# Qualification versus Certification By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2022-09-19 What does a qualified analyst look like and are you one? Well, this largely depends upon how the [[world views]] you and how you view yourself. As a human, you are naturally an analyst. You are constantly evaluating the situation, exploring systems, and learning how to interact with them. So at this level, you are a qualified analyst. However, if the world views analysis as purely data and mathematics, then your qualifications largely depend upon your ability to meet these expectations. Notice that there is no mention of formal education or training here as they are not critical requirements. However, most people will require formal training as it is easier to check a piece of paper than it is to evaluate your skills. Certificates and resumes are shortcuts to qualifications that are convenient on two levels. First, they allow someone who is not qualified to judge if you are qualified. For example, a manager with no data and mathematics experience may want to hire a qualified analyst but doesn't know what to look for. They rely upon certifications and experience documents to provide them with a yardstick to assess an analyst's qualifications. This is an imperfect system as many people can have the same credentials with very different [[performance]] outcomes. After all, data and mathematics skills are necessary yet not sufficient to be a great business analyst. The second convenience of certificates and resumes is how they boost the [[confidence]] of the person who has them. Impostor syndrome is the feeling a person gets when they doubt their qualifications and abilities. Having a certificate and documented experience can serve as a reminder that you are qualified for that position and should act that way. Things like a college degree or title tend to boost how a person behaves and acts in critical situations. Sometimes that confidence makes all the difference as the people evaluating your qualifications are often unqualified to assess your skills or are unwilling to invest the time it takes to assess you. Certificates and experiences on paper can work wonders if you believe them. Qualifications are hard to define and relative. As a result, most organizations and people rely on certificates and resumes to approximate qualifications. Certainly, you can be a highly qualified and skilled analyst without any formal training, but few people will know what to make of you. When faced with this situation, you can attempt to fight and prove yourself another way or fall in line with meeting their qualification expectations. Neither seems particularly satisfying, but it comes down to what hill you are willing to die on. An organization that cares about true qualifications might be around the corner, or you might have to adhere to conventions to make an impact from the inside. #### Related Items [[Analytics]] [[Qualification]] [[Certification]] [[Impostor Syndrome]] [[Business]]