Professional Education Propels Careers

by Robyn Tellefsen

If you want to stay on top of your field, idleness is your worst enemy. According to Certification Magazine, professionals with industry-recognized certification tend to earn 16 percent more than their non-certified counterparts. Why use your downtime to acquire more neighbors in FarmVille when you could reverse the effects of a salary cut or freeze? Check out these hot certificate programs that can lead to a big boost in income.

Information Technology Certification
Technical skills may be the foundational requirement for computer and information system managers, but expertise in information security is equally critical for ensuring the integrity of computer networks. As such, more and more IT professionals with professional education are needed; the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment to increase 17 percent by 2018. The BLS also reports a strong median annual salary of $113,720. Professional certification is key for career growth, and according to Certification Magazine, more than half of salary survey respondents reported having their most recent information technology certification paid for by their employer. Certificants also benefit from a higher salary and greater career opportunities.

Internet Marketing Certification
Marketing has gone digital and wireless, which means advertising managers must exercise the utmost innovation and creativity in their lead-generation activities. Internet marketing directors must make the most of the interactivity of Web 2.0, utilizing search engine marketing, search engine optimization, pay per click, social media, and Web analytics to meet and exceed marketing goals. With professional education and Google Advertising Professional or Web Analytics Association Web Analyst certification, Internet marketing professionals stand at the forefront of innovation and the bread line. According to PayScale.com, Internet marketing directors command as much as $124,960 each year.

Project Management Certification
Not only is the project management field lucrative, it's also in demand - according to the Anderson Economic Group, about 1.2 million project management positions will need to be filled each year through 2016. In order to score one of these positions, you need to be skilled in identifying and managing project risk, leading teams, and executing projects on time and within budget. The industry makes professional certification a bank-boosting pursuit; the Project Management Institute reports the median annual salary for Project Management Professional certificants as upward of $100,000. Plus, 52 percent of project managers have reported a salary increase over the past year - a time when many industries are experiencing cutbacks.

Six Sigma Certification
What organization isn't looking to reduce its product or service failure rate to zero? Those with Six Sigma certification utilize data to monitor, control, and improve operational performance, thereby enhancing organizational efficiency and increasing revenue. Employers are seeking quality improvement professionals who have proven their expertise with professional education and Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification. The most recent iSixSigma Global Salary Survey reports the average annual earnings of Six Sigma Master Black Belts as $144,500.

Supply Chain Management Certification
The massive shortage of qualified, proactive supply chain professionals is bad news for the industry but good news for you. Trained supply chain managers are needed to identify, acquire, access, and manage the resources an organization needs to meet its strategic objectives. Through professional education and certification, supply chain managers are trained to handle cost and price analysis, negotiation, and contract management. The most recent Institute for Supply Management Salary Survey reports the annual salary for a director of supply management as $131,204; a chief of supply management earns $256,560. Of course, supply chain managers with professional certification boast even greater earning potential.

Take some time off from Facebook to give your career a jump start, increase your marketability, and boost your salary through professional education and certification.