Bert Swope
Information Technology (IT) Skill badges are becoming more prevalent in the information technology industry, but do they add value? I will be in the past I have only bothered with certifications where my clients or my employer thought they were valuable. At some point in your career experience should mean more tests and training. So, perhaps is time to consider the potential value of IT Skills badges (Mini-certification) and the merits behind them.
What Are Information Technology (IT) Skills Badge?
IT Skills badges are recognized as mini-certification, which are portable. IT Skills badges are achieved when an individual completes a project, completes a course, or make a distinguished contribution towards code repository on either GitHub or elsewhere. When a person earns this kind of certification, the IT Skills badges can be stored in a digital wallet. An individual can use it by either including it to his/her LinkedIn profile or website. The issuer has the authority of editing the badges. This feature is designed to bolster credibility.
Research shows that many IT job applicants show badges as an added advantage in his/her skills. IT skills badge are not a sure bet in job hunting that an applicant will land on that particular job because most job recruiters don’t focus on them.
Many IT industries want validated skills before hiring an applicant. IT Skills badges are complementary to certificates, but IT Skills badges can’t in any way replace certifications. Individuals with convectional certifications have high chances of landing on premium pay. As a result, badges don’t ensure the owner a pay boot in his/her job.
How Do IT Skills Badges Differ From A Certification?
Certifications are considered evidence by many of an individual’s skills. Does this mean that any other credential systems aren’t necessary for proving your skills? IBM’s study shows that technology is growing at a faster rate in areas like artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning and the updating and creation of certifications can lag because of the time required to update or developing certifications is lengthy.
Another difference when it comes to comparison between IT Skill Badges and certification is that certifications are seen to be more expensive to both employers and employees. It is costly to achieve certification, and a lot of study time and books may be required. An in-depth done survey shows that employers are willing to pay a good portion to the right certification. Certificate value is drastically increasing value yearly as compared to badges.
Clients of IT companies consider engaging in a contract with the company after making sure that the company has a specific number of employees with specified certifications. IT Skills badges are at a disadvantage for hiring consideration. Most hiring managers, the likes of Raxter Company, don’t know the benefit of badges or even what IT Skills badges can do with IT Skills badges. IT Skills badges are new in the market; hence, most employers have little information about IT Skills badges. For instance, an applicant who in the past years has worked for IBM Company presents an IBM badge to Raxter interview panel, and the panel will not know what it means.
In the case of Grexo Technology Group’s CEO, Bobby Yates, IT services Company in Texas doesn’t know the apparent value of IT skills badge. He further challenges it by saying that most applicants have presented the badges to him. But he surely doesn’t know the importance of them towards his requirements from the applicants. He further says that he doesn’t consider badges as a valuable hiring tool as compared to certification.
Dupray’s Tremblay, on the other hand, seconds the elimination of badges as an essential tool for hiring by saying that he will not know if the applicant is cheating to him. As a result, he values the certification as a real prove of skills towards IT.
How To Obtain IT Skills Badges
Most Companies’ hiring panels consider IT Skills badges as nothing towards job requirements. But some companies’ managers like O’Farril and others challenge them by finding them worthy when it comes to IT workers investment. CompTIA’s Stanger, on the other hand, backs badges by referring to them as a complement to a basket of certifications, good resumes, and real-world towards job experience. He adds by saying that it is a form of strengthening the education chain. Raxter on his personality considers IT Skills badges as a selling point. As a result, IT Skills badges are essential to present to some recruiters.
The following are the top five tips that will aid an individual towards his carrier advancement in getting the most in IT skills badges.
1. Avoid listing badges which are easily obtained. Anything that can take less than 40 hours to complete it is unworthy of mentioning it in your professional resume.
2. Always consider those courses that directly aline with the type of jobs for which you are applying. IT skills badges that directly complements to your job requirements are worth taking. Irrelevant badges may, to an extent, reduce the chances of being recruited.
3. Make sure to pair the badges attained with your education or real working experience.
4. Don’t insist on the importance behind your badges. Not everybody will like to hear. Real work experience always takes the lead.
5. If you can’t defend your knowledge, experience, and skills or hiring managers will consider unqualified. ITSkill badges and certifications show that you had enough knowledge to pass the qualifications, but employees want people who can and will excel at doing the work as part of a team. requirements
Do IT Skills badges have value in the hiring process?
IT skills complement IT certification and act as an added advantage in hiring panel, mostly when your certification is almost similar to the other candidates. IT Skills badges add some value towards a good resume, real job experience, and certifications. Some recruiters consider IT Skills badges worthy when it comes to the hiring process. Recruiters think them as a selling point.
So it’s essential to take IT Skills badges that relate to your job application to spice your application form. Remember to keep in mind the top five tips when you decide to have one. In other words, IT Skills badges are somehow worthwhile to consider in IT workers investments.
IT skills badge from a social media perspective
Social Media badges are virtual validator of successful completion of a task, skill, or educational objective. IT Skills badges can either be physical or digital depending upon what other people in a particular community value or market. IT Skills badges are more prevalent in a collaborative environment, and social media as well as portals and learning platforms, including team participation, certification, degrees, and project accomplishments.
In conclusion, many IT skills are available for your earnings. To gain more on IT Skills badges, you can visit IBM, Pearson VUE, a global learning company, and others who have partnered in offering IT Skills badges. You will be able to find a range of IT Skills badges from which to choose.
