The Importance of Certification for IT Professionals
We are living in a world characterized by an increasingly rapid pace of technological change. As such, it is critical for technology professionals to stay ahead of the curve by constantly developing and honing their skills. The speed of the information highway gets faster every day, and thus professionalism and skill development are critical elements needed to leap-frog the competition.
The Importance of Getting Certified
Increasing your skills and professionalism relies on continuously maintaining a positive attitude, as well as developing a consistent set of credentials that will attest to your professional capabilities. With the right credentials to back-up your skills, coupled with a positive attitude, the possibility of getting hired and earning your dream salary will become increasingly likely. By having the right credentials, you will be able to stand out from your peers and differentiate yourself.
Having the right credentials means having the training and education necessary to be a star performer and excel at your job. Certificates are like licenses, and they help to provide confidence to the hiring manager that you are capable of performing and implementing the skills that you learned during the certification process.
Examples of IT Certifications
There are a wide variety of IT certifications from which to choose. In fact, there are literally hundreds of such certifications depending on your specific position and industry. The extent to which you select the right certification for your specific situation will influence – either positively or negatively – your perceived credibility and organizational value. Thus, you must make sure you pursue the correct certification. The complete list of possibilities is beyond the scope of this article, but here are a few examples of the more popular options:
Project management: PMI, CAPM, PMP
CompTIA: Certified Technical Trainer (CTT), Digital Home Technology Integrator (DHTI)
Electrical engineering: Certified Software Development Associate (CSDA), Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP)
Microsoft: MCITP, MCTS, MCPD, MCA
Software testing: ISTQB, ISEB
Again, these are only some of the certifications that an IT professional might consider. If you are not sure which certification would be appropriate for your specific situation, just do a simple Google search and you will find multiple complete lists of all the possibilities right on page #1. Just about all IT certifications can be achieved by utilizing self study training materials or attending 2-3 day instructor-led training programs, and then enrolling in and passing the appropriate certification exam.
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