Are Google Certifications Worth It? Top 6 Free Paths

Introduction

Are Google certifications worth it? I have found the top 6 accessible paths proving that Google certifications lead to high-paying jobs and have worth you can take now. Yes, that’s right. Google, one of the world’s most influential companies, made these certifications available for anybody to take them. These Google certifications cover skills and jobs that Google and other big tech companies have a ton of trouble filling. So there’s lots of demand for these types of jobs.

There are not enough people with the skill set to fill the roles, so Google went ahead and created these Google certifications. I’m going to be going over the best ones in this article, and I’m going to be talking about essential things that you need to know about each. So, if you appreciate me writing these articles, let me know by commenting below. Let’s jump into it.

1- Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate

The number one Google certification on the list will be the Google cybersecurity professional certificate. Now, cybersecurity is one of those jobs that are in massive demand. I mean, think about it: how many times have you heard about companies that got hacked? Sometimes, their money is stolen, or even worse, their data gets stolen. Data is more valuable than oil or gold, so hackers try to get at it. So there’s a massive demand for this skill set. There are not enough people with the skills, and that’s where the certificate comes in.

So, it says it’ll take about six months to finish at seven hours a week of work. However, almost all of the reports online show that it’s much quicker than this. Usually, even if you’re doing it part-time, you can finish it in about one to three months, and they take you through a process. You go through different modules where you learn about the essential aspects of cybersecurity. Then, you will go ahead and build a portfolio using the modules. This portfolio is critical in the technology industry because of the many jobs and tech.

You don’t need a college degree, you don’t need previous experience, but you do have to have the skills. It is the only way to prove you have the skills. Suppose you don’t have a college degree or previous experience building a portfolio. You might go into a few jobs after you take this certification.

Entry Level Roles

• Junior Security Analysts make around $51,000 to $81,000 a year.
• Security Operations Center Operators make around $45,000 to $72,000 a year.

Mid Level Roles

• Cybersecurity Analyst who makes around $84,000 to $132,000 a year.
• Cybersecurity Incident Responder makes around $67,000 to $117,000 a year.

Senior Level Role

• Director of Cybersecurity makes around $217,000 to $369,000 a year.

So these are some highly high-paying jobs. Even at the entry level, it’s still perfect. There’s lots of room for growth. Many companies hire for these roles once you gain experience and build your skill set.

Here are some opportunities you can check them out.

• Attentive.com, apply via jobs. Lever.co/attentive/
• Seamless.Ai, apply via boards.greenhouse.io/seamlessai/
• Tucows.com, apply via tucows.com/jobs?gh_jid=5694095003

This is fantastic certificate training, and it is hosted on Coursera.

2- Google UX Design Professional Certificate

The Google certification followed was the Google UX design professional certificate. So, UX stands for user experience. This is where you would design the interface so that someone can see if they use a website or software, which can make a massive difference in the success of a product. I mean, think about it like this. Have you ever used a piece of software that was incredibly difficult to use? You couldn’t find anything; you always had to call tech support, which was a huge pain.

You probably didn’t use that product for long then. On the other hand, there are products out there that seem so intuitive and easy to use. You rarely have to call tech support. Those are the types of products that people stick to and continue using for years, and they are the same on websites. Some websites are lovely if you’re trying to get somebody to buy a product. It’s also easy to find everything. You feel like you’re having a good experience on the website.

Chances are with those good products and good websites. They hired some excellent UX designers, which you can learn how to do with this certificate. This one says it takes about six months to finish, with ten work hours per week. Again, almost all of the reviews and self-reported data show that it’s much quicker than that. It’s probably something more like 1 to 3 months, and some of the career paths you might go into and how much they pay will be UX design, and they make about $55,000 to $93,000 a year.

Entry Level Roles

• Digital Design Interns make around $46,000 to $78,000 a year.

Mid Level Roles

• UI and UX Designers make around $70,000 to $120,000 a year.

Senior Level Role

• Lead UX Designer, and they make around $117,000 to $175,000 a year.

These are high-paying jobs, especially considering UX design is just about being an artist. There are not that many high-paying artist-related jobs out there. So, there are lots of people that have had success with this Google certification. Many people have left reviews and testimonials online; you can check Reddit or YouTube’s comment sections of videos about these things. I want to see comment after comment from people who have been able to get a job or just had a good experience taking them. This is another perfect one.

3- Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate

The Next Google certification will be the Google digital marketing and e-commerce professional certificate. So this is another one that you can take for free. By the way, you must pay to take some certificates on Coursera. Then, you can take some of them for free, but if you want to finish it and get the certificate and some of the other perks and benefits they offer, you have to pay Coursera, and it’s usually about $49 a month. However, sometimes, they offer promotions throughout the year.

But for what you give, $49 per month is an absolute steal, especially considering college degrees cost a hundred thousand dollars and boot camps that help you get into jobs usually cost between 5 and 30 thousand dollars. So this one takes about six months with 10 hours a week of work. But again, self-reported data shows it’s much quicker than that, between one to three months, and I think everybody knows what digital marketing is. It’s marketing that happens online.

An example of digital marketing would be ads that pop up and YouTube videos. Another example would be the ads that pop up on Google. Another example would be websites and creating SEO-optimized content; another example would be creating content online. So, YouTube videos like this. That’s technically a part of digital marketing called content marketing. So, there are some roles that you could take on here.

Entry Level Roles

• Social Media Coordinators make around $40,000 to $58,000 a year.
• E-commerce Customer Service Representatives make around $35,000 to $50,000 a year.

Mid Level Roles

• Digital Marketing Specialists make around $51,000 to $79,000 a year.
• E-commerce Marketing Managers make around $77,000 to $118,000 a year.
• SEO analysts make around $57,000 to $97,000 a year.

Senior Level Role

Director of E-commerce makes about $137,000 to $246,000 a year.

Here are some opportunities you can check them out.

• Aquent.com, apply via aquent.com/find-work
• Remote.com, apply via remote.com/jobs

Tons of different companies are hiring for these jobs, which is one of the most in-demand skills you could learn. There are also a lot of opportunities to become a freelancer. For instance, an article about Alex Markovich, a freelance digital marketing manager in Toronto who charges anywhere between $150 to $3,995 on Fiverr for his services. Many managers will charge 250 dollars an hour as freelancers. So there’s a lot of opportunity, whether you want to get a job, start freelancing, or even start your own business. So, another great one. 

If you’re enjoying this article, share it with a friend, a family member, or someone else who needs a job. Anyone who needs to read it, share this with them. I think this is a great way to grow the blog. I think it’s fantastic that people discover my blog. They love the content, and then they go ahead and share it. It’s like a grassroots way of growing, and I don’t have an extensive marketing department on this blog. I write on a laptop, and then my wife checks it. So, sharing this is always appreciated. 

4- Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

The next Google certification will be the Google Data Analytics professional certificate. This is one of my three favourite Google certifications, and I saved the best three for last because I will discuss my three favorites, but the first one will be data analytics. So this one, again, says it takes about six months at 10 hours a week; self-reported data shows one to three months. Sometimes, people are even able to finish it faster than before. Now, data, in general, is super valuable; it is anything that involves data.

Many jobs offer it, but you have to have skills. You’re not just going to get a job walking off the street. You have to have the skills and prove that you have them. The way to do that is to study online and then create a portfolio. That’s precisely what this certificate training does for you.

Entry Level Roles

• Data Entry Analysts make around $36,000 to $52,000 a year.
• Data Support Analysts make about $35,000 to $53,000 a year.

Mid Level Roles

• Data Analysts make around $66,000 to $103,000 a year.
• Business Intelligence Analysts make around $80,000 to $115,000 a year.

Senior Level Role

• Lead Data Analysts make around $113,000 to $170,000 a year.

Here are some opportunities you can check them out.

• Trip Advisor, apply via careers.tripadvisor.com
• Walmart, apply via careers.walmart.com

5- Google IT Support Professional Certificate

The Next Google certification will be the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. So this was, actually, the one that started it all. This is the first one that came out when Google partnered with Coursera, and it was massively popular. Millions and millions of people have taken it, and it has some fantastic reviews. So this is another one. It says six months at 10 hours a week, this one.

I’ve heard people getting it done in seven to ten days. Does that mean you will get it done in seven to ten days? Probably not. But you can, very realistically, get this one done, and like, a few weeks to a few months, this one, just like all the other ones, is beginner-friendly.

Entry Level Roles

• Help Desk Technicians make around $40,000 to $57,000 a year.
• Desktop Support Reps make around $47,000 to $68,000 a year.

Mid Level Roles

• IT Support Analysts make around $53,000 to $82,000 a year.
• Systems Administrators make around $80,000 to $120,000 a year.

Senior Level Role

• IT Director of Operations makes around $175,000 to $278,000 a year.

Here are some opportunities you can check them out.

• 10UP, apply via 10up.com/careers
• Runway, apply via runwayml.com/careers

This is another fantastic Google certification with incredible ratings online. Again, you can look at the ratings on Coursera. You can look at people talking about it on Reddit, and you can look at people talking in the YouTube comment sections of different videos. You’ll see that everybody has good things to say about these Google certifications. 

6- Google Project Management Professional Certificate

The next Google certification will be the Google Project Management Professional Certificate. Again, this is one of my top three favorites. So, project management is all about the execution of planning and risk management of a project. So this is where a company has some new initiative, maybe a new project or product they’re launching, and they will put you in charge of that project. So it’s like being a mini entrepreneur with training wheels because you’ll need to know a little about marketing, sales, and the product itself.

You’re also going to need to be pretty good at leadership. So you’re wearing many different hats here, and depending on your personality, that might be a good thing because you like a challenge or a bad thing. After all, you don’t want to get stressed out. But if it’s a good thing, this is a fantastic certificate training program. They say it takes six months at 10 hours a week. Realistically, most people can get this done in one to three months.

Well, we’ll stay with this one. I am a big fan of it, but there are other certifications that you’d also want to take, such as the CAPM. So, make sure you do your research on that.

Entry Level Roles

• Project Coordinators make around $44,000 to $62,000 a year.
• Project Manager Trainees make around $53,000 to $84,000 a year.

Mid Level Roles

• Project Managers make around $77,000 to $129,000 a year.
• Program Managers make around $83,000 to $140,000 a year.
• Project Management Consultants make around $101,000 to $164,000 a year.

Senior Level Role

• Heads of PMO make around $161,000 to $248,000 a year.

So, as you can see, there are great options at the lower levels, great options at the mid-levels, and great options at the senior level. So it pays well right off the bat, and you get the opportunity to move into positions where you can make even more money. 

Final Verdict: Are Google Certifications Worth It for Career Advancement?

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, staying ahead means constantly updating one’s skill set. Google Certifications have emerged as a beacon of learning and development, offering many free and tailored courses to meet the demands of high-paying jobs in various industries.

As explored throughout this article, these certifications cover various topics, from data analytics to project management, providing valuable insights and practical knowledge. They are designed by industry experts and regularly updated to reflect the latest trends and technologies.

However, the question remains, “Are Google Certifications Worth It?” The answer is a resounding yes. Google Certifications are valuable for those looking to enhance their resume, switch careers, or gain a competitive edge in the job market. They demonstrate to potential employers a commitment to professional growth and a proactive approach to learning.

Moreover, the success stories of individuals who have leveraged these certifications to climb the career ladder are a testament to their value. With the flexibility to learn at your own pace and the advantage of being recognized by a tech giant, these Google certifications can open doors to lucrative opportunities.

In conclusion, consider the potential return on investment if you’re on the fence about pursuing a Google Certification. With no financial barrier, the only investment is your time and effort, which can yield significant rewards in your professional journey. So, leap and explore the top 6 free Google Certifications that could pave the way to your next high-paying job.

By the way, I wrote an article that went viral. It’s called “11 Lucrative Certifications that Pay Well in 2024,”. You can check that article out by clicking here.