If you are looking for an exciting career and a job you want to get up for every morning, IT is one area where you can enjoy all of that and more.
To get a good job in the IT sector, you can’t just jump into it. You will need the right set of skills, and that means you will have to look into training opportunities.
The type of certification you require will depend on the skills you already possess, along with your specific career goals.
Here are a few tips for finding the most suitable certification for you, starting with some entry-level certifications and moving onto some more specific areas where you can become certified.
Entry-Level Certifications
If you want to start a career in IT, many entry-level positions will require specific certifications to help you get your foot in the door.
Entry positions will involve dealing with software and technical procedures, and you will have to demonstrate to employers that you have at least a basic level of skills to carry out the tasks.
Getting a certification is the best way to not only improve your skills but to demonstrate that you have the right skillset and show what you are capable of. You should therefore seriously consider getting a recognized certification if you want to break into an entry-level IT position.
Some of the most in-demand include the following:
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is an entry-level certification, and it is the perfect place to start if you want to break into the industry. This is more or less the industry standard, and it will demonstrate to employers that you can configure switches and routers and solve basic network problems. You can also specialize in an area like security.
It is a written exam that takes about 90 minutes, and it could help you to get a position as a network administrator or a systems administrator.
The CompTIA A+ Technician certification is another entry-level certification that is a great place for starting a career in IT. It will demonstrate your knowledge of PC maintenance, operating systems, and more, and it consists of two exams. It could help you to get a position as a desktop support technician or another related job.
The CompTIA Network+ is a similar certification for networking, where you will learn about hardware and the OSI model among other things.
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is recognized globally, and it demonstrates competency with information security. It will show employers that you can protect systems from attackers. It demonstrates more extensive skills, and the exam is larger and takes about six hours to complete. It could lead to a job as a security analyst.
The NetApp Certified Data Management Administrator (NCDA) certification is a storage-level certification, and it demonstrate show that you have a very good understanding of the NetApp storage systems.
More Advanced Certifications
If you have already broken into the IT industry and you want to take your career further, you may be interested in taking a more advanced certification.
The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification is a mid-level certification that shows that you can build solutions across a range of technologies. It involves different specializations like data platform, desktop infrastructure, private cloud, and more, and it is a five-step exam. It could lead to a position as a systems administrator or systems engineer.
You could also get certification in data science training online from a course provider, as you can find out from Simplilearn. This will provide you with the certification to prove your expertise in data science, and you will learn predictive analytics techniques and more.
Mobile App Development Certification
Mobile app development is a big and exciting area. It could help you to get a job working for a company, or you could find work on a freelance basis.
You could start by training up to be an Android Certified Application Developer, or get the GIAC GMOB certification.
Database Certification
You’ll always be in demand if you are good with databases, and you could get a job as a database developer, database architect, or data analyst.
Something like the IBM Info Management is a good option, and the ICCP CBIP and MCSA: SQL Server 2012 are also popular.
Cloud Certification
The cloud is another important area. More companies are moving to the cloud and adopting cloud technologies, and there is a lot of interest in this area, so it could be the perfect career path for you.
The AWS-CSA Professional certification is one of the most important, and others include the AWS-CSA Professional and MCSE: Private Cloud certifications.
Launch or Develop Your IT Career
Whether you want to enter the IT industry in an entry-level job, or you want to develop your career and take it further, these certifications all provide you with good options. Have a look at the certifications and decide which one would be most suitable for you right now at this stage in your career.
Then find somewhere you can get certified, which may be at an online course provider, and give your IT career a boost.
About the Author
Eve Howarth is a careers consultant who works mostly with college kids as they plan their futures. She writes about careers in her online articles which appear on education, college and career blogs.
