If you currently work in the I.T. field or are looking for
that proverbial “foot in the door”, a certification just
might be right for you. During the dot com boom, information
technology workers were in high demand, commanding
impressive entry-level salaries and enviable starting
bonuses. Many people switched fields during that time to
cash in on the high salaries and excellent benefits being
earned by IT professionals. Once the bubble burst, demand
for tech professionals suffered a downturn. People less
qualified for specialized fields were quickly laid off.
Today, the economy has improved, but there are still more IT
professionals than there are jobs, so it can be difficult to
find work, especially in certain parts of the country.
Employers are more demanding, and they can pick and choose
exactly the skill sets they want. The intense need for IT
professionals to retrain and stay current with ever-changing
technology is made even more difficult when you consider the
fact that there are an infinite number of programming
languages, software packages, networking protocols, etc. to
know.
Certification is one way of differentiating yourself from
your peers, especially if you are looking to get a bump in
your salary or advance within the IT field. Certain IT
certifications will be more useful to you, especially if
they are relevant or complementary to your current role at
your company. Many companies reimburse employees for
obtaining relevant certification, as long as you receive a
passing grade. Make sure to speak with your boss or Human
Resources about your desire to gain additional credentials. |
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Popular Computer and I.T. Certifications
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Here are a few of the most popular
computer certifications.
Keep in mind that this list is not comprehensive!
- Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) –
This exam is particularly popular since there is a high
demand for network administrators, support technicians
and system administrators. It is geared towards anyone
who manages and troubleshoots networks and systems
running Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 operating systems.
- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) – This
certification allows an individual to demonstrate
expertise in the design, implementation, and
administration of the most advanced Windows operating
system and Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers. The MCSE
certification is appropriate for systems engineers,
technical support engineers, systems analysts, network
analysts, and technical consultants.
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional
(CISSP) – Offered by the International Information
Systems Security Certification Consortium, the
vendor-neutral CISSP certification validates mastery of
critical security technologies, maintenance of
up-to-date knowledge, and proficiency in the information
security profession. This credential is appropriate for
information security officers, information security
managers, network administrators, and it managers.
Read more ...
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Are IT Certifications Worthwhile?
