Professional Certifications

[turtle18]

When applying for professional certifications, is it morally wrong to emphasize one area of work experience over another? I don’t mean exaggerate I just mean selectively listing your work experience.

I am applying for a certification that requires 5 years direct work experience in the field. Problem is, I’ve had about seven years experience in that field but it has never been my primary job responsibility. I worked in small offices & businesses where I had many job functions and this was just one part of my job. So had bad would it be to list these jobs and just highlight the experience I had relevant to the field?

I still have to past a very long test to receive the certification but they also want substantial job experience as well.

Has anyone been in this situation?

 

[rpp]

Be truthful. Remember, this is essentially testimony. If it is found you withheld information, you may be subject to whatever disciplinary procedures are used by the agency issuing the certification. Do not violate the spirit and intent of the certification process, that would be a sin, the gravity of which probably depends on the type of work you are doing and whether lives or public health or safety may be at risk.

 

[royal_archer]

Be truthful. Remember, this is essentially testimony. If it is found you withheld information, you may be subject to whatever disciplinary procedures are used by the agency issuing the certification. Do not violate the spirit and intent of the certification process, that would be a sin, the gravity of which probably depends on the type of work you are doing and whether lives or public health or safety may be at risk.

Ditto, but to add on. No one does one specfic task all 10 hours a day 5 days a week. This is normally a matter fo degrees there is a lot of gray especially in the office environment where you have to multi task and do more than one job. You may also find that some simmilar jobs count as equivalent experience. You may want to contact the organization to find out what they feel is the threshold for the experience. They should be able to tell you how to document your experience in the best, most honnest way.

 

[Writer]

I have encountered this challenge before. I approached it a couple different ways, but the method I’d suggest is to determine what the percentage of time spent on a daily basis was on this specific duty or task. Once you have determined some kind of an average that way, then calculate how much time that corresponds to for a year, then multiply that by seven. That should give you ballpark idea, and I’ll bet that you will find it well in excess of the minimum you’re trying to meet. Keep your calculation notes, so you can explain your qualifications to their satisfaction. State applications here used to require percentages (relating to the position description being applied for) for each position worked in one’s job history.

 

[RobGentner]

When applying for professional certifications, is it morally wrong to emphasize one area of work experience over another? I don’t mean exaggerate I just mean selectively listing your work experience.

I am applying for a certification that requires 5 years direct work experience in the field. Problem is, I’ve had about seven years experience in that field but it has never been my primary job responsibility. I worked in small offices & businesses where I had many job functions and this was just one part of my job. So had bad would it be to list these jobs and just highlight the experience I had relevant to the field?

I still have to past a very long test to receive the certification but they also want substantial job experience as well.

Has anyone been in this situation?

**For four years I was a Job Developer, that position included instructing on resume preparation, applications and other job related matters.
I can tell you that morally and legally, as long as you do not hide" the other job functions you may “Highlight” the portions that shows the experience relevant to the field. However, you do not want to falsify the information provided.
Direct work doesn’t mean only responsibility. It does means that you actually “performed” the work, not supervised or directed it being accomplished.
Turtle, to explain better, Lets say your job position was “Clerk Typist” and with your various other duties you were required to preform payroll, accounting, book keeping, and other fiscal functions which could be listed as an Accounting Clerk duties… It would be wrong to list your job as Accounting clerk. However it would not be wrong to list your position simply as “Clerk” and Highlight these responsibilities and then add something like “and other duties as assigned”, or " and additional responsibilities". If ever asked you could state what the other duties were, typing, filing, appointments, answering phones, etc. By emphasize the area of work experience that is required you are not being deceitful nor lying. You are providing accurate and precise information revelant to the requirement.
I assisted many people in “channeling” their previous duties to stress experience that they actually had but would not be apparent without using this technique. Many went on to obtain excellent jobs that might otherwise went to a less qualified person that had the job title~ I wish you great success:thumbsup:
A well formed conscience should guide you in what is correct. That you even ask the question is an indication that you have a conscience! I hope that helps. Good luck on your certification! **