Certifications are written proof of your skills. They show you have dedication to a profession and know the tools of the job. Here, we give you the top 4.
While many companies look at education during the hiring process, hiring managers also check for various certifications to understand how experienced a candidate is. A certification might replace a level of education, or it could serve as an added bonus to convince employers to hire you. While many certifications require several months of studying — and might even cost a few hundred dollars — they're often viewed as a faster and more affordable option than returning to school.
Here are four certifications to advance your career:
Google Professional Certificates
Google has partnered with Coursera in a program for job seekers to gain the job-ready skills needed to launch careers in IT Support, Data Analytics, UX Design, Project Management, and IT Automation. Students can learn at their own pace, requires no experience, and find a path to in-demand jobs.
OSHA Training and Certification
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of Labor enforces safety regulations within companies. They ensure that employees aren't put in dangerous situations and hold companies and supervisors liable for safety violations. OSHA offers multiple training courses that are relevant to different job fields. A few of these courses include:
- Machinery and Machine Guarding Standards
- Cranes in Construction
- Shipyard Employment
- Excavation, Trenching and Soil Mechanics
- Power Press Guarding
CompTIA A+ Technician Certification
Technology is one of the best industries in America right now. There are hundreds of thousands jobs that need to be filled, but not everyone is well-versed in computer programming, troubleshooting, and even the right terminology. CompTIA A+ Technician certification is a good place to start if you want to break into the technology field but don't have a formal computer science education.
Graduates from this certification will be able to troubleshoot computers, laptops, operating systems, and mobile devices. They will typically become Support Specialist (44,313+ jobs) or help desk technicians and can then work their way up the career ladder through additional on-the-job training. The test typically costs $200 and requires a performance-based element along with a written exam. For many professionals, the cost of the exam and time spent studying is worth it as opposed to re-enrolling in college and getting a technology-related degree.
QuickBooks Certification
Intuit's QuickBooks is one of the top accounting software platforms on the market. Even if you work as an accountant (11,083+ jobs) or bookkeeper (17,485+ jobs) for a company that doesn't use this platform, you're probably going to use one that has similar capabilities.
Getting certified is no easy task. There are two online exams that you can take — a basic exam and an advanced one — both of which require a great deal of training, studying, and practicing. This is why employers actually look for candidates that are QuickBooks certified: it proves the employee's commitment to their profession. It also serves as insurance that a new hire is trustworthy and actually knows what they're doing. If you're an accounting associate (38,539+ jobs) or an auditing clerk, it's possible to use this certification to prove you're ready to advance in the company.