Career Resilience and Splunk: Insights from the 2023 Splunk Career Impact Survey

Splunk recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary! Throughout our wild and wonderful history, I can truly say we have witnessed the transformative impact of our platform on both the organizations who deploy it and the professionals who use it. It is incredibly powerful – and yet we all know that no matter how amazing any piece of software or new technology is, it is really only as powerful as the people who use it. It makes me feel good to know that Splunk Education is a critical piece when it comes to harnessing the true power of Splunk and the impact Splunk Training and Certification has on the careers of those who use it and thrive with it.

The Community Shares Their Feedback

To validate our belief that using Splunk and being proficient in Splunk has a transformative impact, we conducted the 2023 Splunk Career Impact Survey among 750 of our Splunk community members – practitioners who use Splunk within their organization. The survey covered earning power, promotability, and proficiency, and at the same time, uncovered potential benefits to the organization. The results speak volumes about the career resilience, growth opportunities, and increased job prospects attributed to proficiency and certification in Splunk – for both employers and employees alike.

Read the full 2023 Splunk Career Impact Report here.

Career Resilience as a Direct Outcome of Splunk Proficiency

The survey findings made it clear that a strong command over Splunk was seen to positively influence career directions for the respondents. In fact, Splunk users with higher proficiency levels were 2.7 times more likely to have received job promotions in the past year. It’s incredible to know that there is a direct correlation between expertise in Splunk and career advancement. The survey also indicated that users with certifications and higher Splunk proficiency earn almost 131% more than their peers. We also learned that 72% of those surveyed felt confident in their career resilience and that Splunk proficiency is key to accelerating their professional journey.

Empowering Opportunities for Career Growth

An overwhelming 67% of respondents acknowledged Splunk as one of the most crucial technologies to master for career growth. Another encouraging finding (for me, personally) was that Splunk Education – the home of Splunk University, Hands-on Labs, and Splunk Certification – was the program most highly rated by respondents looking to get upskilled on Splunk. A very exciting finding was that users who felt very proficient in Splunk were experiencing increased earnings of 57% compared to those who felt they were lacking in Splunk proficiency. Notably, those with multiple certifications were three times more likely to have received performance-based raises in the last 12 months, emphasizing the critical role of certifications in unlocking career growth.

Splunk Certification and Proficiency Correlate to Salary Strength

The survey data also shows that Splunk certifications and increased proficiency help unlock career outcomes associated with Splunk including more job security, increased influence within their teams, and fulfillment of professional goals. Users with multiple certifications were

4.9x as likely as those with none to expect a salary increase in the next 12 months, and high-proficiency users were 62% more likely to anticipate merit-based raises compared to those with adequate or below average proficiency in Splunk.

Employer Recognition and Market Competitiveness

Splunk's impact goes beyond individual careers, extending to organizational success. An astounding 86% of respondents attributed their organization's strengthened competitive position to the utilization of Splunk. Respondents also attributed being more Splunk proficient with feelings of greater self-worth and value in their profession and career.The survey further revealed that professionals with high Splunk proficiency were 60% more likely to feel valued by their employers.

Looking Ahead

The 2023 Splunk Career Impact Survey highlights the undeniable positive impact that Splunk proficiency and certification have on practitioners’ career and professional advancement. From increased job security to enhanced market competitiveness, Splunk's impact resonates deeply within the Splunk user community. The survey reaffirms our commitment to empowering professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Here’s how you can learn more about how Splunk Education is helping to support career and workforce resilience:

Join the Splunk Training and Certification Community to connect with like-minded learners.

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