When we think of technical certification, most of us think of
seemingly endless jumble of letters that follow names of information technology experts—MCSE, MCSA, A+, CCNA, etc. These certifications serve as standardized, objective validations that person holding them possesses a certain set of skills and a certain level of professional competency. In today’s increasingly competitive business environment, however, certifications aren’t just for “computer geeks.” There are now a number of highly valuable certifications available in areas beyond information technology. If you are a work-at-home parent or a freelance professional in any field, investing time and effort to get a non-technical or semi-technical certification can reap tremendous benefits.Why get certified? I believe that there are three fundamental reasons for you to consider adding a professional certification to your freelance portfolio.
First, just like classic IT certifications, holding a professional certification demonstrates that you are competent. It’s one thing to state on your resume, website or promotional materials that you know how to use Microsoft Word, but it’s quite another to state that you are a Microsoft-Certified Office Specialist in Word. The difference is just one passable exam, but to a business considering who to hire for a freelance word processing or data management project difference is significant.
That brings me to second advantage. As a freelancer (or owner of an at-home business services business), being certified always gives you a “leg up” on competition. This is particularly true if you are fairly new to freelance market and haven’t yet acquired an impressive list of satisfied clients. Holding a certification is a quick and reliable way of letting prospective clients know that you are a professional.
Finally, certification in a relevant field can enable you to parlay entry-level freelance jobs into more lucrative contracts. Data entry work, for instance, is typically one of most available freelance opportunities; unfortunately, it is also usually worst paying. Microsoft certification in Access or as a database administrator can help a data entry freelancer transition to a database design and management contract. Today, there are professional certifications to facilitate such a business development strategy for freelancers in virtually every field.
Here’s a look at best certifications for freelancers and work-at-home professionals.
CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) offers most widely-recognized vendor neutral certifications in world. As name suggests, most of their certifications are in IT field; however, many are valuable for freelancers of all stripes.
For general business services, including any type of consulting service, CompTIA’s Project+ is invaluable. Project+, as company’s website states, is “a global credential that validates knowledge required to effectively manage projects throughout entire project life cycle.” In addition to project management basics, exam includes skills such as conflict resolution, negotiation, and team building. In short, holding Project+ certification demonstrates that you know how to do what typical MBA graduate has only learned about. Yet, there is no academic requirement for Project+, and exam, though rigorous, is definitely passable for those willing to study. Sitting for Project+ exam costs $207 USD, but you can almost always find discount test vouchers online for about $150.
