IT Certification's top ten benefits

An IT certification is a quick and readily recognized benchmark mapped to a specific skill set based on standardized testing. A certification demonstrates your dedication, motivation and technical knowledge on a specific platform.

Once you earn an IT certification, you join a select group of individuals -- a peer group with demonstrated skills. Having a certification shows that you not only possess comprehensive knowledge of that technology but you also care enough about your own career to spend the time and money to get certified. Remember: You are your own best career manager!


1. Getting hired


Having an IT certification will certainly give you an advantage when hiring managers look at your resume. Competition for IT jobs can be stiff, and having a certification is a significant advantage compared to those who do not have one. In fact, a certification can be a qualifier for a position. Keep in mind that when two otherwise equal candidates are vying for the same job, the one who has a certification will have the edge over the candidate that does not. A certification may do nothing more than get your resume a second look -- which may be more than your competition gets.
2. Job retention



In a volatile economic environment, businesses are always looking for ways to cut costs. That may mean jobs are on the line. This is when having an IT certification (or more) can mean the difference between keeping your job and having a chance to seek a new one. Earning a certification demonstrates that you are determined to enhance your skill set and knowledge -- which benefits you and your employer. The bottom line is you must invest in yourself.

 3. Promotions



Want to move up the corporate ladder or into a better, higher-paying job in your company, then you will need to learn new technologies or enhance the skills you currently possess. There is no better way to show this than to earn a new certification or progress further up the certification chain in a current area of expertise.
4. Networking opportunities



Once you earn a certification with a specific vendor or manufacturer, then you join a unique group of certified and skilled professionals. This can prove to be an invaluable peer resource group when seeking answers to problems or sharing the solutions to your own challenging scenario. This peer group of certified professionals can also pass along guidance on how to further enhance your career or where to seek specific technical knowledge.
5. Professional credibility

 

Earning a certification, especially a series of certifications from the same vendor, will provide immediate professional credibility. Who is going to question a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) or a Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)? Having earned one (or more) of these certifications demonstrates your dedication and motivation to professional development. Many companies will actively support their employees in earning these certifications that may even lead to promotions and raises as well.
6. Partner programs



In some cases, companies may require that there be a certain number of certified individuals associated with their organization to maintain a current partner level (and more if they want to pursue a higher partner level). Most major manufacturers and many other vendors have this requirement. Earning a vendor's certification benefits you and your organization since it enables the company to meet the required number of certified associates on staff.

7. Certification renewal and retention



IT professionals may have a requirement by their respective certification bodies to recertify every two to three years. For example, Cisco requires that you either take and pass a recertification exam or take the next higher certification exam every three years. Red Hat requires you to recertify every three years. Microsoft requires you to recertify every three years for an MCSE or two years for an MCSD. In this instance, a certification or recertification exam can benefit both you and your employer. In some circumstances, customers may only want to work with companies that have certified individuals.

8. New and current technologies



Earning a certification on a recently released operating system, platform or application will demonstrate that you have achieved what few have done up to that point: become certified on a new product. Passing an exam for a recently released certification is challenging due to the lack of study material and advice available from other certified individuals. Earning an IT certification on a new product can make you the subject matter expert in your organization -- putting you in a positive light for your early efforts.

 9. Personal goal



You may have set a personal goal for yourself to earn a new certification, whether for professional recognition or personal achievement. Certifications you earn this way may be the most satisfying, as you are rewarding yourself for your own efforts. If it happens to lead to a raise, promotion and recognition -- so much the better. In many instances, these are also the hardest to earn because of the self-motivation and discipline required where there aren't any tangible rewards.

10. Professional or corporate requirement



One way to ensure that IT staff have the necessary skills and experience on existing and new technologies is through certifications and training. IT staff who have passed a certification exam or series of exams can be presumed to have the specific knowledge to be more productive members of the IT department and respond better to any incidents outside the normal environment. Companies that invest in their staff through training and certification will have a more technically advanced work force able to respond to new challenges quicker. Instructor-led IT training, especially training that leads to certification, usually includes some type of hands-on work (whether through a virtual environment or with physical equipment and software). The benefit of this is that you get to learn, play and experiment with new technologies in a non-production (read: safe) environment. This will enable you to gain new knowledge more quickly that you can bring back to your work environment. Certification exams usually become more complex and difficult the longer they have been out, so there is no time like the present to get started.

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The Worst Mistakes People Make In Their 20s

When people in their 30s, 40s, and older look back on their life, what are some common regrets they have?", "What myths do we commonly realize are false in our 20s?" and "How should a 22-year-old invest his/her money?

1. They think education and talent are enough to become successful.

High intelligence, natural talent, and degrees from elite universities are all good things to have, but they in no way guarantee that you will land a great job - and mean nothing when not paired with hard work.

How you work with others and carry yourself can also turn out to be much more important in advancing your career. "Having social skills, navigating politics, knowing who to ask for what, and being able to see the big picture are invaluable no matter what you do"

2. They don't start saving money.

A new survey of 1,003 people from Bankrate found that 69% of those ages 18-29 had no retirement savings at all. Your retirement may seem far off, but you're doing yourself a massive disservice if you don't recognize the importance of saving as soon as possible.

3. They equate happiness with money.

Prestige and a fat paycheck can certainly make you happier, but there's plenty more to success than that.

You're setting yourself up for years of regret if you pursue a paycheck rather than your passion.

4. They neglect their health.

As you get older, you'll learn pretty quickly you can't party like you did in college. "Your hangovers will be so bad at 28 that the idea of staying out drinking all night will be a hilarious idea to you".  And the more years out of school you get, the more excessive drinking, smoking, and even an unhealthy diet go from acceptable behavior to dangerous habits.

5. They give up when things get tough.

Ending a serious relationship, getting fired from a job, and having your startup crash and burn can all seem life-destroying when they happen to you for the first time. But rather than giving up or aiming for a lower target the next time, you should use failures as opportunities to learn and improve yourself.

"Getting fired and waking up the next day as usual made me realize that failure isn't the end of the world. Getting dumped taught me the difference between a good and a bad relationship, something I already knew inside but refused to accept until the bad relationship was over"

6. They try to please everyone.

When you're starting out in your career, it can seem natural to want to be on friendly terms with your boss, clients, and all of your coworkers. Rather than feeling crushed when you realize some of them simply don't like you, accept it and don't stress out.

"Inevitably, someone will always dislike you. I wish I had figured this out a lot earlier and stopped trying so hard and worrying so much about it" 

7. They think all friendships can last forever.

"Your college pals that you think will be your best pals for life? Some will still be there at 40, most will be living their lives doing their thing,"

When your friends aren't all living in the same town or campus, you'll realize which ones mean the most to you, and which ones are worth the effort of maintaining a relationship with.

8. They look for their "soul mate."

Some people decide to spend most of their 20s single, unattached to anyone. Others search for the right person to marry. The latter group can get caught up in the fantasy of finding someone where everything just clicks and the relationship is effortless. But in real life, the most meaningful long-term relationships require work and dedication.

"You have to continuously make sacrifices, adjustments, accept shortcomings explain yourself, but know what - that's what makes it fun!"

9. They think moving somewhere new will solve their problems.

Traveling and living somewhere new can be culturally enriching experiences, and your 20s are a perfect time to do both. But, do not think that moving to the opposite coast means you'll suddenly find meaning and direction.

10. They see things in black and white.

Many people in their 20s get caught up in absolutes. For example, some feel like they have to choose between a career path that benefits them or one that benefits others, without realizing that self-interest does not have to mean the opposite of doing good for the world.

11. They try planning years in advance.

"It's hard to predict where you'll end up and what you'll be doing,". So avoid driving yourself crazy with five-year plans and focus on immediate goals.

12. They think they're the only one of their friends struggling.

As you're finding your way in the world, determining who you are as an adult and building a career, it can seem like your friends or colleagues are more successful and confident. But regardless of income, job, or living situation, every 20-something is still figuring things out as they go along.

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