Choose the Best IT Certification
The market for IT jobs continues to grow and opportunities are increasing. With the right certification, you may just gain the advantage that helps you land your dream job.
Here are three things to think about when choosing what certification is best for you:
#1 — Career Alignment
Sometimes you may need a certification specific to your area(s) of expertise or your preferred career path (e.g. cybersecurity). A good first step is researching what certifications will help you advance in your field or put that promotion in reach.
#2 — Are you current?
The technology world is constantly shifting and new technologies hit the market each year. Companies, both manufacturers and service providers, are constantly coming out with new certifications on their offerings, and many certifications come with expiration dates. Before you start studying, do some research on the market — look to see where your field is heading before you decide to re-certify or pursue something new.
Some of the certifications specifically sought out by our clients include:
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
CompTIA A+
MCSE- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer / MCSA- Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate
PMP- Project Manager Professional
CSM- Certified Scrum Master
CISSP- Certified Information Systems Security Professional
Various Cloud certifications- AWS, Azure or Google
#3 — Return on Investment
Every certification comes with a price tag. Some require costly training and course materials, and nearly all have a price tag for the test itself. Going through the certification track will also consume your time, which for many is also a financial commitment because, well… time is money!
The certification you choose to tackle first may be the one that helps you keep your credentials current, the one that fits your schedule and provides flexibility for study and testing, or simply the one that that leads to that bigger, better job and paycheck! Just make sure you understand the commitment involved and can see the process through.
If you need some guidance on what certification can help with a specific career track, let me know and I’ll be happy to offer you some perspective about what I’ve seen in the market.
Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn.
