Why you should get a Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification

The Six Sigma Yellow Belt is a support role on a Six Sigma project.  They work with Green Belts during the Define, Measure, and Analyze stage of the DMAIC process to assess business processes.  Yellow Belts are considered subject matter experts in their particular field, so Green Belts rely on them for their extensive knowledge of current-state processes.

Today we’re launching a new series of articles called “Why You Should”. This series is designed to give you a better understanding of why you should get a specific certification and how it can benefit you.

We’re starting the series with discussing why you should get your Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. One of the nice things about Six Sigma belt levels is that you don’t typically need to progress through each belt. You can start at any belt level that best fits your goals or job role.

Professional man in suit

This does lead to confusion sometimes, as many people will simply decide to skip directly to the Black Belt and just get certified at the highest level.  While there isn’t anything wrong with that, there are many benefits to getting certified as a Yellow Belt.  Let’s look at some of those benefits:

Deeper understand of the Yellow Belt role:

If you plan to get certified as a Black Belt, you need to have a strong understanding of the Yellow and Green belt roles.  Getting your certification at the Yellow Belt level ensures you know exactly what the job entails.  You’ll need to pass a certification exam specifically designed for the Yellow Belt level.  This will ensure you understand how Yellow Belts act as subject matter experts for a specific task within the project.  They will not have the statistical abilities that a Green Belt has, so you can not expect them to carry out those tasks.  Yellow Belts do have an understanding of many basic Six Sigma principles like y=f(x), DMADV variation, Process Variances, Needs Analysis, ISO, and more.

Great resumé builder:

Even if you have an MBA in business, it doesn’t mean you need to be highly certified in Six Sigma.  Having a Six Sigma Yellow Belt shows employers you’ve taken the time to learn about the DMAIC process and gotten certified on your own time.  Employers love employees who understand how to save money and limit waste.  There’s a good reason that people who list certifications on their Linkedin.com profile receive 6X times the number of views that other people receive.  This is because certifications allow employers to search for a specific skill like “Six Sigma” or “Yellow Belt” and find people with the exact traits they need.

Employers love employees who understand how to save money and limit waste. There’s a good reason that people who list certifications on their LinkedIn profiles receive six times the number of views that other people receive. This is because certifications allow employers to search for a specific skill like “Six Sigma” or “Yellow Belt” and find people with the exact traits they need.

Higher potential salary:

There are no guarantees that having a certification will lead to a higher salary, but certifications do make you more valuable to an employer.  With so much competition, employers look for people with diverse skillsets.  Someone who can manage more tasks is always going to be more valuable.  For this reason, having your Yellow Belt certification could be the deciding factor if you’re applying for a job against someone with similar skills, but no Six Sigma certification.

Is Six Sigma Certification Worth it for Your Professional Career?

If you are looking to succeed in today’s business world, you must consider how employers qualify potential candidates for new job opportunities or advancements within their firm. Having the proper skill set has become increasingly important to companies looking to expand their pool of talent. With a Six Sigma certification, your future or current employer will be fully aware of your capabilities and what you can offer their organization. Your certification will not only be an indication of your skills but also your determination to bring your best to whatever position you are offered.

Of course, the reasons listed above aren’t the only reason for getting your Yellow Belt. Personal development of your skills is another great reason to pursue Six Sigma certification. At only $199.95, the Yellow Belt is a great way to learn something new. Whatever your reason, having a Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification can be a benefit to you and your career.