Validate your ability to face future

In a world where recruiters take mere seconds to scan through resumes, a relevant certification can make your resume stand out. Certifications tell your prospective employer that you are prepared for a job in an all-round manner. They also indicate that you take your job role seriously. They act as a signal of your competency in roles where basic and practical skills are required for the evolving technology industry. IT certifications, in particular, signify that you are well-versed with demonstrable skills and will incorporate emerging technological scenarios in your accounting.

For beginners, a core IT certification that covers digital organisations such as devices, networking, cybersecurity, software and operating system makes people know that you are skilled enough to troubleshoot across technologies. This is the first step to gaining a foothold in the new- age technical support space. With time, mainstream computer systems will come to include mobile devices as well. Hence, Android, iOS along with Linux may be a required knowledge for help desks of tomorrow. It offers a standardised proof of capability to the world at large and inculcates a sense of purpose and pride.

Career prospects

For workforce who have the experience of a couple of years in IT, intermediate IT certifications in networking or cybersecurity certifications help prepare them for critical threats for retaining an edge in the competitive business world. Cybersecurity certifications, in particular, arm you with new versions of threats and how to address them. Such certifications open you to a world of possibilities with fairly specialised knowledge of complex systems and processes.

For experienced professionals, certifications on an emerging technology or a new aspect of an established field of practice let your employer know that you are eager and willing to improve, as well as proactive and ambitious.

Most jobs of near future will concentrate on AI (artificial intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things) and cybersecurity. Cybersecurity, for instance, as a career path will help you prepare for critical skills, such as VAPT (vulnerability Analysis — Penetration Testing), cyber forensics and incident response.

Key to future

Employers, too, are benefitted by their corporate certification training decision by providing greater job fulfilment and satisfaction. Human Resources earn points for employee engagement and aid map careers and development. However, employers need to monitor the progress of trainings and sometimes micro-management to achieve the desired benefits of the module.

Finally, obtaining relevant certifications show your current and future employers about your quality. You must always be ready to do research before selecting the right certification that can help you get the objectives you want. Your choice of career may necessitate a particular career progression path. It is always easier and cheaper to shift between certifications in case your aptitude and learning are more apt for a different path.

After a basic computer IT course certification, experts recommend that you work in an IT organisation for at least nine months, implementing, installing, maintaining, troubleshooting and configuring simple to mid-level complex networks and computer systems before you move into more specialised fields such as cybersecurity, VAPT or enterprise risk management roles.

Enterprise technology certifications are incomplete without knowledge of how complex servers and routers manage information, communication, transmission and encryption. As can be seen, certifications are cheaper to get than full-fledged degrees and offer greater flexibility in terms of both learning content and learning outcomes and look good on your CV too!

(The author is with CompTIA India)