YOUR WHY, WHEN AND HUMILITY TEST

YOUR WHYS

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." — Friedrich Nietzsche

This is the most important first step. If you don't have a solid WHY - reason for writing the exam. I advise you not to take the exam in the first place, as they are expensive and time-intensive. Studying is hard; your WHY should be your primary source of motivation to push you through this process.

Let us explore some of your possible reasons why you may want to take a certification exam.

Competitive Edge in the Job Market

After my first degree as a computer science student, I planned to write the Java Oracle Certified Professional exam (JAVA OCP). Reason: to give me a competitive advantage in the job market as a fresh graduate. 

Even though I studied extensively, I never took the exam because I got a job before completing the course - completely defeating the purpose of my 'why'.

Career advancement:

For those already in the industry, a common reason to take a certification exam is to be eligible for a role you aspire to attain in or outside your workplace

Developing your understanding

Studying for the Java OCP and AWS Developer certification exams gave me a much deeper understanding of the tools I’ve been using for years. 

Even though I work with them regularly, I discovered concepts and another layer of understanding I might never have encountered in my day-to-day role.

That experience sparked a new and strong “why”. 

Skill validation

True, your years of experience and referrals matter, but having a trusted external certification validates your skills and amplifies your voice when making technical recommendations.

I took the AWS Exam Developer exam purposely for this. I already had considerable hands-on experience with AWS. However, as I advanced in my career, I noticed that experience alone is not enough when working with big companies. They demand a deeper level of trust in your skills, which is where your certification comes in.

Regulatory and company requirements

I have had the opportunity to undergo training in Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) at a former company as a requirement. However, I didn't write that exam because I didn't have a strong WHY. 

In many organizations and institutions, especially academic and professional ones, it is mandatory to have certain certifications or standardized test scores as part of their eligibility or admission requirements. Examples include

• TOEFL / IELTS
• GRE / GMAT
• CCNA, AWS, CompTIA, Microsoft
• ACCA

Personal achievement

I won't lie, it feels good to be validated. After passing the AWS exam, I couldn't wait to share my achievement. 

This sense of achievement is a strong and valid “why” to be certified; however, prioritise applying it to real-world solutions after the certification.

YOUR WHEN

Work tends to expand to fill the time available for its completion. -Parkinson's Law

Your “WHEN” is closely tied to your “WHY”. If you're aiming to meet a regulatory requirement within the next two months or planning a career move in five, then earning your certification before that deadline becomes non-negotiable.

Knowing your “WHEN” makes you strategic with your learning plan. If you have a very short “WHEN”, you may focus on learning the exam question structure or solving more questions rather than spending time to understand the course. 

If you have a long “WHEN”, you can prioritize understanding key concepts before jumping into the exam questions.

Once you've decided when to take the exam, be sure to schedule it at least a month in advance. For instance, if your goal is to sit for the exam in December, aim to have it paid for and booked by November.

There are 2 main reasons for that.

1. Commitment breeds motivation. Once you set a date and pay for it, you get an extra boost of motivation. 
2. Logistics can be a headache. Scheduling and payment aren’t always straightforward. The earlier you tackle this hurdle, the smoother the journey. (I'll dive deeper into this in the sections ahead.).

HUMILITY TEST

It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” ― Epictetus.

Now that you have set your “why” and “when”, it's time for a quick humility test.

Most certifications offer a free official exam prep or practice question set. Take this test, and you will be amazed at how much you don't know, even with your years of experience!

If you have had prior working experience with the exam you are about to take, you tend to underestimate it, and this, in my view, is one of the topmost reasons why people fail their exam. The reason for this shocking knowledge gap is that, in our workplaces, we learn exactly what we need to get the job done. Hence, experience alone does not guarantee that you understand all the underlying concepts.

I call this the “HUMILITY TEST”, and you must take it before you begin your learning journey.