Degrees or Certifications: What learners should focus on to get hired

For many years, employers have regarded individuals with relevant degrees as credible candidates. For example, a bachelor’s degree has been a mandatory hiring requirement by most organizations in India with some employers insisting on a master’s degree for more senior positions.

Recently, the rapidly changing pace of technology has spun off a debate on whether it is better for an IT professional to have a technical degree or if they should focus on certifications to get an edge over their peers in the employability space. An oft-cited concern is that the technology training learners go over in college becomes obsolete quickly and even though colleges are trying their best to keep their curricula aligned with the changing tech scenario, the degree in itself is not sufficient to meet the evolved skillset demands of today’s IT industry. This is why more and more employers have started to consider technical certifications as alternatives that help them establish focused technical skills over academic achievements. Let’s go over broad considerations that can help individuals decide whether they should pursue an IT degree or certification.

Degrees do not have an expiry date and most degree programs offer comprehensive, well-rounded base education. However, here are some reasons why certifications have gained prominence over degrees lately:

• 1: Standardized and consistent

Most technical certifications (by design) are industry-endorsed and global in nature and therefore people taking these anywhere in the world get tested on the same level of knowledge and skills. When you pass a Microsoft cloud exam, it doesn’t matter whether you took it in India or the US. The exam simply helps validate your competency on a particular skill. It is hard to say the same about degree programs as a lot depends upon the college curriculum which may vary significantly not only across countries but within a country as well.

• 2: Targeted and Skill-based

It is more important for IT professionals to know how to do something practically (skill) as against being familiar with the concept theoretically (knowledge). Technical certifications have moved away from knowledge-based testing to more role- and skill-based assessments in the last few years. This gives employers the confidence to gauge individuals on demonstrated skills in specific technology areas in comparison to a college degree that continues to be more broad-based and primarily theoretical even in current times.

• 3: Less time and cost intensive

Most technology certifications require only a few weeks of preparation whereas a college degree will typically take 3-4 years. Also, if a working professional decides to opt for a master’s degree, it is difficult for them to take a two-year break from work to complete it. On the contrary, a learner can take multiple certifications (along with their day jobs) in the same two-year time period without any impact on their working status. Moreover, technical certifications, while not cheap, are still way less expensive than a college degree that is accepted worldwide. Most technology companies also offer certifications to the student community at highly discounted rates these days to make it easier for them to adopt new technologies

• 4: More current

Technology is evolving rapidly, with areas like cloud and analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), mobility, and security becoming central to organizations’ business growth strategies. To ensure that the ecosystem stays up to speed on new technologies, large tech players have started to release mapping training and certifications at the same time or right after a new product release. On the other hand, curricula of universities and colleges is still updated once in several years which is too long a refresh cycle for the rapidly-changing world of modern IT.

Can IT certifications replace college degrees?

Quite honestly, while we are beginning to see the IT industry pivot towards certifications as valid paths to hiring, most companies in India still prefer candidates to have a college degree. So, what should learners do? In my opinion, it doesn’t need to be either/or. A lot of successful IT professionals opt for both. A degree in IT/computer science builds a good foundation and understanding of the overall breadth of the technology space. You can apply the knowledge you learn in a degree course to a variety of IT-related jobs. Combining this knowledge with the value of certifications, gives an individual distinct advantage over their peers that have just a college degree to showcase.

Whether you choose to go the certification route also depends on where you are in terms of your professional journey. If you have been working for a few years already and are worried about keeping up with the latest and greatest in the technology space or want to make a career change or simply move to a new, high-paying job, certifications are the way to go.

In summary, you should consider where you are in your career, what kind of jobs would you like to apply for and how much time and money you can devote to upskilling yourself. Ideally, a degree combined with just-in-time, targeted certifications will ensure that you not only have a solid foundation but are constantly upskilling yourself to ensure that your skills remain relevant and that you don’t hit a glass ceiling which prevents you from achieving your career aspirations and growth.  

Written by Aparna Mushran, Senior Business Program Manager,  Microsoft.