By Paul Pleshek, NAFCT
Through my career I have always placed a high value on certification. I had certifications listed on my trucks, business cards, quote sheets and phone book ads (yeah, that used to be a thing). I even carried around a “brag book” which was a binder with sheet protectors that held every certification along with references and pictures of my work. One of the first things I talked about with a customer was my education, backed up by certifications.
Certification is the tangible proof of your education that customers, employers and peers use to gauge your professionalism. Certifications are credentials earned by an individual to verify their legitimacy and competence to perform a job. Certification is evidence you have been trained, educated and successfully passed assessments administered by a recognized third-party credentialing institution.
According to a Gallup, Inc. and Strada Education Network survey, non-degree holders with a certificate or certification report a higher rate of full-time employment and higher incomes. And when we speak with individuals themselves, we hear they are more confident about their marketability and more satisfied with their educational path than those without a credential. They believe that pursuing a non-degree credential is a worthwhile endeavor and are highly likely to recommend their educational path to others like them.
“This new report shows that degreed higher education isn’t the only viable path into a good career,” noted Anthony Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. “Oftentimes short-term certificates and industry-based certifications get the job done quicker, better and cheaper.”
The flooring industry is rapidly changing. Entirely new product categories and installation systems are being developed constantly. This isn’t the same industry it was 15 years ago and will be entirely different 15 years from now. Through certification classes you’re being exposed to the latest products, you have access to industry experts and you’re learning alongside peers in the industry. You don’t just gain the knowledge you need to succeed today, but the tools needed to adapt quickly to an ever-changing industry.
Certifications can give you entirely new services you can offer to existing customers. There are portions of the industry that are quickly becoming specialties. Companies across the country exclusively perform subfloor prep and others travel nationwide for heat weld and flash coving jobs. The fact is the quickest way to more business income isn’t finding new customers but offering more services to your existing customers.
Certifications expand your career opportunities. Flooring installation is a rewarding career, but it is also physically demanding. For many installers there comes a day when they “have to get off the floor.” By pursuing credentials throughout your career, it expands the opportunities for you later in your career. Being certified gives you an advantage when pursuing jobs as a manufacturer sales or technical rep, project manager, trainer or a role in running an association.
Certifications are becoming increasingly valuable to customers as a demonstration of your professionalism and adherence to the highest industry standards. Certification provides credibility that you are a professional, invested in your industry and understanding the importance of your reputation.
Being certified yourself—or having certified employees—is a critical competitive advantage for your business. Certification demonstrates your commitment to superior professionalism, upholding industry standards and continued learning. Being certified boosts your professional credibility and reputation with your current customers, and when pursuing new business opportunities or bidding on projects. Certifications are a worthwhile investment because of the many advantages they can provide throughout your career and as your business evolves.
