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Information Technology CareersThere has never been a better time to start a career in the IT (Information Technology) field. But, what if you didn’t graduate from college with a degree in computer science and you want to become an IT professional. What if you have never graduated from college and you want to join the rest of the IT world. What if you don’t have years to go back to college to earn a degree in computer science? Don’t worry; there is another way to start a brand new career in the IT field. Get certified! Most people today associate computer industry certifications with IT professionals only. IT professionals are not the only people getting certified. For many, certifications can be the gateway to a technology related position. An industry certification can be a prestigious document for some and for others it can be the ticket to a better life. Linda Mackenzie, an employee of a San Diego county print shop, is hoping just that. She is currently attending a University of Phoenix MCSE program to enter a new career. “The Internet is putting us out of business, most of what we do can be done cheaper on the Internet“ Linda said. Newbies, as new comers to the IT industry are often identified, can choose among two types of certifications, those offered by professional associations such as CompTia and those sponsored by vendors, such as Cisco Systems Inc. or Microsoft Corp. Vendor certifications are considered more rigorous and valuable, and vendor companies usually update their tests as they introduce new technologies. People who pass the required exams can attach a string of alphabet-soup-like initials after their names. The Microsoft Certified Professional certification is the most popular certification today. There are nearly one million MCPs worldwide. Andreas Magana, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, wants to use his Microsoft certification as the ticket to a brand new career. “I was encouraged by my family to get certified,” said Andreas, “after I’ve got my first computer”. It’s a great time to become an IT professional. There are thousands of unfilled jobs in the IT field today. Industry certifications such as MCSE, A+, and Network+ enable people a quick entry into the world of IT. Certifications do not create industry experts in a matter of months, but they can equip people with necessary skills to fill entry-level positions. In an industry where there are more jobs than applications to fill them, employers are willing to hire certified career changers. Joe Garcia came to the University of Phoenix’s MCSE program to escape his 12-year long career as a waiter. Joe found his first IT job while still in the MCSE program. He was able to gain employment at a San Diego business with several Microsoft certifications and hands-on classroom experience. Getting MCSE certified made it possible to change his life. Joe’s new career had enabled him and his fiancée to buy a condominium less than one year after receiving his MCSE certification. Certifications are no substitute for real world experience. But since employers are increasingly under pressure to fill hard to fill IT positions, they are often hiring people with no professional experience. Often a certificate will prove to an employer that the applicant is willing to learn and trainable. Hiring trainable professionals is often more important than experience. Companies will teach employees new skills, but they can’t teach them how to learn. Who wouldn’t want to be a high earning highly sought after professional? There is a price to pay to become one however. Computer industry certifications range from fairly difficult to extremely difficult. The A+ certification might be a great starter for someone who doesn’t know a bit from a byte. It is an entry-level certification focusing on basic hardware and software objectives. Cisco’s CCIE, on the other hand is the black belt of IT certifications. Becoming certified in a particular product or technology does not guarantee you a job. The certification in itself is only a piece of paper. There is phenomenon called a “paper MCSE” in today’s IT industry. Paper MCSEs are individuals who only do enough to pass the necessary Microsoft exams. Their certifications are practically worthless. Such developments have caused hiring managers to be cautious about certifications. “It is not enough to learn how to pass the exam; it is essential to learn the exam objectives”, said Frank Vagi a Microsoft Certified Trainer at an AATP institution. Some training institutions claim to get people certified in a few days. In a few days you just can’t pick it up. Getting people certified and training people are two very different concepts. Unfortunately, some training institutions are more interested in profits than in training. Far too many people end up with only certifications and no true knowledge. It is a lot easier to get certified than to learn the concepts. For career changers certifications are essential, but certifications only might not be enough to hack it in the real world. People with certifications and no professional experience should get hands-on experience. Often the only way to gain valuable hands-on experience is through internship or volunteer opportunities. Don’t believe that certifications only will help you land your dream job. You need to do more to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Try to find internship opportunities even if only a few hours per week. Any hands-on experience is better than no experience, so you should make sure the training institution you choose has high-quality computer labs. If you can’t land an internship, try your kids’ school. I don’t know of any school that couldn’t use help in their computer labs. Be creative and think of ways to learn. Another great way to add to the value of your certification is to join professional associations such as the NPA (Network Professionals Association). Chris Setz, NPA chairman, claims, “people in the NPA are very willing to help and to share.” Since career changers usually have no contacts in the IT industry organizations such as the NPA can be a vehicle to meet professionals in the industry. If you planned to get certified and jump into the IT field effortlessly, you might be in for a surprise. There are a lot of jobs out there to be filled, but they require more than a piece of paper. During your certification process, focus on learning not just the answers to some multiple-choice questions. Keep in mind that not the paper but the knowledge will enable you to succeed in your new career. Instead of taking crash courses consider taking your certification courses at colleges or universities. It might take you more than a few days and they might not guarantee that you pass the exams, but colleges and universities are more likely to be committed to learning than certification boot camps. Don’t consider an organization that trains to pass exams; only consider institutions that are dedicated to training. Even if you land your dream job in your new career, be ready to start on the bottom. Classroom learning is valuable, but it is no substitute for real world experience. Don’t think that you are done once you have earned your certification. Learning is the lifeblood of the IT field. Continuing education is not only recommended but a requirement. Without continuing education, it is impossible to stay on top of the ever-changing technology. When Joe Garcia was asked if he would recommend anyone getting certified to change their careers he said, “I continually suggest to people to go ahead and take a chance and go back to school. Get certified”. It is possible to use certifications to change your career if you are willing to look beyond the paper. Are you ready to change your life? For more information about certification programs at the University of Phoenix please visit www.mcse.com. To find out more about the NPA visit www.npa.org. About the author: George Meszaros is currently the Technical Programs Administrator at the University of Phoenix. He is an MCSE, MCDBA, CCNA, A+, Network+, and i-Net+ certified professional. He is also currently teaching Windows 2000 MCSE courses at the University of Phoenix.
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