9 Main Reasons Why You Should Obtain an IT Certification This Year

The IT sector is growing ever bigger as more innovative solutions are being discovered every single day. The experts in the field are also growing as more people are continuing to embrace the role IT plays now and will continue to play in the coming years. The sector has further opened up new IT jobs and opportunities for the young generations. The opportunities are money-making such as online marketing, which has been able to create lots of employment opportunities for the younger generation. Public and private institutions around the world are appreciating the impact IT is having in the business and financial spheres and its making them to change their business models into ones, which are IT-driven and focused. One such sector which has undergone a tremendous change due to IT innovations is the banking industry. Banks are changing from the traditional ways into new and the innovative modern ways. M-banking has taken over and this has made life easy for people as they now can oversee their money from their smartphones without making a visit to the bank. In general, bank visit has been immensely reduced to a bare minimum around the world. This is just one of the many impacts IT is having in our world today.

With the IT revolution taking over, it calls for more IT experts and professionals who are well trained and certified. This brings into question the issue of IT certification and why it is important. IT certification is essential in that is gives you an edge over other professionals during interviews and when seeking better opportunities. Having an IT certification serves to show that you are qualified in your IT training and that you are competent to handle any IT task given to you. There is several IT certificates that one needs to obtain. If you are seeking to rise up your career, then these credentials are very crucial. They help you to get up-to-date specialized training in the field thus giving you the necessary tools to handle IT related issues as they emerge. Currently, some of the in-demand IT certifications that you should pose this year include: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CompTIA Network+, Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Information Systems Security and Professional (CISSP), and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE).

Benefits and Reasons of Getting an IT Certification This Year

1. It gives you a credible professional image.

The certifications will show your employers, whether current and future, that the person, they are hiring is competent at what he or she is doing. The employer will be confident that he or she is hiring an expert and not a quack. The IT certificates will prove to your potential employer that you are not an average tech person and that your IT skills and knowledge have been put to the test and assessed completely. In a general sense, it is a stamp of excellence on your IT skills, knowledge, and experience to even your clients whom you will interact with at various stages.

2. It boosts your IT knowledge.

With the certifications, it will help you get new knowledge on matters related to IT. They will serve to expand your IT knowledge and skills on specific IT issues. You will be able to discover research topics in IT and be able to come up with IT solutions. It will greatly serve to improve your overall performances and this will result in greater work productivity.

3. It gives you an upper hand over other employees.

In case there is an IT opening at a company, you stand a good chance of being hired since the certification will help boost your competence level. Nowadays, employees always possess basic degrees and for employers to set them apart then things like IT certifications and possessions of soft skills will prove to be crucial if one is to survive a job cut or be selected for a job. According to the Microsoft’s Certification Program Satisfaction study, it was found out that roughly 90% of hiring employers always prioritize credentials as part of their hiring criteria. So, get yourself those IT certifications and get yourself that IT job you have been dreaming of.

4. It opens up the great opportunities.

With the certification in hand, you will be considered an expert in the field and this can lead to you landing opportunities, such as delivering IT speeches or facilitating IT forums and other IT events across the world. With a credential, you will be considered a leader in the field and you will be able to even travel far and beyond and participating in IT events and meeting other IT specialists in the field. In short, it provides you an entry into a community of professionals who possess certain IT skills as they will serve to keep you informed of what is currently happening in the IT sector. Furthermore, it also puts you in a better position to be a good mentor to other people since they will consider you to be a guy of great knowledge.

5. It makes you earn better.

More often having certifications will help you be in a better position to negotiate a good salary for yourself. It is estimated that possessing the IT certifications stand you a chance of increasing your monthly paycheck up by 20%. According to the Robert Half consulting firm’s 2015 salary guide; it showed that some certifications can greatly improve your salary by more than 10%.

6. It backs up your experience.

As it has always been said, experience is the best teacher and no one will ever take away from you the experiences you have had to acquire throughout your career. Experience is good but so is acquiring those IT certifications as they serve to boost your experience in a positive way. Acquiring of knowledge makes one to be able to get new ideas and thoughts on how to handle IT related issues. This boosts your productivity in general and helps you not to repeat your past work mistakes.

7. It gets the work promotions.

Many people in the IT filed always want to progress up the career ladder preferably into a management position after several years. Having a catalog of IT certifications will help you do just that since you will be considered a person who has more knowledge of the IT sector and can handle higher responsibilities. For example, many technical specialists would pursue the PMP certification as an avenue to get to higher work positions. IT certificates are a good tool to help you make a career progression.

8. It boosts your confidence.

Acquiring those IT certifications is no joke and accomplishing them is a great feat and it is something that can really boost your confidence. This confidence will make one to be dedicated to the job assigned resulting in great productivity. The credentials will make you be in charge of yourself and give you a better platform to stand on. It gives you that courage and determination to walk into an interview panel or a meeting with confidence that you are the right person for that job at hand.

9. It gives an impression that you are a learner.

Acquiring IT certifications will show potential employers that you are a person who is thirsty for knowledge and with the zeal of continuing to improve yourself through continuous learning. Employers always seek for those potential employees who never stop learning. Learning adds value to you and those around you and it will help you earn the trust and respect of others.

Final Thoughts

If you are an aspiring IT specialist who wants to climb the career ladder fast and be regarded as a professional who is competent, then you will need to get yourself those IT certifications. They will go a long way in boosting your knowledge base and professional image. In addition, you can enroll in certified IT institutions that are well recognized as most employers also are keen on this. There are several certifications in various IT field such as networking so depending on your passion you can enroll for any IT credential that suits you best but ensure to research first to know which ones will be of help to you in your career. You can do one or two certificates, but it will be even better if you can set do all the necessary certifications in IT. Currently, the world is getting ever more innovative and many people with IT skills are in demand so as to come up with innovations that will solve some of the problems we are facing. With all the above-mentioned benefits of having an IT certification make it appoint to get a couple of them by the end of this year, so that you are better placed for the IT opportunities that are emerging. Remember that the certifications can greatly improve your career and brighten up your future so go for them this year.