Puzzling Thoughts On Compensation vs. Education

COMMENTS

1. 1. John [ August 25, 2009 @ 03:37PM ]

   Hi Ed,
   
   I am a little surprized at your salary results. I am a public sector assistant fleet manager and just completed my CAFM. My current employer will offer congratulations but no monetary increase. They paid for the initial registration and one test setting. At the second test setting management would not pay and stated that I should have passed it at the first setting. Clearly they have no idea of the complicated study and test process and the value of having a CAFM on staff. I read one survey where it indicated that having a CAFM showed a ten thousand dollar a year increase vs not having the CAFM. My wife asked if I would get that raise. I told her not at my current employer. My goal upon completion is to make my self more marketable in the field of fleet. Looking at the co operation with Ferris State speaks of the value of the CAFM. I hope to be one of the first to complete the Ferris State program. At which point I can experience the increased salary from the CAFM. I hope to continue in public sector employ and experience the higher salary your respondents listed in the survey. Keep up the good work!

2. 2. Tom [ October 09, 2009 @ 04:37AM ]

   The CAFM for managers, like the ASE for technicians, will never return full compensation vs what was invested: lots of time and money. Both programs show how determined the individual is to self improvement and willingness to take the exams multiple times usually at their own expense, only to renew/pay again 3-5 years down the road. I would hire an experienced ground up employee who has been on the shop floor environment for 25 years rather than a recent CAFM graduate with marginal shop experience. Both are qualified, but when it comes to the questions posed from tax payers, the answeres usually come from the shop experience.

3. 3. Richard Battersby [ October 13, 2009 @ 12:41PM ]

   Unfortunately, it is frequently easier to upgrade a vacant position than it is to push through a salary increase, especially in the current economy. I think it's pretty rare to tote a CAFM certificate down the hall and walk away with a raise. Perhaps this is best established in advance as part of a professional development plan tied to a salary increase upon successful completion. Please continue to pursue the certification/s you are interested in. I have seen more job listings desiring or requiring CAFM, CPFP, or CEM lately. This continues to raise the bar as more and more employers specify an industry certification as a job qualification. If your current employer does not value the certification, you will most likely find one soon that does- with a better salary.