It seems there are two types of people when it comes to professional certifications:

• those who work hard and via experience, education and studying pass the certifying exam
• those who simply figure out how to take the test

If they both pass, do you care which type of employee works for you?

Content learners

Traditionally, those who have gained the knowledge from the school of hard knocks would fare better in a comparison. Putting in the years to learn from experience and perhaps spending the time and money for extra schooling all look great on a resume.

Furthermore, those who have the years, education and experience are almost expected to have the certification. Most employers just assume it is a rubber stamp validating what he/she already knows.

But I have learned time and again from those experienced students in test-prep classes how much stress these assumptions can put on them. They do know the content, they have done the time, but does that truly transfer to a test question?

There are so many "what ifs" that many experienced professionals for whom those certifications are supposedly created, dread the idea of taking a test. After all, they already know it, why do they have to pay someone to prove it? Is the test truly the way to show how to apply knowledge?

Test preppers

On the other hand, it seems there are a lot more candidates with seemingly less experience that have somehow earned their certifications in a variety of fields. Why is that? Have they stretched the truth to qualify for the exam?

Presumably, they have done at least the minimum to get into the testing center; but does that make it OK? Many of the students in certification classes are there simply to learn how to take the test. But that is how the class is set up, so who is to blame them?

As an employer, wouldn't you want a candidate who seemingly gained the knowledge of their more experienced peers sooner in their career? Are certifications really just a way to prove you can take a test? Or do they confirm someone has the knowledge and experience?

Which one is best?

Certifications are like degrees: one more easy way to eliminate candidates when there are a lot of them. Unfortunately, that means many content learners with test anxiety are eliminated before the process even begins. After that, how or why they got the certification helps determine whether they have the right skills for the job.

For example, if the position requires a problem solver, who can do more with less, learn a system quickly, work it and figure out ways around it, then I am going to go for the test prepper. Conversely, if the position requires a candidate who is thoughtful, does what he/she is supposed to, follows the established parameters, implements consistently and holds to a high standard, then I will go with the content learner.

Which are you? Has it helped you or held you back? In your continuing education classes, do you just prep for the test?