The job market can be a tough place to navigate. But with 62% of SMBs saying that technology will be a primary factor in reaching strategic business goals, it never hurts to invest in IT certifications. Upping your IT knowledge is only an advantage, but its good to know what to expect before taking the leap. Here are 11 things I wish I had known about IT certifications.
1. Vendor-Neutral IT Certifications Open Doors
It can be enticing to choose a vendor-specific certification. If you’re working with a particular system, it might seem like getting certified under that vendor is the way to go. But vendor-neutral certifications offer flexibility that you can’t get with a vendor-specific option. Vendor-neutral certifications demonstrates your skills under any system which can provide flexibility if you eventually decide that it’s time for a change, whether internally or externally. If you make the move to an organization that uses a different system, your certification is still applicable.
2. Not All Certifications Are Created Equal
Not all IT certifications are equivalent. Some demonstrate a specific technical skill set, while others showcase professional skills. It’s important to evaluate what kind of jobs or advancement opportunities you are targeting before determining which certification is the best option for you.
If you plan to enter the technical field as a first-time worker, you may want to target core skills covered by CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) or CompTIA A+. If you’re experienced in a technical field but want to make a lateral move into a certain area, you might want to pursue a certification in a specific field. For example, if you want to move from networking into cybersecurity, you might opt for CompTIA PenTest+ or CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+). If you’re looking to make a vertical move, you might consider a professional certification to level up your qualifications for upward movement, such as CompTIA Project+.
3. Think Beyond One and Done
As a targeted form of achievement, certifications are unlike degrees. Degrees demonstrate a set of knowledge within a certain field along with a proficiency in general requisite courses of study. People frequently get a single degree, possibly followed by a graduate-level degree, and then move into a specific career path. By contrast, most IT pros benefit from multiple IT certifications to showcase proficiencies of multiple skill sets and display a broader depth of skills in order to advance or move into a new field.
4. IT Certifications Require Upkeep
Unlike degrees, IT certifications require renewing. This can be done a variety of ways but doesn’t always require taking a test. Engaging in certain activities, such as participating in IT-industry events or publishing articles or blog posts about IT-relevant topics, allows you to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) which can be applied toward your renewal. Completing a higher IT certification can also count towards a renewal of a lower certification. Renewal can often be achieved without test taking, as long as you are actively participating in the IT industry.
5. Certifications May or May Not Fulfill a Degree Requirement
Depending on where you plan to begin your tech journey, a degree may still be required. IT certifications are a great leg up and can even be beneficial for entering a new career, but there are still many jobs that require you to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Even so, the ideal combo involves a degree with certifications to show you have extra proficiency in certain areas. That can be the special sauce for getting a job over others who may only have a degree or an IT certification.
6. IT Certifications Can Solidify Your Position or Help You Transition
With hiring difficulties taking the forefront in a post-pandemic workforce, organizations are looking to upskill or reskill internal resources. CompTIA’s Workforce and Learning Trends for 2022 shows that 63% of organizations plan to increase skills for existing staff and 38% have a competitive strategy to elevate internal technical/digital skills. According to CompTIA’s Industry Outlook 2023, many job seekers plan to grow their careers by leveling up their IT skill sets, with the top priority being technical skill in their current area (48%), followed by gaining durable skills (44%) and getting a technical skill in a new area (43%).
7. Experience Is Great, But it Doesn’t Replace Study
You may be lulled into a false sense of confidence when it comes to preparing for an IT certification exam. Experience is certainly not a bad thing, but it doesn’t replace studying for an exam. Demonstration of skills requires in-depth knowledge, some of which can only be acquired through study, rather than hands-on experience. Take the time to study and prep with authorized resources.
8. You Need Hands-On Practice for IT Certifications
When you study for a test, you need to understand the concepts and be able to illustrate your knowledge in written form. IT certifications require that you go beyond conceptual knowledge and actually be able to demonstrate the skill sets you’re testing for in a real scenario. Take the time to practice with simulations and under real-life conditions. You’ll be glad you did.
9. Certifications Can Help You Create Your Own Path
CompTIA’s Job Seeker Trends report from January 2023 reveals that job seekers believe the top two strategies for career transition are earning an industry-recognized technical certification and training in an in-demand technical skill. The same research also shows that about 25% of job seekers are looking to transition into another tech field and 33% are looking to advance in their current organization. Either way, IT certifications give you an advantage.
10. You Are Not Alone
While it can sometimes feel like you’re on your own island when studying for an IT certification, you’re not alone. There are a ton of in-person and online resources, along with study groups and practice simulations. Take advantage of local study groups or any authorized online resources you can find.
11. You Will Have Job Options in Any Industry
You may think that an IT certification means you are only fit for the tech industry, but that isn’t the case. With 8.9 million workers and more than 756,000 IT support specialists in the U.S. workforce, an IT certification actually makes you fit for any industry. Whether you’re interested in healthcare, fashion, the automotive industry or finance, there is a place for you wherever you want to work. For more information, check out CompTIA’s four steps to certification to see which option is right for you.
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