Whether an individual is looking for their first job, looking to switch careers or trying to advance within their current company, earning an industry certification can offer a variety of benefits for not only the earner but also employers. Industry certifications offer various benefits to employers, including validating employee knowledge and skills, shortening the hiring process and developing employability and workplace skills in current employees and prospective candidates.
Industry certifications are a valuable asset for companies and organizations as they ensure a candidate has the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to fulfill the needs of a position or company effectively. In this blog, we will discuss how hiring an industry certification earner or encouraging current employees to earn an industry certification is a smart business move that will pay off BIG for your company or organization.
Validate Employee Knowledge and Skills
From a business owner’s perspective, finding the right employee for your business or organization can often be challenging. When looking for qualified applicants, business owners and organization leaders are tasked with finding applicants with the appropriate experience, credentials and qualities to add value to their workplace. Industry certifications act as a signal to employers and are a way to verify an applicant has the knowledge and skills necessary for the position. When an employer hires an industry certification earner, they can be confident their new employee is prepared to meet the expectations of the role and perform their job duties to the highest caliber.
Industry certifications validate individuals have acquired essential knowledge and skills required to enter specialized occupations or industries. Candidates are assessed based on weighted industry-valued and industry-accepted standards and are therefore considered career-ready upon completion of the certification. Industry certifications are also regularly reviewed to ensure they adapt to changes in the labor market and reflect competencies and skills aligned to current high-demand, high-wage occupations. This ensures a certification holder is aware of the most recent industry trends and developments valuable to today’s employers.
Shortens Hiring Process and Onboarding
Research shows 46 percent of employees have difficulty hiring qualified applicants, and one source found nearly 60 percent of employers have vacant positions for 12 weeks. Lengthy hiring processes cost a business or organization an average of $14,000. By validating an applicant meets the necessary skill and knowledge qualifications, industry certifications reduce the time it takes to hire the right employee for the job opening, saving the business valuable time and money. To learn more about the challenges of hiring the right employee, read this article.
Because candidates who obtain industry certifications have proven foundational knowledge and skills, they require less onboarding, reducing time and expenses. Employers can be confident certified applicants are familiar with terminology and procedures within a specific industry as industry certifications are backed by industry leaders and experts. By employing an industry certification earner, business owners and leaders are not only hiring a career-ready candidate but are cutting down on the time and money associated with the hiring process.
Demonstrates Employability Skills
Those who earn an industry certification have exerted considerable effort, demonstrating their commitment to the industry as well as other employable qualities, including drive, determination and persistence. Employers who hire certification earners can be convinced of the employee’s passion for the industry and their dedication to personal and professional achievement. Industry certifications are challenging and take a significant amount of time to complete, thus developing crucial employability skills necessary to be an effective and productive worker.
Industry certifications also signal a candidate has the drive to set and achieve goals, as the certification process requires initiative to complete objectives in a timely manner. Individuals who have attained an industry certification exhibit initiative, a desire for self-improvement, ambition and dedication to one’s career and personal development. Aside from hiring new employees, industry certifications offer value to current employees as well through opportunities to ups-kill and reskill. When employers implement industry certifications in their workplace, they are investing not only in the employees’ career but also the success of the company. Read this blog on the “Top 10 Reasons Professionals Should Earn Industry Certifications” to learn how certifications develop employability skills and offer value to an organization or business.
Industry certifications are a valuable asset for companies and organizations as they ensure a candidate or current employee has the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to effectively fulfill the needs of a position or company. Industry certifications offer immense value to today’s businesses and organizations as they offer opportunities to hire qualified employees faster and up-skill current employees to keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
