Why you should build and develop your skills through credentials and certifications

The digital skills gap and what it has to do with credentials

Technology is changing at an incredible pace and it is creating a skills gap in our workforce.

You may not notice it unless you take a step back. The phones that are in your pocket right now far exceed the capabilities of phones from five years ago.

We are seeing new platforms, new integrations, and new technologies. These new technologies are the source of disruption in all kinds of industries.

Airbnb, Uber, Zoom are examples of companies that have been disruptors. Each one drastically changed the way we conduct our lives. Would you have ever considered getting in a random strangers car for a ride to the bar or to the airport ten years ago? Probably not. But Uber introduced trust into a taxi system that wasn’t consumer-focused. Airbnb was able to take the extra supply of housing and provide a trustworthy way to connect hosts and guests. Now, these companies have ingrained themselves into everyday life.

All these platforms disrupted industries with new technology. This new technology has created skills gaps across all industries, industries that are poised to grow over the coming years.

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and other emerging technologies are happening in ever shorter cycles, changing the very nature of the jobs that need to be done — and the skills needed to do them — faster than ever before giving us a skills gap in the workforce.

So how can we help bridge this gap? Let’s start with credentials.

What does the term “credential” really mean?

There are a lot of jargony definitions of what a credential is. I like to think of a credential as “Validation that you know or can do something”.

We are all familiar with credentials in our personal lives. We rely on them to make choices big and small: Which college should I attend (degree)? Which medicine should I take for this cough (FDA approval)? Is this food safe and healthy to feed me or my children (USDA Organic Certified)? These degrees, approvals, and certifications allow consumers to make optimal, informed choices with minimal effort.

We trust a third party to issue and govern these credentials, and we believe in the efficiency of the marketplace to affirm or deny their value.

Businesses are confronted with similar choices every day. Who should I hire? Can I trust this agency to implement the new CRM we purchased? Will this integration function as promised? Is this person qualified to run that big ass crane? Credentials help consumers and businesses make choices that meet their expectations.

Take a look at some of these credential examples you might have encountered:

HubSpot Academy Certification | The world’s most renowned drivers license

FDA Approval | USDA Organic Seal

You may not even notice credentials in your day-to-day. That’s often the sign of a great credential. They can be something you trust so much you barely notice it anymore.

Certifications can lead to:

• Better employment or advancement opportunities within your current organization
• A competitive advantage over other candidates in the market who don’t have a certification, as it verifies both skills and ambition through the initiative in obtaining it
• Higher earning potential

Credentials have become increasingly popular and important in the job landscape. Some jobs require certifications like a dental professional or medical assistant, EMT’s, and plumbers. While they are not required for some jobs many employers view certifications as a big boost to a resume.

How credentials can help bridge the digital skills gap

According to the Human Resource Management Survey, 75% of people surveyed said they had difficulty recruiting. A Visual Workforce survey said that 25% of workers say their skills are not up-to-date.

There is a lack of viable skills for these digital roles. There are going to be even more roles in the digital realm over the next few years.

At least 133 million new roles will be generated as a result of the new division of labor between humans, machines and algorithms may emerge globally by 2022, according to the World Economic Forum.

We lack the supply to fill these new roles. This is where credentials can help bridge this gap.

In these increasingly uncertain times, digital jobs are the best suited to thrive. An emphasis on having people with workforce-ready skills credentials can have an outsized impact and teach people the skills needed to fill these new positions.

Five ways to evaluate what credentials are right for you and what to do with them

It can be overwhelming with all the credentials out there. It can be difficult to know which credentials are seen as valuable by employers and valuable in the market. These tips can help you find credentials that fit your goals.

1. Look at job demand — Go where the jobs are. Do this by taking a look through some of the job sites like ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, and Indeed to find out which departments and types of companies are hiring.
2. Look at gig marketplaces for services — You can get a great sense for which credentials are valued by companies by looking into requirements that are listed on gig sites like Upwork or Freelancer.
3. Check out payscale and other sites to see what credentials are present — With sites like Payscale you can not only see which credentials average better pay but also see which ones are listed, those are going to be the most popular. For people aged 25–34, a certificate increases the median weekly income by $179 (~$9,000 more yearly). Money isn’t everything but it’s helpful to have a full understanding of the market.
4. Are the credentials delivered by a company or a third party? Are they free or paid? — Some jobs need 3rd party credentials and some don’t. If a company is offering a certification it is often a great first step in getting a job at that company. Free isn’t always better. There are lots of amazing free certifications but sometimes the extra $100 you spend on a credential can show a recruiter how serious you are about a role.
5. Add them to your LinkedIn! — Credentials are a great way to make those profiles pop a bit more. When we are recruiting at HubSpot we always look at the candidate's LinkedIn. A huge indicator of intent is to see if that candidate has taken the time to get some HubSpot credentials and certifications.

It’s an uncertain time in our world and particularly in the job world with the pandemic.

One thing we do know is that the world is shifting to be more digital. As we think of closing the skills gap, clearly credentials have demand and a strong place in our economy. They are a great way to give yourself an edge on your resume, talk the same “language” in an interview, or just up your skills. Do your research and you’ll find that credentials are everywhere around you, you just need to find the right credentials for your situation.