A lot of people look at obtaining professional certifications, either in their field or as a way of transitioning into a new field. There are a few exceptions, which I will mention in just a bit.
As a recruiter, I have a very pragmatic view of most professional certifications:
-If it is in your existing field you are paying to take a test saying you know how to do your job.
-A certification intending to help you move into a new field is nothing more than a passing grade in an elective class.
The truth is, THEORY and PRACTICE are vastly different things and for an experienced candidate (and I am speaking of workforce experience in this instance, not specific job-related skills), practical application will win out every time. And, depending on the actual certifications, may do more harm than good. For a certification to have any impact at all in terms of being an asset to your job search, it must be sponsored and administered by a professional organization that is recognized as a valuable market resource for the field; or, it must be something you need to become licensed to practice your occupation, such as a CPA. Usually the more valuable versions require a minimum amount of time actually practicing your profession before you can even apply to take the certification exam.
Some examples of relevant certifications:
-PHR – this is an extensive certification process requiring a minimum amount of HR experience and intensive testing. It is administered by the de facto international HR professional organization, the Society or Human Resources.
-PMI/PMP certification – Project Management certification by the Project Management Institute
MSCPx – Microsoft Certifications for a variety of technical disciplines.
CCP- Certified Compensation Professional
SixSigma if you are in manufacturing.
Some employers require specific certifications to even apply for a position, but most will look at a certification as a "nice to have" that will help make the decision between two or more relatively equal candidates.
Think very carefully before you pay money for a course to become certified in something for which you have no experience just because it sounds interesting or appealing. For example, there has been a surge in "life coaching" in the last decade or so. Life coaching is a nebulous field with absolutely no regulation or professional standards. (I personally would never consult a "life coach" that didn’t have a background in counseling of some sort.) Setting yourself up as qualified for something you are not can backfire and do more harm than good.
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