I Almost Bought Another Certification. Instead, I Applied for an Internship.

Beyond Certificates: Building Skills That Actually Open Doors

A few years ago, I found myself looking at yet another certification.

The curriculum looked great. The curriculum looked great. The credential would've looked pretty sexy on LinkedIn too. 😉

I was ready to click "Enroll."

Then I paused and asked myself a simple question: "What am I HOPING this certification will give me?"

The answer surprised me.

It wasn't another certificate. It was experience.

So instead of enrolling in another program, I did something that felt far more uncomfortable.

I applied for an internship.

It wasn't glamorous AT ALL. It didn't come with a shiny badge or a digital credential. What it gave me was something much more valuable: real projects, real feedback, real deadlines, and real learners.

That internship turned into a job.

And that job taught me lessons I don't think I could have learned in a classroom alone.

Working as a Learning Experience Designer has changed the way I think about learning. I'm constantly asking one question: What actually changes behavior?

After designing learning experiences and watching how adults learn, I've realized that information is only the beginning.

Practice is what creates change.

Now, can I confess something?

I LOVE LEARNING, AS YOU CAN TELL!

I love finishing a course.

I love downloading the certificate.

I especially love adding it to LinkedIn and let's not forget giving my resume a little glow-up.

There's something incredibly satisfying about reaching the finish line. It feels like progress because, in many ways, it is.

The problem isn't certificates.

The problem is assuming that a certificate is the finish line.

In reality, it's often the starting point.

Behavioral science tells us that our brains love completion. Finishing a course gives us a sense of accomplishment. We feel like we've moved forward.

And we have, atleast theoretically.

But real confidence isn't built when we complete a course.

It's built when we use what we've learned.

That's the moment learning begins to stick.

Learning is only half the equation!

One of the biggest shifts in my career happened when I stopped asking,
"What should I learn next?" and started asking, "Where can I apply what I already know?"

That question changed everything.

Instead of looking for another opportunity to learn, I started looking for opportunities to practice.

That's where growth accelerated.

Not because I stopped learning, but because I started creating experiences that challenged me to use what I'd learned.

Designing learning for real people, receiving honest feedback, making mistakes, trying again, improving.

Those experiences gave me something every learning designer hopes to create for others: Behavior change.

So, before your next learning investment- Whether it's a certification, a course, or a workshop, ask yourself one question: "How will I apply what I'm about to learn?"

Maybe it's through an internship.

Maybe it's volunteering.

Maybe it's redesigning an existing course.

Maybe it's taking on a stretch project at work.

Maybe it's building a portfolio piece.

Remember, the course gives you knowledge.

Practice turns that knowledge into capability and true confidence.

Also, DO NOT GET ME WRONG! Certificates matter. They really do! So does what comes after.

I'm not against certifications.

I've earned them, and I'll continue investing in the ones that help me grow.

The difference is that I no longer see them as the destination.

I see them as the beginning.

Today, before I enroll in anything, I ask myself: What will I be able to do after this that I can't do today?

If I have a clear answer, I know it's worth the investment.

Then I make sure I create opportunities to practice it.

Because that's where learning becomes confidence.

That's where knowledge becomes skill.

And that's what truly opens doors.

Okay now, be honest...
How many unfinished courses are sitting in your dashboard right now?😅

And when did you realize that practicing what you already know was more valuable than buying the next course?

Let me know in the comments!