Due to the slowdown in economy as well as the IT industry, more and
more people in IT have lost their jobs. The requirement for skills
has gone up and to stay employed in such a competitive environment,
an increasing number of people are making efforts to earn
certifications.

According to MCP Magazine's annual survey, following are some of the
reasons why people are taking certification so seriously. Skills and
Knowledge

1) Confidence
The most important benefit of certification is that the process of
certification increases your skills and your knowledge to a great
extent. Majority (65%) of the certification holders feel that
acquiring a technical certification has made them more confident in
their jobs and the work they perform. More than half (52%) feel that
technical certification has improved their problem-solving skills on
the job, and half of them feel that their technical certifications
have increased their overall job productivity.

2) Job Security
More than three-fourths (79%) of the professionals having IT
Certifications plan to pursue additional certifications in the coming
year. So, despite the IT market slump, lost jobs, and cut wages, a
vast majority of IT professionals will continue to seek additional
certifications. And the key word is "additional" - for a typical
certification holder already had nearly 4 technical certifications
and had been attaining a new certification every year.

In the face of this down market, why are these certification holders
seeking additional technical certifications? It is best expressed in
two words: job security. In the boom times, one constantly reviews
the rate of growth in salary as a key personal-success measurement.
However, during the down times, job security is paramount. While the
return on investment (ROI) one receives from a technical
certification in terms of salary increases is always important, the
role of the certification in keeping one's job becomes the crux issue
during the down times.

More than half (59%) of the certification holders said that they feel
more secure in their current jobs due to their certifications. And
more than two-thirds (69%) feel that technical certifications play at
least some role in their job security.

3) Money!!
31% of the certification holders received a job promotion within
the first year of receiving their primary technical certification.
One can argue whether a technical certification plays such a major
role in receiving such promotions, yet 92% of the certification
holders who did receive promotions feel that their primary
certification played a significant role in that promotion.

Nearly half (43%) of the certification holders surveyed, received a
salary raise within the first year of receiving their primary
certification. 80% of certification holders feel that their raise was
significantly due to their certification. The average certification
holder who did receive a raise within the first year of earning a
primary certification realized a healthy 19% increase. The average
certification holder realized a 7% raise within the first year of
receiving a primary certification. The average certification
generated a $3,487 increase in salary.

Another economic factor that certification holders consider is Return
On Investment (ROI). ROI from certification is integrally tied to the
cost of the certification. In 2002, the average technical
certification cost $1,100 and generated a $3,487 increase in salary.
That is, the average certification provides a 3.2-to-1 ROI. That is,
for every dollar invested in a certification, the certification
holder realizes a $3.2 return in the form of a pay raise.

4) Respect
Another most important non-economic aspect of certification is on-
the-job respect. 58% of the certification holders surveyed, feel that
they get more respect from managers and colleagues due to their
technical certifications
Career Opportunities
Despite the IT downturn, and relative job scarcity, certification
holders jumped companies after acquiring certifications in their
desired fields. 16% (lowest till now) of the certification holders
jumped companies within 6 months of receiving their primary
certification.

5) Entry
Whether you're new to the IT industry or a seasoned professional,
IT Certification makes you more marketable and gives you the
credentials to land your dream job. It is extremely difficult these
days to enter your chosen field without the relevant degrees and work
experience. It is a catch-22 problem "you can't get the job if you
don't have the experience and you can't get the experience if you
don't have a job. " Certification is one of the most powerful ways to
break this cycle and get an entry into the field of your choice. An
ever-increasing number of people are using certification as a tool
for solving the problem of getting an entry in their desired fields.



Note: All the figures in this article have been taken from the survey
conducted by CertMag Certification Magazine.


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