can be even more valuable -- depending on the field. She noted that truck drivers certified by the government to handle hazardous materials are much more employable than others.
Similarly, Ted Chaloner, principal of Boston-based Chaloner Associates, a placement firm for communications professionals, noted that certification from NIRI -- the National Investor Relations Institute -- is highly regarded because it focuses on the most up-to-date legal requirements mandated by the SEC. By contrast, though, Chaloner said he has seen very little correlation between the certification provided through the Public Relations Society of America and either hiring or promotion in that field.
-Alan Earls
Varelas also warned that a certificate by itself might not be enough to ensure advancement or a swift change of careers. ''Employers want to see other factors in your background that make the whole picture complete,'' she said. Furthermore, she said, ''There is a wider range of acceptance of certificate programs than there is for conventional academic degrees -- some are highly valued, others hardly valued at all.''
One factor that may help in weighing the relative merits of different certificate options is hard versus soft content. Some certificate programs focus on highly current skill sets relating to new technology or new legal requirements in a particular field, notes Bob Eubanks, president of Swift Murdock, a Harvard HR consulting firm.
More generally, he said, ''Any kind of certificate can be a way of demonstrating seriousness in a tough economy -- it demonstrates the kind of initiative that employers want.'' In a tight job market, he noted, employers value highly skilled employees because they need individuals who will be productive.
Echoing Eubanks, Len Vairo, managing director at Christian & Timbers, Burlington, an executive search firm, said, ''I like to see job candidates with certificates and other additional credentials because it shows that an individual is interested in self-improvement and keeping up with new information.'' What's more, said Vairo, if an employer has paid for the program it is indicative of ''an investment they have made in a good performer.''
''In general, if you are making a pound-for-pound comparison of similar job candidates, the one with the additional certificate will be the winner,'' he said. Still, despite his endorsement of certificates in general, Vairo said ''the program should be appropriate to your particular career direction and they are never a substitute for solid achievement.''
He advised caution when it comes to listing on a resume certification programs that may have brand name panache but do not represent a major study effort. ''Sometimes you can kill a great resume if you put down too many of these,'' he said. ''It looks like puffery.''
An HR professional at State Street Corp., Jennifer McDonald, 28, knew some of the pros and cons of certificates when she signed up for Northeastern University's certificate in human resources management program. The Boston resident's decision to enroll was simplified when a manager recommended she take the program as a supplement to her bachelor's degree, which was not directly related to HR.
''The coursework was very hectic, but I found I could do it and it has given me a reality check on the pros and cons of eventually pursuing a master's degree,'' she said. Since completing the course in 2000, McDonald has earned a promotion, which she said was at least partly related to completing the certificate.
Cambridge resident Ilavenil Subbiah, 40, hoped to make a career transition with the help of a certificate program. She was moving from a background in cognitive psychology to graphic design.
Subbiah's interest in design began with an illustration gig in 1994 for Daniel Dennet's book, ''Darwin's Dangerous Idea.'' She eventually took on other illustration and design projects. ''Although I enjoyed the creative aspects of designing I was frustrated by my lack of technical know-how,'' she said. Subbiah said she spoke with a number of established graphic designers before selecting a certificate program at the Art Institute of Boston.
''It is a flexible program,'' Subbiah said. ''I was able to build the program to suit my needs and interests, even with strict program requirements and core courses.'' After completing the program, she felt ready to launch her own design practice. ''I am more confident now when I approach a design problem, and I am comfortable talking to clients about all aspects of design,'' she said.
While McGowan, McDonald, and Subbiah all found what they were looking for in a certificate program, it still pays to be a careful shopper. Mark Gould, director of management development at Boston University's Corporate Education Center in Tyngsborough, advises those shopping for a program to look ''under the hood. The key is to ask around and see how the program is perceived in the marketplace,'' said Gould.
Gould also advised looking into the caliber and reputation of instructors and whether the program is likely to provide opportunities for networking within your chosen field. And, he noted, ''It helps to have a credential from an organization that is well known and widely recognized.''
Alan Earls is a freelance writer. He can be reached at alanearls@attbi.com.