Take the proper steps and ask the appropriate questions when selecting your next certcollection

8 min readJul 13, 2021

So you’ve decided to pursue a certification. Congrats! That’s a big step. Now your homework begins. Each certification requires a sincere commitment of time and resources. Earning one is a notable achievement. So the question remains…

Take the proper steps and ask the appropriate questions when selecting your next certcollection

How do I select the right certification for me?

The decision goes beyond just choosing between entry-level or advanced certificates. Know that not all are alike, so proper vetting is inspired. If you’re planning to get certified, there are steps to take to ensure your decision aligns with your interests and career path.

Understand the value of certifications

Understanding the worth of certifications before you create a variety is significant. Consistent with the worldwide Knowledge 2019 IT Skills and Salary Report, 85% of IT professionals possess a minimum of one certcollection. That’s plenty of competition within the industry. And therefore the general consensus is that the more certifications, the higher. So why are numerous IT pros and decision-makers putting such stress on certcollection? Why is such a lot of investment dedicated to training? Well, it’s simple — the added value is substantial. The merits of certification are often separated into two categories: value to individuals and value to organizations.

Well, it’s simple — the added value is substantial. The merits of certification are often separated into two categories: value to individuals and value to organizations.

Value to individuals:

Professional credibility — it tells co-workers and supervisors that you simply possess the talents needed to succeed, and you were willing to place within the time and energy to urge certified.
Personal satisfaction — have you ever felt like an expert in something? You’ll have the knowledge to enter your workplace confidently and assert yourself as a topic matter expert.
Salary — according to our IT Skills and Salary Report, a private with six or more IT certifications makes over $10,000 quite those with only one certification on their resume. With few exceptions, each additional certification earned leads to a minimum of a minor salary bump.
Job search — certifications offer you a plus during the hiring process and assist you to stand call at a competitive market. Some employers won’t even consider candidates unless they possess a particular level of certification.
Professional growth — career advancement often requires you to find out new technologies or enhance the talents you currently possess.

Value to organizations:

Job essentials — with technology constantly evolving, there’s a requirement for all organizations to possess material experts on new and updated topics.
Filling skills gaps — IT decision-makers say that skills gaps can put a strain on many departments and therefore the best thanks to filling those gaps are with training.
Certified employees can cause greater productivity and increased workforce morale, also as knowledge share across the department.
Employee retention — job satisfaction results in greater staff retention. Employees who are fulfilled are less likely to pursue other employment.
Partner relationships — certain vendors incentivize their partners to take care of competencies on their products. For instance, IBM benchmarks these competencies using certification and badging programs.

Choose your certification path

Now that you understand the value of certification, it’s time to pick one. It may seem simple, but rushing your selection could waste time and money. There are four belongings you should consider when making your choice.

1. Answer this question: What do I want to accomplish?

Is your ultimate certification goal to form more money? Is it to advance in your profession? Maybe you only want to find out a replacement skill? You shouldn’t start evaluating your options before you’ve got a definitive answer. If your primary goal is to spice up your salary, inspect our article on the 15 top-paying certifications for 2020.

If you would like to determine yourself as a topic matter expert, get certified in new or recently updated technology. It’s an excellent thanks to showcasing your value to the organization because few others are going to be certified during this area. If you’re focused on career progression, refreshing your tech skills may be a must, especially considering all of the IT advancements in fields like cloud computing, security, and networking. Additional certifications are often required to advance into new job roles. Just confirm your choices align together with your career path.

Don’t forget, a byproduct of career progression is usually job satisfaction. The two go hand in hand. According to the IT Skills and Salary Report, IT managers are generally more satisfied with their job than the staff they manage. Getting certified can help you get promoted and lead to a more gratifying career — certified professionals are more satisfied than non-certified personnel. Two birds. One stone.

2. Answer this question: What am I interested in?

Remember those boring classes in college? Of course, you don’t — you were either asleep, doodling network architectures in your notebook, or building an app to make your life easier. The principle is the same with certifications — unless it’s a requirement, why would you choose one that doesn’t interest you? You don’t want to snooze through training. And you don’t want to snooze on your career.

Pick a certification that will keep you invested. Are you only getting started? Begin with foundational certifications to find out the way to speak and understand the language of the IT industry. CompTIA IT Fundamentals, for instance, helps you learn the essential hardware components and the way they work together. Are you a more technical person? Cisco offers a spread of certification options starting from cloud computing to network design.

Are you hoping to be the ultimate cybersecurity authority in your organization? Completing the CISSP certification is like earning your master’s degree in IT security. If you’re particularly passionate about a unique skillset, take as many certifications in that area as you can. This is especially important if it’s a subject your company has been looking to implement. With that said, it’s always an honest idea to be well-versed in multiple technologies too. Especially for those hoping to advance into a new job role, being adept at changing technologies is a must.

3. Do your homework

Would you purchase new servers for your company without doing proper research? Or would you are doing a hardware refresh without exploring all options? Of course not. You probably wouldn’t even leave for dinner without watching a couple of restaurant reviews first. The same goes for certcollection. Make sure you are doing your homework and know what’s expected with all. Some have more prominence while others are stepping stones. Speak with co-workers, read IT blogs, and even join online forums to seek out out which of them are most precious. When perusing your certcollection options, make sure to keep the following questions in mind:

What are the requirements?
How much time will you need to invest?
Is it industry-recognized?
How does it link to your career path?
Will you have to get recertified?

Are there retake vouchers for exams?

When comparing certcollection between different topics and makes, you’ll notice many distinctions and variations. This is why research is vital. Amazon Web Services (AWS), for instance, offers many popular certcollection and boasts some of the highest salaries in the industry for AWS-certified professionals. An important detail you’ll uncover when researching AWS’s options is that their certifications are role-based. Each path is clearly defined supported your job — solutions architects, developers, and systems operations, administrators. These certifications make your decision easy for you.

Certification tracks

Certification resources

We have a set of resources to assist you to navigate your own certcollection journey. If you’ve decided to urge certified but want to make sure you decide on a proven certcollection with endurance, inspect “18 Certifications Worth Having.” We also offer an assortment of certification prep guides for specific credentials. These guides provide a deep and detailed check out the certcollection, while also offering helpful exam tips and tricks you won’t find anywhere else.

4. Think about the future

Plan beyond a single certcollection. In 2019, 66% of worldwide IT professionals are already pursuing their next certification or decide to. Once you’ve passed one certcollection exam, plan out your steps and set a timeline for your next one. Also, know what you need to do to stay certcollection. Some certcollection does not expire, but you still have the opportunity to re-earn the certcollection every year and show your continual investment in this technology area.

Several other certcollection can expire. The popular Project Management Professional (PMP)® certcollection is valid for 3 years and requires 60 professional development units (PDUs) during each renewal period to take care of your credential. Another way to ensure you’re thinking about the future is to devise a certcollection calendar both for the short term and long term. Maintain a calendar to form sure you’re staying on target to end your current certcollection. A post-certcollection calendar is additionally vital when it involves continuing your training and keeping track of when your certcollection will expire.

The value of certcollection is straightforward to define. Where you begin is harder to pin down. If you’ll narrow your options to a selected technology or job role, you’re off to the proper start. It’s easy to form a choice if you’re new IT (hint: stick with foundational certcollection). But if you’re skilled or don’t have a transparent picture of your career path, it’s going to take a touch longer and research to locate the foremost suitable option. Remember, certcollection shows your value to co-workers, managers, and future employers.

Beyond the talents you’ll gain, seasoned IT professionals respect certcollection because they understand the time and energy needed to accumulate one. It’s an excellent thanks to differentiating yourself from peers. And if a decision-maker notices that you’re earning certcollection even when they’re not required, that would be the deciding thing about a promotion or a raise. My advice: choose wisely! And better of luck on your certcollection path.

Check out all of our certcollection training options to begin your journey.