Head of Cloud Software & Services| Ericsson EMEAVictoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
In my opinion, I subscribe to acquiring experience before certifications because it helps you to validate if you have been doing the work rightly. If you are lucky to learn from professionals that do the work rightly while gathering the experience, then it is better for you. But in a situation where you gather your experience in an environment where the work is not done rightly, then it becomes challenging.
More importantly, if you find yourself in any of the situations above, the way ahead is to invest in self-learning, networking, and other credible sources of knowledge to validate your experience.
Please I would like to have your thoughts on this and what has worked for you.... Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Taiwo, in my opinion, definitely experience first, then certifications. Real-world experience gives you the context to truly understand and apply what you're learning in a certification program. When you’ve been hands-on in the field, the theories and frameworks taught during certification start to make sense and you can connect the dots and see how they apply in practical situations.
Certifications on top of experience become a powerful combination: they validate your skills, help you structure your knowledge, and often expose you to best practices or new perspectives that can enhance your on-the-job performance. But without experience, certifications can feel abstract and may not translate into real impact.
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1 reply by TAIWO POPOOLA
Aug 30, 2025 10:40 AM
TAIWO POPOOLA
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Thank you Rami Kaibni. Certification without experience will feel abstract because experience will a practical idea of what the work is all about.
Experience without certification is a viable strategy if you are targeting a role where there is very low supply of talent and a very high demand. Certification can help to complement sufficient depth and breadth of experience either to ensure you are not eliminated right off the bat OR to differentiate yourself from an equivalent candidate, especially if you are holding a low volume credential.
Certification without experience is like theory without practice - good for cocktail party conversations but unlikely to provide much commercial value.
I agree with you that experience matters before certification which is why it is part of eligibility criteria for most certifications.
Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
TAIWO POPOOLA That’s an excellent question.
I believe certification and experience are not rivals, but complementary sources of knowledge.
- Certification provides structured knowledge – a shared vocabulary, tested practices, and a framework to recognize what “good” looks like. It prevents us from being trapped only by local habits or poor practices.
- Experience provides contextual knowledge – the nuances of culture, stakeholders, and constraints that no book or exam can fully capture. It teaches us adaptability and judgment.
The key is the balance:
- With only experience, we may grow skilled but in a narrow or flawed way.
- With only certification, we may know the theory but struggle to apply it in real-world complexity.
In my view, the CAPM® is a good example where certification can precede deep experience, giving newcomers a structured map before they enter the field.
Later, as we accumulate projects, the PMP® or other advanced certifications allow us to integrate theory and practice at a higher level.
So instead of “which comes first,” I see it as an iterative cycle: knowledge informs experience, and experience refines knowledge.
That cycle is what makes us mature professionals.
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1 reply by TAIWO POPOOLA
Aug 30, 2025 10:58 AM
TAIWO POPOOLA
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Thank you Luis Branco. CAPM is good for newcomers and while certification has its value, experience play a major role.
Head of Cloud Software & Services| Ericsson EMEAVictoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Aug 24, 2025 2:35 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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Taiwo, in my opinion, definitely experience first, then certifications. Real-world experience gives you the context to truly understand and apply what you're learning in a certification program. When you’ve been hands-on in the field, the theories and frameworks taught during certification start to make sense and you can connect the dots and see how they apply in practical situations.
Certifications on top of experience become a powerful combination: they validate your skills, help you structure your knowledge, and often expose you to best practices or new perspectives that can enhance your on-the-job performance. But without experience, certifications can feel abstract and may not translate into real impact.
Thank you Rami Kaibni. Certification without experience will feel abstract because experience will a practical idea of what the work is all about. Saving Changes...
Head of Cloud Software & Services| Ericsson EMEAVictoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Aug 24, 2025 6:12 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Taiwo -
Experience without certification is a viable strategy if you are targeting a role where there is very low supply of talent and a very high demand. Certification can help to complement sufficient depth and breadth of experience either to ensure you are not eliminated right off the bat OR to differentiate yourself from an equivalent candidate, especially if you are holding a low volume credential.
Certification without experience is like theory without practice - good for cocktail party conversations but unlikely to provide much commercial value.
I agree with you that experience matters before certification which is why it is part of eligibility criteria for most certifications. Saving Changes...
Head of Cloud Software & Services| Ericsson EMEAVictoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Aug 25, 2025 3:14 AM
Replying to Luis Branco
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TAIWO POPOOLA That’s an excellent question.
I believe certification and experience are not rivals, but complementary sources of knowledge.
- Certification provides structured knowledge – a shared vocabulary, tested practices, and a framework to recognize what “good” looks like. It prevents us from being trapped only by local habits or poor practices.
- Experience provides contextual knowledge – the nuances of culture, stakeholders, and constraints that no book or exam can fully capture. It teaches us adaptability and judgment.
The key is the balance:
- With only experience, we may grow skilled but in a narrow or flawed way.
- With only certification, we may know the theory but struggle to apply it in real-world complexity.
In my view, the CAPM® is a good example where certification can precede deep experience, giving newcomers a structured map before they enter the field.
Later, as we accumulate projects, the PMP® or other advanced certifications allow us to integrate theory and practice at a higher level.
So instead of “which comes first,” I see it as an iterative cycle: knowledge informs experience, and experience refines knowledge.
That cycle is what makes us mature professionals.
Thank you Luis Branco. CAPM is good for newcomers and while certification has its value, experience play a major role. Saving Changes...
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