Computer Career – Are Certifications Important For a Computer Career?
Computer certifications are an important part of a computer career, but it’s more important to understand when and why you should obtain them. Here are three reasons that you should pursue a computer certification and why they are helpful:
1. Employment – Depending on the job listing, some employers prefer or require a certification in order to be considered as an applicant for a position. This is especially prominent in entry-level jobs, where certifications or technical degrees are often considered “minimum requirements” in order to apply. However, you should never discount yourself as an applicant if you have applicable hands-on skills, nor should you pursue a certification simply because it’s listed in a job description. When considering a certification, review all of the available jobs in your area and ask yourself, “Do more than half of the job listings in my area require this certification? Is it a requirement or can it be substituted with hands-on experience? If so, do I have the applicable hands-on experience? When measuring experience, consider your competency level as opposed to “years” of experience. Remember that it’s your experience that employers look for, not how many years it took you to achieve it. List your skills properly in your resume and cover letter, and you’ll find that most employers are still attracted to you, even if you don’t have a certification.
2. Promotions – Many times the need to obtain a certification is driven by your employer or manager. Some organizations use training programs to keep their employees sharp and up-to-date on new technologies. In order to land a big promotion or other opportunity, managers may ask you to obtain a certification to show your commitment and level of experience in a technology. If they ask you to obtain a certification then go for it, as long as you see a direct connection between your efforts and the compensation or reward. Resist the desire to obtain a certification in order to “keep” your job, at least as a long-term goal. If you find yourself in this situation, then ask yourself, “What can I do to be more proactive in my computer career?” Being proactive is not as hard as it sounds. Success begins by making informed decisions, setting goals, and pursuing those goals in an organized manner, no matter how fast or slow you may be.
3. Achievement – When considering certifications, it’s important to understand that not all certifications are created equal. Not only are some considerably harder to achieve, they can also be expensive and even a distraction that pulls you away from other skills and technologies that are more important. However, some people feel a great amount of pride and achievement each time they obtain a certification, and this excitement gives the added motivation to pursue the next topic, and the next. If this applies to you, focus on certifications that are most sought by employers and not ones that are popular only in our industry. To ensure that you do this, do a search on popular job sites (Dice.com is a great example) to see how many job listings contain the certification. Compare it to other certifications such as the MCSE or CCNA. Ask yourself, “Do employers really want this certification? Do employers demand this certification or are they really looking for experience or competency in this area?”.
Do you want to learn more about computer careers, computer certifications, or finding a computer job? If so, download my free ebook by clicking the link below:
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Ray Harris has mastered the art of building computer careers and teaches people of all levels how to take themselves to the highest reaches of success. Focusing on home-study methods and materials, Ray shows individuals how to build a successful computer career regardless of their education, current employment or financial situation. “If you have the desire and determination to build a computer career, I can show you how to get there in the shortest amount of time, the least amount of money, and the greatest level of success, guaranteed.”
Author: Ray R Harris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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