For professionals to remain relevant in a competitive marketplace, they must pursue continuing education. Without adding to their skills and depth of knowledge, they run the risk of no longer having what it takes to earn the top jobs in their professions.
A proven pathway to earning those skills – and demonstrating to employers you earned them – is through a certificate in a specific area. Both Six Sigma and project management education is available for professionals who want to up their game and serve their clients and customers better.
Is it worth the effort to develop expertise in Six Sigma and project management? Recent information from a variety of sources indicates that, just as in years past, Six Sigma and project management remain in-demand skills.
Expert Recommends Learning Six Sigma Skills
Author Martin Yate, a career coach and former HR professional, offers career advice by answering questions from professionals with the Society for Human Resource Management. He recently wrote about the types of skills that are in high demand.
Topping the list? Project management, Six Sigma and Lean management. Yale lists them as in-demand technical skills needed “across a wide range of white collar jobs.”
Yates notes that years ago, the ability to use Word, Excel and Microsoft Office products were big pluses on a resume. Now, they are a necessity. He wrote that the same could be said for technical skills such as project management and Six Sigma for certain types of workers.
He called these skills “increasingly important” and said those who already have these skills are in the minority. Having them “gives you an enhanced opportunity for professional growth, career stability and economic security. Keep the competitive edge you’ve established to ease strategic career moves.”
High-Paying IT Certifications
The Enterprisers Project also lists Six Sigma and project management among the top IT certifications a professional can earn, based on research from workforce research analysis firm Foote Partners. In this case, they are both classified as some of the “highest-paying IT certifications.”
Foote notes that project managers have been in demand during the pandemic as businesses look for people who can handle dispersed workgroups as well as work with a variety of vendors and constituents. But the demand began even before the pandemic as workplaces began to shift away from centralized locations.
They also recommend earning a Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Foote is quoted as saying that “Six Sigma is as important as it ever was. It’s been around a long time and is popular in a number of industries.”
Why Develop Six Sigma Skills
Having skills in Six Sigma and project management may help make professionals more attractive job candidates.
The reasons for the popularity of these skills have not changed. People with expertise in Six Sigma and project management can help businesses boost productivity, reduce costs and create products and services that better meet the needs of customers.
For the individual, it may also lead to higher salary potential. A Project Management Institute salary survey of 32,000 project managers around the world found that certified project managers had, on average, a salary that was 26% higher than those without project management certification.
Developing new skills may also help increase job security. As noted by Yate, “If you aren’t consistently developing new skills that are relevant to your area of expertise, you may be heading toward obsolescence. You need to research the in-demand skills relevant to your job and profession, and invest some time and energy in learning about new technologies to become competitive.”
