Professional Certification Benefits

If you're wondering, "Is a Machine Learning Certification worth it in 2025?" here are some honest thoughts 👇 Short answer - Yes, ML certifications are valuable. They can lead to real career growth, better salaries, and help you stand out in an increasingly crowded talent pool. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝘁 1. Career Growth: Over 60% of certified professionals report getting promoted, and around 1 in 3 see salary increases, often above 20%. Certifications help you pivot into ML roles faster and take on more technical responsibilities. 2. Stand Out in a Crowded Field: Hiring managers are flooded with resumes, and if you have a certification from Google Cloud, AWS, or Microsoft they assume that you’re applying it in cloud-native, production-ready ways. 3. Industry Recognition: Top-tier certs like: ✅ Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer ✅ Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified ML- Specialty ✅ Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate ✅ Databricks Certified ML Professional …are recognized by employers and often show up as "preferred qualifications" in job listings. 4. Employer Value: Typically, certified employees are seen as more productive, innovative, and independent. Companies say they trust certified hires to build models that actually work in production, I have always seen it as a requirement in big techs atleast. 5. Rising Demand: AI/ML jobs are expected to grow 40% between 2023-2027, and the fastest-growing demand is for engineers who understand ML and how to ship it, exactly what most cloud certs focus on. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝘁 → Career Switchers: If you'r trying to move from product, business, or academic backgrounds into AI? A cert gives you structure and credibility to break into the field. → Tech Pros (Early to Mid Career) If you're already a SWE or data engineer? A cloud ML cert can help you transition into ML roles or MLOps roles and get noticed for internal promotions. → Hands-On Learners: Certs with project-based components, like deploying models on GCP’s Vertex AI or AWS SageMaker are especially valuable. Employers love to see that! 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱 → Cert != Experience: A cert alone won’t get you the job. Pair it with real projects: open source work, GitHub repos, Kaggle comps, or cloud ML demos. → Certification vs. Certificate: A certification involves a proctored exam and industry recognition (like AWS, GCP). A certificate might just mean you completed a few videos. So, it's not the same weight. So, Be Selective! Skip generic "ML Bootcamp" or $10 Udemy-style courses unless they include real-world, resume-worthy projects. Rather, focus on programs that teach tools actually used in production. My 2 cents 🫰 An ML certification in 2025 is absolutely worth it, IF you choose the right one and back it up with hands-on experience. It's a good asset that signals your skill, curiosity, and job-readiness :)

💊 Pharmacy is no longer just about dispensing medications – it’s about expanding expertise, leading in healthcare, and creating global opportunities. To stand out in today’s competitive landscape, pharmacists need more than a license – they need specialized certifications that showcase advanced knowledge and commitment to patient care. Here are some of the top certifications that can boost your career and open doors worldwide: 📌 Board Certifications (USA & Global) • BCPS – Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist • BCOP – Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist • BCCCP – Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist • BCACP – Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist • BCIDP – Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist 📌 Clinical & Specialized Training • Immunization & Vaccination Certification • Advanced Clinical Pharmacy Practice (ACPP) • Antimicrobial Stewardship Certification • Nutrition Support (CNSC) 📌 Global Certifications & Skills • Pharmacovigilance & Drug Safety • Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) • Clinical Research & GCP Certification • Health Informatics & Digital Pharmacy 📌 Additional Career-Boosters • Project Management (PMP) • Lean Six Sigma (Healthcare) • Medical Writing & Pharmacoeconomics Courses 🌍 Whether your goal is to advance in hospital pharmacy, industry, clinical research, or move abroad, these certifications give you a competitive edge. 👉 To all fellow pharmacists: Which certification do you think has had the biggest impact on your career? #Pharmacy #Healthcare #Pharmacist #CareerGrowth #Certification #PharmaceuticalIndustry #ClinicalPharmacy

If you're pursuing a cloud certification path, here's a role-based roadmap (includes the latest GenAI certs toward the end) Here's how you can pick your learning path : 1. Solutions Architect Design scalable, secure, and cost-optimized architectures. ↳ AWS: Practitioner → Solutions Architect Associate → Professional ↳ Azure: Fundamentals → Solutions Architect Expert ↳ GCP: Associate Cloud Engineer → Cloud Architect 2. Cloud Data Engineer Build data pipelines, real-time processing, and analytics workflows. ↳ AWS: Practitioner → Solutions Architect → Data Analytics Specialty ↳ Azure: Fundamentals → Data Engineer Associate ↳ GCP: Associate Engineer → Data Engineer 3. Software Developer (Cloud) Develop, deploy, and debug cloud-native applications. ↳ AWS: Practitioner → Developer Associate ↳ Azure: Fundamentals → Developer Associate ↳ GCP: Associate Engineer → Cloud Developer 4. System Administrator Manage infrastructure, virtual machines, IAM, monitoring, and storage. ↳ AWS: Practitioner → SysOps Associate ↳ Azure: Fundamentals → Administrator Associate ↳ GCP: Associate Cloud Engineer 5. DevOps / SRE / Platform Engineer Focus on CI/CD, IaC, automation, and reliability engineering. ↳ AWS: Practitioner → Developer Associate → DevOps Pro ↳ Azure: Fundamentals → Developer Associate → DevOps Expert ↳ GCP: Associate Engineer → DevOps Engineer 6. Cloud Security Engineer Secure cloud workloads, enforce IAM, and manage threat detection. ↳ AWS: Practitioner → SysOps → Security Specialty ↳ Azure: Fundamentals → Administrator → Security Associate ↳ GCP: Associate Engineer → Security Engineer 7. Network Engineer Design and operate scalable and secure cloud networks. ↳ AWS: Practitioner → Solutions Architect → Advanced Networking Specialty ↳ Azure: Fundamentals → Network Engineer Associate ↳ GCP: Associate Engineer → Network Engineer 8. ML / Generative AI Engineer Build, deploy, and scale ML models and GenAI applications. ↳ AWS: Practitioner → Solutions Architect → Machine Learning Specialty → [NEW] Certified AI Practioner ↳ Azure: Fundamentals → AI Engineer Associate → [NEW] Azure AI Fundamentals ↳ GCP: Associate Engineer → ML Engineer → [NEW] Generative AI Leader Quick Prep Tips: - Use hands-on labs: KodeKloud, Qwiklabs, Azure Labs - Leverage free tiers: AWS, Azure, GCP - Follow GitHub repos & official exam guides - For GenAI: explore Vertex AI, Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock And my final 2 cents: ↳ Pick your path based on your job goal, not hype ↳ Labs + Experience > Certification badges ↳ GenAI paths require cloud + ML basics first • • • If this helped: 🔔 Follow me(Vishakha) for more structured cloud + AI learning guides ♻️ Share it so others can find their path too! Image source: kodekloud.com

There are 1.1M credentials but our latest research finds that only 12% offer significant wage gain earners wouldn’t have otherwise gotten. The Burning Glass Institute is launching the Credential Value Index to show which ones work, evaluating the outcomes from 23,000 non-degree credentials from over 2,000 providers, including every certification in America—from Coursera digital marketing certificates to OSHA certifications. To see whether they actually deliver for workers, we analyzed how each changed the course of the careers of 7 million people who had earned them. While only 1 in 3 credentials meet a minimum threshold vs. counterfactual peers for either boosting wages, facilitating career changes, or moving people up within their field, we still found 8,000 credentials that really move the needle for workers—often in ways that are transformative. The top decile of credentials yields annual wage gains of nearly $5,000 vs. counterfactual peers, increases by 7x vs. bottom credentials the chances of switching jobs into an aligned career, and boosts by 17x the probability of an earner’s getting promoted within their current field. We found wide variances in outcomes even for the same credential across named providers–and across the portfolio of credential offerings of even high-reputation providers. That says that learners can’t just trust brands and they can’t just trust that a credential will help just because it’s in a high-paying field. Instead, they need real data to help them make informed decisions. Our goal in this work is practical: to put these evaluations in the hands of workers and learners, employers, education institutions & training providers, and policymakers. The Credential Value Index–available through our Navigator site available on https://lnkd.in/e_BTX9bs –makes all 23,000 evaluations accessible to the public, with easy-to-understand metrics of performance, comparisons with other credentials, and helpful context, like which roles earners find themselves working in, which employers they’re working for, and which skills they master along the way. Our research is summarized in an American Enterprise Institute working paper which I coauthored with AEI senior fellow Mark Schneider and Burning Glass Institute colleagues Shrinidhi Rao, Scott Spitze, and Debbie Wasden. You can find it on https://lnkd.in/ezynMA-v. I want to express my deep thanks to Ellie Bertani, Matt Zieger, and the GitLab Foundation for all they have done to support this initiative. I am grateful for your partnership. And a big thank you to Patti Constantakis and Sean Murphy at Walmart for the opportunity to test this framework in a real-world laboratory. Finally, the Credential Value Index builds on a close partnership with Jobs for the Future (JFF). Many thanks to Maria Flynn, Stephen Yadzinski, and their terrific team. #education #careers #highereducation #learning #skills

What is certification worth? I spent a year researching this before creating my certification programs, and here’s what I found. 👁️🗨️ A Python certification isn’t very valuable, but Google’s Python certification is. The differences are the reputation and evaluation criteria. Google certifies people on its approach to Python development. It’s not enough just to call someone a Certified Python Developer or, in my case, a Certified AI Product Manager. I had to explain what they learned and why that made them capable of doing the job. My curriculum certifies people on my frameworks and approaches, and most certifications make a similar justification. 👁️🗨️ I talked with hiring managers to understand how certifications impact their perceptions of candidates. Two types of certifications make an impression: differentiators and prerequisites. A differentiator makes the holder stand out because few others have it, or it is superior to similar certs. A prerequisite doesn’t make the holder stand out, but not having it puts people at a disadvantage. 👁️🗨️ What makes a certification a differentiator? It’s all about credibility. That can come from a company, academic institution, or the instructor. The first two are simple, but the last one needs examples. Zach Wilson worked as a data engineer at 3 Big Tech companies and has solid social proof (he’s followed by over 300K people and called an expert by other experts). Rita McGrath is a business professor at Columbia and authored multiple best-selling books on business strategy and innovation. Joe Reis is a best-selling author and well-recognized speaker, ran a data consulting company for years (still does), and has strong social proof. 👁️🗨️ Will certifications get you a job? Not by themselves. Differentiator certifications can support promotions, a career transition, or getting called for an interview. It won’t be THE deciding factor for a job offer. What you’re certified on should make your answers to interview questions stand out. The frameworks and approaches taught will structure your answers like an experienced practitioner would. Let me know if this breakdown was helpful, and follow me here for more. #DataScience #DataEngineering #Analytics

Hill I can die on: Anyone from any background can become a PM in 2025. You just need the right roadmap that's proven. Let me give it to you: — ONE - Degrees Away: How Far Are You, Really? Not all transitions are equal. 1.1: One degree away? You’re already in the PM orbit. → Product marketing, UX research, TPMs, Scrum Masters ↳ Just reframe your experience and fill the few gaps 1.2: Two degrees away? You’ve got adjacent strengths. → Consulting, Ops, Customer Success ↳ Start learning product fundamentals and get comfortable with tech 1.3.: Three degrees away? You’re starting further out but not out of the game. → Teachers, finance, healthcare ↳ You’ll need to upskill and bridge the credibility gap One thing that works super well: - Step into an adjacent role first. - Think Product Analyst, Product Marketing, or even Ops. - Then leap into PM once you're 1 degree closer. — TWO - Compensation Reality Check Career switches usually mean a level reset. Yes, even if you’re a VP today, you might start as a Director PM. But here’s the good news: → PM often still pays better than roles like support or ops → Joining a smaller competitor can skip the level cut → Public company RSUs often close the comp gap → Internal transfers can preserve comp — THREE - Resume Rebuild (Not Refresh) If your resume screams “I did [X job],” it’s time to reframe. Your new formula: [PM Verb] + [What You Did] + [Impact] + [Context] Examples: → “Drove internal ops tool adoption across 3 teams (improving NPS by 21%)" → “Launched onboarding flow that reduced churn (by 8% in 30 days)" Goal: Make 50%+ of your resume look like PM work (even if it wasn’t officially PM work). — FOUR - Show, Don’t Just Certify A certificate alone will not get you hired... Do this: - Finding mock interview partners - Learning real frameworks - Access to mentors and alumni - Staying immersed in the product world — FIVE - Build a Real Portfolio You need to show people how you think. Build a Notion page with: • A teardown of a product you love • A personal project (even if it’s no-code) • A story from your current job reframed like a PM case • 3 clear case studies + your contact info Format it like a story they'd love to listen. Make it skimmable. Make it feel alive. — SIX - Interview Prep = The Final Gauntlet You won’t get 100 interviews. So the 5 you do get? You need to crush them. Types of interviews to prep: a. Behavioral b. Product sense c. Execution d. Strategy e. PM system design f. Technical-lite (yes, still matters) Find a mock interview partner and start ASAP. — In a nutshell... PM isn’t a career you break into overnight. But you absolutely can break in over 6–24 months. No matter how much it takes, it can change your life. As it did mine. Best of luck, Aakash ❤️

Switching careers isn't a process that happens overnight; it requires a solid plan. I transitioned from being an #engineer to becoming a #managementconsultant. Although I lacked prior management experience, my industry knowledge secured my new role. To succeed, I comprehended the need to enhance my skill set. After engaging in self-reflection and receiving guidance from my mentor, I discovered a gap – a need to strengthen my #projectmanagement skills. Moreover, I noticed a scarcity of #ProjectManagementProfessional (PMP)-certified professionals in Indonesia. As a result, I devoted my weekends to obtaining my #PMP certification, aiming not only to augment my project execution abilities but also to boost my credibility. The transformation was extraordinary. Possessing a new certificate, coupled with the daily application of project management tools, significantly improved my performance and made me stand out. They eventually helped me earn my mentor's trust to the extent of leading a multi-million dollar project. The rest, as they say, is history. Key lessons from my successful transition: 1. Identify Skills & Gaps. Acknowledging existing skills and understanding what's missing are fundamental to crafting a robust plan. 2. Learning & Certification. Formal and structured education can bridge skill gaps, with credibility as a bonus. 3. Demonstrate Competence. Earn trust and opportunities by demonstrating your skills. 4. Mentorship. Seek someone who can support you and provide guidance on an uncharted path. Have you also transitioned in your career? If so, please share your successful strategies. Image: The data I utilized when deciding to pursue PMP certification - these are the most recent figures *** Don't forget to like, share, and hit that follow button🔔 to stay up-to-date with more tips and insights on #career, #leadership, and #growth.

Cybersecurity Certifications: Do You Need Them to Land a Job? From DICE Cybersecurity is not just one of the fastest-growing fields in tech—it's also critical to virtually every organization’s survival. With companies facing an ever-escalating barrage of sophisticated cyber threats, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has never been higher. As a result, professionals in this field need to demonstrate their expertise to stand out in a competitive job market. But are cybersecurity certifications truly essential to landing a job, or can practical experience and a robust portfolio be enough to convince hiring managers? Let’s dive into the tangible value of cybersecurity certifications, exploring precisely how they impact job prospects and salaries. We'll also explore which certifications are most beneficial at different career stages, enabling you to make informed decisions about your professional development. What Are Cybersecurity Certifications? Cybersecurity certifications serve as official validation of an individual's specialized skills, in-depth knowledge, and proven expertise in protecting digital assets, proactively preventing cyber threats, and securing complex networks. These certifications are awarded by recognized, reputable organizations and require candidates to pass rigorous examinations that meticulously test technical competencies and practical application of cybersecurity principles. Why Employers Value Certifications Serve as Proof of Technical Expertise: Certifications provide concrete evidence that a candidate possesses the required skills and knowledge to perform specific cybersecurity tasks effectively. Demonstrate a Commitment to Cybersecurity Best Practices: Earning a certification signifies a professional's dedication to staying current with industry standards and adhering to best practices. Help Standardize Industry Knowledge for Hiring Decisions: Certifications provide a common benchmark, simplifying the hiring process by ensuring candidates meet a baseline level of proficiency. Provide Assurance in Regulated Industries Like Finance and Healthcare: In sectors with stringent compliance requirements, certifications offer assurance that professionals are equipped to handle sensitive data and adhere to regulatory standards. Entry-Level Certifications (Best for beginners) CompTIA Security+: Covers fundamental cybersecurity concepts, including network security, cryptography, and risk management. It is widely recognized and serves as a solid foundation for further specialization. GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC): A hands-on certification that tests basic cybersecurity knowledge and practical skills, focusing on real-world application. Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP): Ideal for IT professionals transitioning into security roles, covering areas such as access controls, cryptography, and risk management. #cybersecurity #certifications #employment #jobs

📜 Cybersecurity Certifications – From Beginner to Expert Cybersecurity certifications have become a cornerstone for professionals aiming to validate their skills, strengthen their resumes, and stand out in a competitive market. Depending on your background and career goals, different certifications provide different value, ranging from entry-level foundations to highly specialized expertise. For beginners, certifications like CompTIA Security+, the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, and ISC2 CC (Certified in Cybersecurity) are excellent starting points. These programs focus on the fundamentals—risk management, basic security concepts, and common attack/defense strategies—making them ideal for those just entering the field. At the intermediate level, professionals often pursue the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) from EC-Council, CompTIA CySA+ which focuses on threat detection and analysis, and the Cisco CCNA Security for those leaning toward network-focused security. These certifications signal hands-on knowledge and the ability to handle more complex scenarios. Advanced professionals often set their sights on certifications such as the OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), known for its rigorous hands-on penetration testing exam, or the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), which emphasizes architecture and governance. In addition, GIAC certifications provide specialized tracks in areas like forensics, threat hunting, and incident response, offering depth for those who want to master a niche domain. Finally, in specialized domains, certifications such as CISM (focused on management), CISA (for audit and compliance), CCSP (for cloud security), and provider-specific options like AWS Security and Azure Security help professionals align their skills with industry-specific demands. These are especially valuable for those working in cloud-heavy or compliance-driven environments. ⚠️ Disclaimer: Certifications are not a one-size-fits-all solution. They should be chosen based on career objectives, available budget, and the professional path you want to follow. #CyberSecurity #Certifications #InfoSec #CareerGrowth #SecurityTraining #BlueTeam #RedTeam #OSCP #CISSP #EthicalTech

𝟯 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 "You're ex-McKinsey, you'll easily get coaching clients!" Some friends exclaimed when I told them in 2014 that I was leaving consulting to become a Career Coach. Even though my brain skeptically waved a red flag, my heart was rooting for the fairy tale. I secretly hoped their words would magically come true. Spoiler: they didn't! Indeed, the McKinsey & Company brand cracked open a few doors, but I had to carve out my coaching practice and reputation with relentless dedication and persistence! Being a good consultant was one thing, but coaching? That’s a different arena. I had to drastically upgrade my arsenal: - Certifications Galore: Transitioning from consulting charts to human hearts, I got certified with ICF, Marshall Goldsmith, and others to polish my coaching skills to a reflective sheen. - Psychology Buff: With an engineering background, the realm of psychology felt like uncharted waters. I plunged in, learning Transactional Analysis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and more to bridge the gap. - Tool Mastery: Thanks to my engineering plus consulting lineage, I adore working with tools and assessments. I dived into certifications for MBTI, STRONG, HOGAN, etc., turning them into my new gadgets. After a decade and maybe 8-10 more certifications, I've cemented my place as a Career Coach. If you’re contemplating a career transition, remember: 1. Brand has a shelf life; past glory fades quickly. While great work done in the past can be leveraged and can give you some good karma points, it has its own shelf life. On one hand, you need to move fast, get traction leveraging that shelf life, at the same time remember that you must keep producing great work.     2. Transitions take an emotional toll. Career transitions, especially from mid-career onwards, are full-fledged projects. One needs to plan things well—not just finances, but also emotions. Just like entrepreneurship, the initial days in a new role can take a huge emotional toll. Do not hesitate to ask for support when needed. 3. Clarity is an accelerator. Having 100% clarity on what you want in life might be asking too much, but the more clarity you have, the faster you will settle into the new role/endeavor. Invest enough time to get clarity. You will only thank yourself for spending this time. Navigating career transitions is like charting unexplored territories. Each journey is unique and filled with lessons waiting to be discovered. What’s your story? Have you ever embarked on a significant career change, or are you considering one now? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below. Let's learn from each other and build a community of support and inspiration. P.S Picture Credit - Thanks to my annual office cupboard clean up drive yesterday! #CareerTransition #CareerCoaching #LifeAfterConsulting