How To Determine Which Tableau Certification Is Good For You

Updated 30 September 2022

Tableau certifications help professionals in information and technology (IT) substantiate their knowledge and expertise in using Tableau for data analytics. Organisations globally accept a Tableau certification as a valid accreditation to evaluate your ability to understand, organise and analyse data. Learning about the various certifications and their relevance to your job role may help you identify a certification to help you advance your career.

In this article, we discuss what a Tableau certification is, share steps to help you identify which Tableau certification is good for you, list its various types for your reference and show you ways to highlight them in your job application process.

What Is A Tableau Certification?

A Tableau certification displays your proficiency in using the analytics platform for managing data, creating visualisations and deriving data-driven insights. Data analysts, data scientists, students or executives use insights from Tableau to make business decisions and easily collaborate with stakeholders. It is an end-to-end data and analytics platform that ensures ethical data management, governance, data storytelling and visual analytics using artificial intelligence (AI)-driven statistical modelling. It provides efficiencies of scale while being secure and compliant with data management policies.

Getting this certification may help you get better opportunities and higher pay. Tableau offers several certification options that may suit you depending on your job role.

How To Determine Which Tableau Certification Is Good?

Here are some ways to determine which Tableau certification is good for you:

1. Define your career goals

To pick a certification that may add value to your resume, determine your career goals. Analyse your industry and its trends. Set short-term and long-term goals and determine a learning path to achieve them. Understanding your career and personal goals helps you understand the relevance of Tableau certifications.

2. Evaluate your skill sets

Create a list of your current skills and those you require for achieving your goals. Identifying areas of improvement can help you upskill, define learning timelines and stay employable. If you want to change your careers or move to a better job position, determine the skill gaps and relevant Tableau certification that may help you make the shift. Here are a few job roles that may benefit from a Tableau certification:

Data analyst

A data analyst works with programmers, computer engineers and executives to design and maintain data systems for data interpretation. They use statistical modelling and tools to identify trends and patterns. These insights help executives make business decisions.

Server administrator

A server administrator optimises company servers to improve collaboration while monitoring data security. They configure new tools and develop processes to manage the server. A server administrator may work with senior executives to plan and implement policies for data storage and maintenance to maximise server efficiency.

Data administrator

Data administrators determine methods to store and secure data in an organisation. They understand organisational requirements and build relevant databases. A data administrator also often ensures safe data backups periodically to prevent its loss.

Data scientist

A data scientist understands industry or business problems and uses data to make data-driven decisions. They determine the methods to collect, store, clean and analyse data. A data scientist may work with data analysts to derive insights and present them to stakeholders for their perusal.

3. Explore Tableau certifications for your role

Tableau offers role-based and specialised certification options. These certifications come at a cost and require periodic renewal. Tableau also provides an e-learning platform you may explore if you are new to Tableau. The accreditation does not have any pre-requisites, but the recommended experience or knowledge may enhance upon completing it. Tableau also provides course material to help you prepare.

Examples Of Tableau Certifications

Here are a few Tableau certifications that you may choose based on your career goals, expertise and experience:

Tableau Desktop specialist

The Tableau Desktop specialist certification is a 60-minute multiple choice and multiple response examination. It is for people with the foundational skills and understanding of Tableau Desktop. A minimum of three months of using and understanding the products is beneficial before attempting the examination. The certification validates your knowledge and proficiency in using the platform, understanding the various terminologies and using it to analyse data.

Tableau-certified data analyst

The Tableau data analyst certification is a 120-minute examination with a mix of multiple choice, multiple selections, active screen and hands-on performance lab. The examination actively tests your expertise and practical skills through 30 knowledge-based questions and ten to 11 tasks in the hands-on lab. You may take the certification in a testing centre or even online. A Tableau-certified data analyst understands business problems, identifies relevant data for analyses and provides stakeholders with actionable insights.

Tableau Server certified associate

System administrators or consultants may use Tableau to organise content on a site, manage user permission or create projects. The associate certification credits your knowledge and expertise in using the Tableau Server functionality in a single-machine environment. Minimum six months of experience using the Tableau Server benefits before attempting the examination. The certification requires you to pass a 90-minute multiple choice and multiple response examination that you may take from a testing centre or online.

Tableau Certifications In A Workplace

Here are a few ways in which a Tableau certification may benefit you at your workplace:

Display your digital badge. Completing a Tableau certification provides you with a digital badge to substantiate your skills. You may display it on your social media profiles and job portals to add credibility to your candidature.
Grow your network. The certification allows you to register in Tableau's certification directory. It helps you gain access to more resources and better opportunities through Tableau.
Advance your career. A certification may help you advance your career in the same job role or change your career. It substantiates your practical knowledge and may improve your chance of a better job opportunity.
Increase your productivity. Understanding the functionalities of Tableau helps you effectively use the platform to meet organisational demands. It helps organise your tasks and streamline your workflow.

Tips To Highlight Your Tableau Certification

Mentioning your Tableau certification in documents like a resume, cover letter or speaking about it in an interview may help you show your credibility. It also allows you to leverage the certification to advance your career. Here are a few ways in which you may highlight your Tableau certification effectively in different stages of your job application process to increase your chances of getting hired successfully:

Tableau certification on a resume

Tableau certifications require a renewal examination periodically to ensure your skills are relevant to their changing features, technologies and industry demands. Dedicate a separate section in the resume highlighting your certification and mention its expiry date. Be transparent about the certification details to help employers determine your suitability for the job role. Consider including measurable statistics to help you prove how you can benefit the organisation if you get hired.

Tableau certification in a cover letter

Understand the job role, requirements and the relevance of a Tableau certification. Highlight experiences that substantiate your expertise and match employer expectations. Ensure to keep the cover letter brief and to the point. Ensure adding relevant highlights you achieved using your Tableau expertise to convey how you can contribute to the team if you get hired.

Tableau certification in an interview

Listen and understand the hiring manager's question before your answer. Share instances of how the certification benefited your job whenever relevant during the interview. You may discuss the different certifications you gained to advance your career and substantiate them through your work experience. Ensure you mention the certification not more than twice during the interview.

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