I read a quote recently by Rich Hein of CIO.com "Certifications are, like most things in life: The more you put into them, the more you will get out." This is what we tell candidates all the time. The real value in obtaining a certification is the time spent preparing for the exam. All the hours spent reading books, practicing in hands-on environments, asking questions and searching for answers is valuable. It's valuable preparation for the exam, but it's also valuable preparation for your future job role and for your career. If your goal is just to pass an exam, you've missed a very important part of the value of certification.

We receive so many questions through different forms of social media on whether or not certification will help candidates get jobs or get better jobs. Surveys conducted by us and by independent entities all point to the job and salary benefits of certification. However, a key part of that equation is whether a candidate can actually perform successfully in a job role. If preparation time was used to practice and learn and master new skills rather than to memorize a brain dump, the candidate will probably perform successfully in their job role, and job opportunities and higher salary will likely follow. Candidates who do not show that initiative, will not likely reap the full benefits of certification.

Keep this in mind as you approach your next certification exam. You are preparing for a career, not an exam. This may help you to be more appreciative of the long hours spent studying!