Professional Certifications

Question

Hi, I'm planning to apply this yr in isb, after getting a ding last yr for 2010-11 batch

. While I'm doing my bit to improve my profile, but it seems that R1 for 2011 is approaching very fast. One of my plans is to add a certification. Could you please provide your views on Professional Certifications : 1. Does holding a professional certification add weight to the profile? 2. My post MBA goals is to work as an IT consultant. Any suggestions on what certifications can I pursue ? 3. I believe technical certifications (e.g. provided by Oracle, Microsoft etc) will not be beneficial ? Thanks

AlexMBAApply · Answer

Certifications seem to be all the rage or the norm within technical jobs, but not so in business.

Avoid the "boy scout syndrome" where you try and find as many badges to pin on your little uniform. Business is about your people skills, not about collecting certifications.

If you want to succeed in any area of business (or on the business side of any industry), focus on NETWORKING - go out and meet people, nurture relationships.

bigoyal · Answer

Thanks a lot Alex. That sounds a mature answer to my query and I fully agree with you.

But the problem is how do we impress adcom with this? I mean I cannot show countable achievements even if I would have networked with hundreds of people at work or outside.

Do you suggest joining some professional bodies or clubs. One option for me could be joining an Art club or institute (I have always been a great lover of fine arts)

AlexMBAApply · Answer

Here's another way to put it by way of analogy.

How can you tell if someone is fashionable or well-dressed? Do you need to see the "Armani" label to know that it's a nice suit? Do you need to see the "Church's" label on the shoe to know that it's a finely crafted shoe? And more importantly, do you need to know at all whether this person spent thousands on every piece of clothing on his body to sense whether this person knows something about grooming and fashion?

To someone with no fashion sense or aesthetic, they wouldn't know the difference and couldn't tell. But to those who are experienced in this (i.e. fashion editors, designers, etc), they don't need to see the brand names to know whether the guy has fashion sense or not - and whether the clothing he is wearing is of high quality or not.

Same with the adcoms. They don't need "certifications" to get a sense whether you are accomplished or not - and whether these accomplishments are of real substance or not. Having seen hundreds if not thousands of applicants, they can get a sense of it pretty quickly without having to see certifications, gold star stickers, ribbons, etc.

bigoyal · Answer

Hey, thanks a lot for your help.

gurpreetsingh · Answer

Nice explanation, but whats the cure? how can we improve our profile.

bigoyal · Answer

I'm still looking for the answer to that question. But atleast now I'm changing my mind so as not to run after a certification.

Professional Certifications

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards