In the IT world, tech certifications are essentially your chip in the game. The more chips, or tech certifications, you earn, the stronger and more rounded your skillset becomes, making you more in demand to those looking to hire.
“Tech certificates are as important to getting you started on your career as they are once you’ve established yourself and are looking for a new job or promotion. Whether you’re footing the bill, or your employer is paying for it, taking the courses and earning the certifications should always be looked at as an investment in your career.”
– David Papp, Chief Technology Officer, MSP Corp
Tech certifications differ from academic degrees as they are granted by third-party providers and focus on specific skills and often build on your existing experience. The providers range from professional associations to industry heavyweights like Microsoft, Amazon and Google.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie in the field, or an old pro looking to stand out in a highly competitive market, there are plenty of certifications out there for you. Earning a certification usually requires passing an exam or meeting a certain set standard for the course. Often times, some work experience is helpful in getting certified in a particular area. But even if you lack the experience, there are entry-level certificate programs to help get you started.
So where do you begin? What are some of the key certifications that can help you along? Some factors to consider is how much you already know about the area. Are you starting from scratch? Or do you have some experience to draw on? Secondly, what sort of course are you looking for? There are in-class sessions, online courses, and hybrid of the two. And thirdly, do you have the time and resources to pursue certification? Like most anything worth having, certification takes time and money. How long it takes you to earn these credentials is entirely up to you, and how much work you’re willing to put in.
Start With the Basics
If you’re just getting into IT, check out some basic certifications to build a foundation and lay the groundwork for specialization down the road. These include Google IT Support Certificate, which teaches skills for entry-level jobs; Microsoft Technology Associate – IT Infrastructure certifications in Windows, server administration, networking, and security fundamentals; CompTIA Network+ if you’re looking to get into IT infrastructure and network configuration; or Google UX Design Certificate, a series of seven courses aimed at building your essential skills in UX research and design.
Pick up a Language or Two
It never hurts to be fluent in languages as well. We’re not talking Spanish or French, though that helps, but certifications in programming languages. Learning programming language skills can definitely set you apart from others in the job market. A good place to start is with a PCPP1, or Certified Professional in Python Programming 1, especially if you’re working in areas including advanced programming with Python. If you’re looking to expand your JavaScript skills, you should look into becoming a Certified JavaScript Developer. And, as a Zend Certified PHP Engineer, you’ll dive into 11 major topics, including strings and patterns, databases and SQL, error handling, and object-oriented programming.
Next Level Learning
If you’re prepared to go even deeper, there are other advanced certifications that will show employers that you really know your stuff when it comes to specific industry areas. These include such certifications as CISSP, or Certified Information Systems Security Professional, that shows you can design, implement and manage a cybersecurity program. The Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect designation tells the world you can develop and manage optimized cloud solution architecture. As a Google Certified Professional Data Engineer you’re able to create data processing systems and machine learning models on Google Cloud.
So what certification should you choose?
Well, the best tech certificate for you depends on your career goals and experience. While no one certification fits every role or career goal, adding certifications to your quiver will certainly enhance your opportunities for employment and advancement.
About MSP Corp
MSP Corp understands you’ve worked hard to build your business and you want to protect it. With a mission to be a world-class business partner for MSP owners across Canada, we actively seek to acquire and partner with owners looking to secure the value of the business they have built and provide a seamless exit process that ensures business continuity and employee and client stability.
Contact us today to learn more about selling your business and maximizing its value.