Don’t invest in certification classes or business skills training without understanding the impact that these two things can have on your IT career.

Many IT professionals believe that any certification related to their skill set is a “must have.” Not so say many IT managers.  Read more below about the debate that is still going strong about the real value of getting certified.

Don’t however, these same managers say, undervalue the positive impact that learning to be a better communicator or leader can have on your career. Learn how understanding and mastering the most basic business skills can become a real resume builder.

What's the Real Value?

While employers and training vendors debate on the true value of certification, one thing remains true: the proven and quantifiable technical skills of the IT professional will always, ultimately, determine their worth.

"There is still nothing more valuable than good, old-fashioned work experience," advises MATRIX RTP Director Duncan McGrew. "Any time you are in an interview, it is most powerful to be able to relate specific on-the-job experiences where you've used a particular technology or had specific successes. Now, with that said, I do believe certifications add a certain level of credibility to a professional's resume."

When someone is certified it tells the recruiter that the person is someone who is committed to improvement and has taken the time to take their technical expertise to the next level. Certification is not the same thing as a proven track record. However, if a person can combine certification with strong experience, then they've definitely made themselves more valuable to their employer and in the market.

Today it is possible to become "certified" in more than 500 technologies covering everything from Windows 2000 to networking to project management. Choices to obtain training are also equally varied and run the gamut from non-profit and academic organizations to trade schools to hardware and software vendors. Costs vary according to vendor, but range from a few hundred dollars for testing alone, to more than $5000 for training and testing.

McGrew advises those considering certification to determine how the training will best fit their career goals. He cautions that becoming certified is not always a proven path to higher pay, but that it could lead to more responsibility and more options.

"If someone is applying for a new position within their current company, then clearly a training and certification process can be a means of gaining added responsibility or transferring to a new group where you already have a solid track record of performance and accomplishment. In fact, these are the kinds of things you can request and gain management support for during an annual performance review process. For those looking for positions outside their current employer, the concentration during the interview process will still be on past work performance and actual work experience with a skill."