From Certified to Certifier

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We asked Szarkowicz if there is anything he does that is special, having gone through the process of becoming certified himself? What influences on the road to certification does he bring to his students who seek certification? He replied, “Knowing all the small tricks available as short-cuts to students, I am trying to design the Ericsson program to minimize the possibility that candidates may try to take shortcuts in order to become certified. Also my approach is more professional (formal), as I have had the possibility to experience other certification programs myself”. So, Szarkowicz’s students have a training program that has its antennas raised to detect any easy detours, helping to ensure accurate and complete training, ultimately to the students’ advantage.

What does Szarkowicz tell his students about certification and goals? It’s all about learning enabling more learning: “Certification helps in competence development, as it puts some pressure on candidates to learn more and in more effective ways. So, they learn more and more and thus increased their skills and knowledge in certain area. They get better and better”.

Like Andres Segovia, the Spanish guitar master who practiced and played hours each day in spite of his amazing artistic gifts, Krzysztof Szarkowicz does not take his extensive native abilities for granted. Certification has given him a career he cherishes, but he made sacrifices and worked hard to attain it. Which makes having two masters degrees and speaking six languages no real surprise, after all.