Why Certifications Alone Do Not Guarantee Career Growth

I’ve been in the Salesforce ecosystem for a while now, and here’s what I’ve seen time and again — a stack of certs alone never lands you the job. Here’s why: What never works: Cert hoarding without a purpose: Collecting badges and certs might look impressive, but without a clear path, it’s just noise on your resume. Passively waiting for recruiters: The assumption that certs will make recruiters flood your inbox is a myth. They want to see how you apply that knowledge. Skipping real projects: No hiring manager wants to hear that you aced the exam; they want proof you can solve real problems in a business setting. Ignoring soft skills: You can have every cert, but if you can’t communicate solutions clearly or understand business needs, those certs are just paper. What always works: Targeted learning: Pick certs that align with the roles you want. Quality over quantity shows a strategic mindset, not just a checklist approach. Building experience through volunteer projects: Partner with nonprofits or small businesses. It’s free for them and real-world experience for you. Active community involvement: Sharing insights on LinkedIn, contributing on Trailblazer forums, or helping others in user groups builds credibility far beyond a cert. Storytelling your expertise: Don’t just say you have a cert; share stories of how you used your skills to solve real challenges. Employers hire for impact, not theory. Got more to add? Let’s help each other grow. #Trailblazers #Salesforce

If you want to grow in your career, you need to constantly add new skills to your arsenal. The problem is when people think gaining certificates is their automatic path to promotion. It's not. Gaining a professional certificate (or even a professional license) is just the start. It's the foundation of skills. Imagine you’re pushing for that next promotion... You tell your manager, and they share that they're focused on promoting someone who's "AI First". So, you go and invest to earn a few certificates that show you know a thing or 2 about AI. You now have a few badges. Do you think these badges alone will make your manager see you as ready for the next step? In my experience, this won’t happen. But it will help you establish some level of credibility when discussing with your manager how to use AI. Now, you can bring ideas to the table around how AI can: - Improve productivity with X tools - Grow revenue X% quicker if we do Y - Solve X problem by implementing Y AI strategy Now, your manager might take you up on it because you're sharing your knowledge with specific AI applications. Then you might be asked to start working on an internal AI initiative since you’re demonstrating your newly acquired skills. And that's where your growth continues to take place. Contributing and showing your worth is what will drive your promotion conversation. It starts with the certificate, badge, or license. But it ends with you proving you earned it by applying what you learned. If you want to earn more or grow in your career, you need to showcase your learning in a way that produces outcomes that benefit others. That's how you turn certificates and badge into real career growth.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬. Last week at Albertsons in Boise, I met a young veteran who had done everything "right" – earned his PMP certification, invested $4,000 and 8 months of his life, skipped college based on promises of high-paying project management roles. The result? Crickets. His story reflects a larger problem in how we talk about professional development. We've created a culture where certifications are sold as career magic bullets, when the reality is far more complex. I've been there myself – multiple certifications I've never used, degrees that didn't change my trajectory. What did move the needle? Skills, experience, and the ability to translate value to employers. If you're considering a certification investment or wondering why yours hasn't paid off yet, this one's for you. 👇 #ProjectManagement #PMP #CareerDevelopment #Veterans #ProfessionalGrowth Zach Tibbits, CPCC Nicholas Johnson Nick White, PMP

Certifications are holding back your career. I got my first IT certification 3 years into my role at KPMG. Some of my colleagues got theirs even later. And we still got promoted. We still led teams. We still delivered results. Because employers don’t hire certificates. They hire competence. Don’t get me wrong, certifications have value. I’ve picked up a few over my 20+ years in IT/Cybersecurity Audit and GRC. But collecting acronyms without practical skills is a career delay strategy. When what you need is a career acceleration strategy. If you’re trying to get into IT/Cybersecurity Audit or GRC, stop chasing the next certification. Start focusing on these 5 real-world skills instead: 1. How to identify and test IT controls You need to understand what controls are, how they support compliance, and how to test their effectiveness. 2. Understand IT General Controls (ITGC) and Application Controls These two are foundational in audits and you’ll need to know when and how each one applies. 3. Understand key standards and frameworks Don’t just name-drop. Learn how these frameworks guide audit and compliance work. 4. How to document evidence clearly Audit documentation is your proof. Knowing how to write it up properly is a non-negotiable skill. 5. Speak the language of risk and compliance You’re not just evaluating systems; you’re communicating findings to stakeholders. You need to speak with clarity and confidence. Certifications can support your journey, but practical skills are what actually get you hired. ♻️ Repost to help someone ➕ Follow Peju Adedeji for more