Should I take certification? Only with strength can you move forward in the workplace unimpeded
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This article was originally published in “Kool Youth Voice @Cheers”
Young people’s anxiety about certification
Facebook has long been not only a place for socializing, but also a multi-faceted information exchange platform. For example, some people use it to buy products in groups, or as a channel to find jobs, career consultations, or make connections, etc.
One day, I suddenly received a message.
“Would you recommend this digital marketing certification exam? Because I want to take it, but I feel like I don’t have enough time.” A young girl who I had met a few times suddenly sent a message about a certification exam held by a certain organization, hoping that I could give her some advice.
“What’s your motivation?” After reading the organization’s website, I didn’t rush to a conclusion, but asked her why she wanted to take this certification.
“Oh, because I didn’t graduate from a marketing-related major, I feel a little anxious. I always feel that I have insufficient experience and I don’t know how to respond to the needs of future society.” From the girl’s Facebook, we can know that she studied at a top university in Taiwan during her college days, but from these questions, it seems that we can understand her hesitation about future development.
In the past, I often traveled between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait due to work, and I also met many entrepreneurs from the other side of the Taiwan Strait. Strictly speaking, Taiwanese college students are not bad at competitiveness, but local college students often lack confidence. Therefore, in addition to pursuing academic qualifications, many young friends also hope to embellish themselves and even arm themselves with one certificate after another.
By obtaining a certificate, you can indeed increase your confidence. I actually affirm the value of certain license examinations, and I will not arbitrarily support the theory that “certificates are useless.” In fact, in some fields, licenses may have their own value and utility. But if it’s the field of digital marketing like this girl asked about, I would feel that having practical experience and my own works is more critical and important.
The reason behind it is very simple, because even if you successfully obtain certain certificates, it may not necessarily mean anything? Personally, I think it’s better not to rely too much on certificates, because that thin piece of paper is not a talisman that can ensure smooth passage in the workplace. Sometimes, it’s just a psychological comfort.
——Certification does have its meaning and value, but I don’t think that only by obtaining a certificate can one prove one’s strength.
Practical experience is more important than certificates
Holding a certificate may enrich your resume, but your supervisor or boss may not necessarily pay for it and will still assess your implementation ability. If you are confused immediately, no matter how many certificates you have, it will be in vain.
According to my past work experience, many people who have performed well in the workplace did not necessarily study related subjects in college or junior college. Instead, they relied on their own interests after graduation and continued to study and practice hard, and gradually achieved good results.
For example, when many people talk about marketing, they only remember 4P and 4C. However, today’s society is no longer the ancient times. Although theoretical foundation is important, the industry often pays more attention to practical capabilities.
Nowadays, what major you study is not that important! Because the business world needs cross-field integration and innovative talents. If you want to break through the destiny of 22K, you must first strengthen yourself. Only with practical ability can you survive in this competitive society.
The girl seemed to understand, and asked another question, “Well, but how should I practice and increase my practical experience? What I am doing in the company now seems to have nothing to do with these?”
Well, practical experience is indeed important. Just like I often encourage young friends around me to confirm their ambitions early and then try to practice relevant skills. If you want to do product planning in the future, you should study user experience (UX), product development and other related aspects; if you want to join the marketing field, you should be familiar with the strategic use of various digital marketing tools and advertising media.
Nowadays, when many people talk about marketing, they talk about the number of fans, ROI and advertising effectiveness. In fact, digital marketing covers a wide range and is definitely not limited to the management of Facebook fan pages.
“If there is no (implementation) opportunity, then try to create the environment yourself!” This is the advice I give girls.
Create your own opportunities to practice Qigong
Taking the familiar Facebook fan page management as an example, in addition to encouraging you to observe more fan pages of each company, we can also “think from other people’s perspective” - pretend that we are the community manager of a certain brand and try to analyze their social media strategy. Or, if this was a task assigned to you by your supervisor, how would you go about running the community and planning the content?
In addition to observing several successful fan pages, you can also open a fan page of your own to practice. Thinking about theme setting and fan interaction, how to run a unique social media? Only by doing it yourself can you know the secret. Next, you can also write your own blog, set up a website, and then try to operate search engine optimization (SEO), and then test the business results and conversion rate.
What I mentioned above costs almost nothing. You can start practicing at any time and invest a little time every day. I keep in mind “ten thousand hours” of practice. As long as you do anything with the right method and long-term accumulation, you will make progress and grow.
“Okay, I understand. I think maybe I am too used to taking exams or relying on certifications of certain expertise. When I feel that I don’t have enough information, I will look for information or related information. However, I should be able to learn more by doing it myself.”
I think girls already understand this: whether to take the certification test or not is not the important point, but after successfully passing the certification, you need the assistance of other professional knowledge to maximize the benefits of the certificate.
“If you don’t have a place to practice, then my fan page… would you like to come and practice?”
“Can I? Haha!” The conversation ended with each other’s laughter.
I really hope I can help her build up her confidence and find the right direction in her studies. In fact, it is one thing whether to take the certificate test or not. What is more important is how to use the certificate to help yourself score points? You know, only by practicing your skills can you truly gain a foothold in this society with peace of mind.
If you also want to chat with me, you can send me a message directly to Facebook without adding friends in advance (please remember to briefly introduce yourself first), or you are also welcome to write in.
★ Featured image source: unsplash.com
