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Realistic Expectations of IT Certification - Beyond Certification

Will Certification take you to Career heaven? Or is it the route to Career hell? You need to go into certification with your eyes open. Unrealistic expectations always lead to frustration and dissatisfaction.  

Certifications aim to equip individuals with the skills needed to build successful careers in networking. For many candidates the focus is usually on new job and business opportunities, recognition and better compensation.

While it is true that certifications give individuals the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents, there must be realistic expectations. Achieving certification is key to the continuing educational development of the individual and is a sign of initiative – it differentiates you from the competition and is recognized by clients and employers. However, though certifications like other educational programs may confer advantage they do not guarantee anything. 

GETTING OPPORTUNITIES ALSO DEPENDS ON YOUR CONTRIBUTION, ATTITUDE, EXPERIENCE AND MARKETING SKILLS. Candidates need to bear this in mind at all times. Certifications are NOT guarantees or "quick-fix", shortcut career solutions. As you take advantage of certification, make sure you have realistic expectations and know how the certification fits into your career plan. Attend the FREE IT Career Seminar to learn more about IT certifications and for the right career focus.

We advise all candidates to consider the following guidelines when taking certification decisions:

1.      Certification is not a short cut to IT riches.

2.      Certification demonstrates basic technical competence and currency, but relying solely on technical skills as well as amassing multiple certifications could be wasteful and disastrous.

3.      With so more qualified candidates available, those with certification and experience will continue to have an advantage over those with experience alone, and also over those with certification alone. Knowledge and experience are paramount in the IT industry.  

4.      Certified individuals that didn’t acquire their certifications by cramming generally perform better at work.

5.      Don’t choose a certification because it is hot. What works for you may not work for me. The key to IT career success is not in following the crowd but in taking charge of your career based on knowledge and your interests.

6.      Cramming for exams may get you certified, but it doesn’t make you a professional. Certification can’t give you what you don’t have.

7.      Certification can confer advantage. But it doesn’t guarantee anything.

8.      Lack of career planning reduces the value of Certification. Aiming for a certification without a career plan or focus is nothing more than gambling.

9.      Certification does not remove the need for self-development. You must be continuously learning and growing. To maintain your skills you have to keep on updating yourself.

10.  Certification doesn’t teach you ethics. But you can’t get far in IT without Ethics and Professionalism.

11.  Certifications work better for you when you develop your personal network. Network through co-workers, ex-colleagues, family, friends, and instructors.

12.  Certification is meant to be practical. If it doesn’t indicate your ability to demonstrate command over a body of knowledge and apply that knowledge productively, it is worthless.

13.  A certification is not a career. Multiple certifications are not a career. You don’t become a network administrator by acquiring numerous network certifications.

14.  Without some business sense and good soft skills, the usefulness of technical skills acquired through certification is of limited value. You may need to bring one or more of the following soft skills to the table: Communications skills, teamwork skills, organizational skills, leadership skills, sales skills, presentation skills and business skills.

15.  The cost of certification is Effort, Time, Money and Commitment.

16.  Certification is not a substitute for experience. In the real world, you often have to get your hands dirty to gain important knowledge that is not tested in any exam  

17. Think beyond certification. Certification is not an end in itself. Keep perspective. It's part of the journey. Certification is not really your ultimate goal.

Be wise in your certification and career choices.

All the best in your IT Career,

Jide Awe

For more coverage and information related to this topic, head to the IT Career Resource Center: http://www.jidaw.com/itcareer.html

 

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