ITIL certification builds IT workers' skills in economic downturn

George Spafford, Contributor02.12.2009

The news is full of failing companies and lost jobs, and the IT job market has not been spared the current economic recession. It is a worrisome time for everyone. We can view the recession's effects on the IT economy from two different perspectives: (1) that of employees, who fear losing jobs and worry about having the right skills, and (2) that of employers, which need to improve operating effectiveness and efficiency. While separate, these views are not mutually exclusive. Continuing education and the pursuit of IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certifications can benefit both groups in terms of building IT skills and improving IT operational efficiency.

Building IT skill sets with ITIL certification
Firms hire workers based on their skill sets. While many organizations understand the value of developing IT workers' skills, others discard employees when skills no longer align with a company's needs. In their responses to employee surveys, it's no wonder that respondents list stagnation as a top fear.

For those interested in developing business-oriented IT skills, ITIL certifications teach new approaches and offer the value of having an IT certification.

In this economy, IT workers must carefully develop and maintain their skills and marketable credentials. If an employer doesn't compensate adequately, employees must take their futures into their own hands. Long gone are the days of the "company person" who spends his career with one firm. Now IT professionals frequently change jobs for myriad reasons.
With companies downsizing every day and millions of jobs lost since the recession began in December 2007, it's important evaluate certifications based on which skills are in demand in the geographical area of interest, what your weaknesses are and which strengths can be augmented, and the overall benefit a certification provides over time.

The ITIL Foundation certification indicates that an IT professional has a basic understanding of IT processes and terminology. The certification is a prerequisite for more advanced classes. For those who want to specialize and develop domain expertise, the advanced Capability, Lifecycle and Service Manager/ITIL Expert certifications should be pursued.

It's important not to fall into the trap of doing nothing if an employer refuses to fund your career development. You should enhance your skills and plan for your future. Don't leave your growth opportunities and career path solely in the hands of others.

ITIL: Bringing security in economic downturn
Without a doubt, we live in troubled times. Without the IT skills needed to compete, workers fear being laid off or that they will struggle to find new jobs. Companies are in desperate need of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of their IT groups to reduce costs while also pursuing their mission of value creation and protection. ITIL certifications present a means to help both groups. With careful planning, the benefits can be maximized for individuals and employers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: George Spafford http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/ is a principal consultant at Pepperweed Consulting and an experienced practitioner in business and IT operations. He is a prolific author and speaker and has consulted and conducted training on regulatory compliance, IT governance and process improvement.