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IT certifications - The first step in your new career

By Paul Hill


The Information Technology industry can be an extremely tough area to get in to. Most of the high paid jobs in this market demand advanced technical understanding and most importantly, consistent contact with the large range of Hardware and Software along with their implementation within a live production network.

The level of practical experience necessary to drive your I.T career forward can be a challenging thing to come by and definitely will require effort and commitment over a long period of time. Each and every I.T specialist will advise you that the learning never halts and I.T is a non-stop which will keep you aligned to most up-to-date technological developments.

So how do you obtain working experience on I.T systems? And exactly how do you prove to your management that you're competent at managing multi-million pound computer networks as well as computer systems where accessibility is the difference between profit and loss? The perfect solution for many newcomers to the I.T sector will come in the shape of I.T certifications and for the remainder of this informative article I'll be centering on the main advantages of pursuing vendor specific I.T Certifications.

I am a self-employed I.T contractor and have worked within the I.T industry for nearly A decade; during this time period I have studied and passed several I.T exams from vendors including Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA and (ISC) . I.T is my sincere belief that obtaining these qualifications has hastened my career development and permitted me to work in a larger market. Now I am not saying that all you have to do is complete a test and you will get your perfect job because you almost certainly will not; I.T will take time and planning to build a prosperous career in I.T and getting certified is an excellent start. Directly below is my top 4 reasons on why it is beneficial to gain recognised I.T certifications.

1. Company Policy - Many major firms (the kind that you need to be looking to work for) have got set in stone regulations that all of their I.T employees will need to have base certifications in order to begin employment. If you don't fulfill these requirements then you will not even be selected for interview.

2. Product Exposure - Well known certifications are based around day to day administration or use of the products they govern. Carrying a certification in that industry instantly shows your future employer that you are product aware and capable. Admittedly it does not show your practical knowledge but it does provide evidence of some product exposure.

3. Skill set Identification - Many I.T certification tracks range between entry level through to expert. The level of certification you possess clearly identifies your technical understanding and awareness. The levels of your certifications are usually a significant factor on determining your job role, responsibilities and earnings. It is also worth mentioning at this time that competition for jobs is as high as I have ever seen. That one certification maybe all it takes to set you aside from the rest of the competitive job seekers.

4. Bonus Incentives - Many businesses operate a system whereby successful completion of certifications will entitle you to some kind of reward, be it monetary or otherwise.

While I cannot stress the value of I.T certifications enough, it is your own experience in the field which will ultimately get you the job. For me, practical experience is better than paper certifications every time. However, if you are fresh to the industry and have very little real life experience, certifications are your only option. The best piece of advice you can possibly get is to start small. Time and time again you hear of overqualified candidates with little or no real world experience. Acquire certifications to suit your degree of experience .




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