Most In Demand Certifications in 2010

An industry-recognized certification can provide you with a competitive edge whether you’re looking for a new position or trying to advance within your current firm. However, the biggest challenge when it comes to earning a professional designation is often determining which one to pursue.




Here are the four most in-demand certifications, according to Robert Half Technology’s staffing and recruiting professionals across the United States:



Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): Offered by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)², this vendor-neutral information security accreditation covers 10 domains, including access control, cryptography, operations security, and security architecture and design. To earn a CISSP, you must meet certain experience requirements and achieve a scaled score of 700 or greater on the CISSP exam. The credential also must be renewed every three years. According to CIOs polled for the latest “Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report,” the second most challenging functional area to fill is security, increasing the appeal of job candidates with a CISSP designation.



Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE): This certification focuses on the design and implementation of these particular infrastructures. It’s recommended that you have one to two years of experience working with network systems before pursuing the accreditation. Earning the MCSE certification demonstrates a commitment to professional development because you must have a wide range of knowledge and pass seven exams to obtain it.



Although the MCSE designation is in particularly high demand, job candidates who have earned any Microsoft certification have an edge in the job market. Because of the ubiquity of Microsoft applications, accreditations that demonstrate your knowledge of these technologies will continue to be sought by employers.



Project Management Professional (PMP): If you want to validate your project management abilities, this credential, offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), may be for you. You must have between three and five years of project management experience to take the exam, and the certification must be maintained by earning 60 Professional Development Units over a three-year period. The increasing complexity of IT projects, and the need to involve individuals from all over the organization in these engagements, has led to the demand for verifiable project management skills.



Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA): This vendor-specific accreditation authenticates the bearer’s ability to administer medium-size route and switched Cisco networks. To earn the certification, you can either pass the 640-802 CCNA exam or both the 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) and 640-816 ICND2 exams. The CCNA designation is valid for three years, after which you must pass one of various possible exams to renew it.



Fifty-eight percent of CIOs polled for the “Hiring Index” ranked network administration as the technical skill set in greatest demand within their IT departments, further demonstrating the marketability of professionals with the CCNA credential.



Although earning one of the above certifications could be advantageous for your career, that doesn’t mean doing so is the necessarily the best move for you to make. Before pursuing any professional designation, you must ask yourself the following questions:



• Which certification is right for me? Take into account your experience, current position and future professional goals. For instance, if you have a project management background and want to further your career in that area, a PMP certification could be extremely valuable. However, if you have no networking experience, it’s unlikely that a CCNA accreditation will boost your marketability. It’s important to understand that a certification can’t take the place of experience. Rather, it is best used to support relevant experience you already possess.



• How much time and money are involved? Between books, study aids, training courses and exams, there will be costs involved. But there may be ways to reduce these expenses. If you’re currently employed, your company may offer financial assistance with your education. If you’re unemployed, you might consider registering with an IT staffing firm, some of which offer free training courses, test preparation and sample exams.



The time commitment can vary dramatically depending on the designation you are pursuing. The MCSE certification requires you to take seven exams, for instance, while the CCNA designation will perhaps only require one. Also keep in mind that some credentials require ongoing study to remain valid.



• How much of an impact will a certification have on my career? This question is hard to answer. According to the “Robert Half Technology 2010 Salary Guide ,” a credential can increase starting salary by up to 10 percent. But not all certifications are created equal. Those less in demand may not boost your compensation at all or increase your appeal to potential employers by any noticeable amount. You may want to consult members of your professional network, especially those who have earned a certification you hope to obtain, or an IT recruiter for additional insight.



Dave Willmer is executive director of Robert Half Technology, a provider of IT professionals for initiatives ranging from e-business development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. He can be reached at editor@certmag.com.

What IT Certifications are best suited for me?

Most people, even some of those in IT, get confused and/or overwhelmed by the whole Certification process. Well, I am here to sort it out for you. First, you have to assess your situation- i.e. current documentable work experience, products/applications you work with, educational background, your particular job market and what kind of connections you have already in IT positions. Notice I said current documentable work experience, if you have been away from IT for more than 6 months you need to be realistic with yourself. A lot of changes occur in 6 months (you get duller and rounder and IT gets sharper and more streamlined). Here is a question to consider: Are the products and applications you are familiar with mainstream? Microsoft, UNIX, Cisco, Oracle, Adobe or are they Industry specific applications? What kind of education do you have? Have you been exposed to particular technologies? Do you have a good understanding of Networking, Scripting, or Querying? How are your people skills? In your job search, what skill sets have you found companies are looking for? What are the requirements? Experience level? Do they require Certifications?




Once you know where you are in the big scheme of things, you need to decide what fits your current situation. If you are a green IT person looking for work, do not waste your time or the companies’ time by applying to a Network Security Administrator position for which you are not qualified. That is a good lofty goal, but grab the low hanging fruit first - everyone has to start somewhere. Aim for the entry level PC Tech, IT Support, Bench Tech, or Help Desk positions to get your feet wet.



Research jobs to find out if you meet requirements and can perform listed job duties. The majority of entry-level positions require an A+ Certification. Even if they do not require an A+, it is still an excellent way to get noticed ahead of your competition. CompTIA A+ certification validates one’s skills and abilities to perform PC/Laptop upgrades, hardware/software installation and troubleshooting. Microsoft uses A+ and Network+ as prerequisites for other, more technical certifications. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician Certification (MCDST) is also a relevant path to pursue. The MCDST will teach a beginning IT Professional how to manage users running Windows desktops and applications, which could be close to 100% of the end-users in your market.



Are you a new college grad with an A.S. or B.S. in Computer Networking Systems? Or Information Technology Security? Are you ready to tackle something new and to work in your chosen field? Do you want to have more than an expensive piece of paper hanging on the wall? The best way to get yourself noticed is to earn a Certification because it will make you stand out among all other applicants. While the A+ is always the initial Certification for most, IT professionals pass it up. This is not an practice I would recommend.



One can look into obtaining the CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), or Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP); these will take a little bit more effort. Network+ teaches skills enabling you to set up a network for a small to medium business. It covers topics such as: OSI model, TCP/IP Protocols, troubleshooting, fault tolerance, remote and wide area network (WAN) connectivity. Security+ will provide understanding into the field of network security and how it relates to other areas of information technology by covering topics such as: Intrusion detection, Cryptography, Security baselines and Computer Forensics. You should earn an A+ and Net+, or at least the equivalent knowledge of the content covered in A+ and Net+ before taking the Security+. Security+ lays the foundation leading to specialized security certifications. CCNA is a highly respected, sought after certification; Cisco maintains about an 80% market share in the routers and switches arena and plans to add 1.7 million CCNA’s by 2010. The CCNA validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. The Microsoft Certified Professional or MCP certification is designed to help the future Network/System Administrator get familiar with the Windows Server environment and explains how to manage and maintain Windows Server 2003.



If you are a seasoned IT Professional with a lot of chops, but still feel you want more knowledge, need to update your skill sets, or better position yourself in future negotiations regarding promotions and salary increases, you can look beyond some of the entry-level certifications I mentioned above. Ask yourself the questions and assess where you are currently and what career goals are you looking to accomplish? What does your current job entail? What are your job duties and responsibilities? If you are looking for advancement the best way to validate your abilities and knowledge is to earn a certification in your particular discipline. Certifications validate your knowledge of best practices, skills, and your familiarity with the tools to make your network and IT department run at its optimum level. The payback for your and your employer is higher morale, less stress, a pleasant work environment, and higher wages.

Cisco certifications CCENT, CCNA

Whether it’s a farmer checking crop prices on the Internet, a small business working with remote suppliers or a huge corporation conducting business worldwide, local and global economic growth depends on networks.
In fact, by enabling communication, collaboration and automation, networks have become so essential that the demand for IT professionals who can build, manage and update them is growing exponentially. The worldwide gap between skilled networking professionals and available networking jobs of all types is expected to reach nearly 3 million by 2012. Further, an IDC white paper found 60,000 new IT professionals will be needed each year for the next three years in North America alone.
The roles and needed skills of networking professionals are changing as well, as networks are changing to deliver new capabilities. In fact, as more and more critical business functions move into the fabric of the data center, entirely new job roles are emerging. The next generation of IT workers will be able to specialize more quickly than their predecessors and focus on new technologies such as voice, security and wireless mobility.
And employers increasingly will look to hire such specialists. A worldwide study by Forrester Consulting found that more companies expect to add dedicated jobs for network security, voice and wireless LANs within five years.
Not surprisingly, the majority of respondents to the Forrester survey said professional certifications will become essential for candidates who want jobs involving advanced networking knowledge and skills. To better prepare the architects of the networked economy for today’s challenges, Cisco has aligned its portfolio to these new job roles and has updated a number of its certifications, increasing the pathways that IT professionals can take to develop their careers.

Cisco CCENT: Expanding the Entry-Level Workforce

Cisco’s newest associate level certification, Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT), validates the skills required to successfully install and verify small routed and switched networks. Students who attain this level of certification have developed basic network configuration, verification and other operational skills required for positions such as help-desk technician and technical support assistant.
The certification is an accessible point of entry for people beginning a career in networking and an optional first step to the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification, which signifies a comprehensive understanding of networking fundamentals. CCNA also is a prerequisite to earning higher-level Cisco career certifications.

CCNA: Specializing Early in a Networking Career

Although IP telephony, security and wireless mobility are considered advanced networking technologies, they quickly are becoming a standard part of many networks. Knowledge of only the networking fundamentals may no longer be enough for career success. Networking professionals today benefit from a specialty focus early in their careers.
CCNA Voice, CCNA Security and CCNA Wireless certifications verify that networking candidates have the specialized skills that are in high demand among employers. These new concentrations extend a candidate’s knowledge of routing and switching gained from attaining the prerequisite CCNA certification.
CCNA Voice certification helps prepare learners for jobs such as voice administrator, voice engineer and voice manager. This certification indicates that students are familiar with unified communications applications and architectures, and it validates their skills in configuring and managing the latest technologies for a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) infrastructure.
CCNA Security certification offers a valuable credential for those in jobs such as network security specialist, security administrator and network security support engineer. This certification verifies the ability to manage security devices, implement security policies and mitigate risks. For those ready to advance in an exciting security career, the CCNA Security certification serves as preparation for pursuing the Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) certification.
CCNA Wireless certification is designed for those working as network associates or administrators, wireless support specialists and wireless local area network (LAN) project managers. This certification confirms skills in configuring, implementing and supporting Cisco wireless LANs in small and medium-sized business and enterprise installations. In the future, CCNA Wireless certification holders will have the option of pursuing higher-level Cisco certifications for wireless networks.

CCDE: Designing Next-Generation Networks

Responding to strong customer demand for professionals who can collaborate on network architecture strategy and not just implement, Cisco has introduced an expert-level certification focused on design: Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE). This certification program applies a solutions-based educational approach and serves the growing number of networking experts who have the knowledge to assess network business requirements and translate them into effective network designs.
Approximately 30 percent of those who hold Cisco’s highest certification — Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) — are responsible for network design each day. However, these design experts are no longer involved in hands-on configuration, but rather in strategic design and architecture. The CCDE certification was created to provide IT professionals who specialize in network design with a credential that recognizes senior-level expertise and provides incentives for experienced practitioners to continue their professional development.
The CCDE curriculum includes sophisticated, multi-vendor network design principles, theory and analysis, as well as strategic architecture concepts that go beyond the network. Modeled after the CCIE expert-level certification, the CCDE credential requires passing a two-part exam: a qualification exam and a practical exam.

Cisco Updates Provide Up-Skilling for Today's Networking Space

By Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn — December 2008

Small, Medium-Sized Businesses See Growth Opportunities in Next 12 Months, CompTIA Study Reveals

Small, Medium-Sized Businesses See Growth Opportunities in Next 12 Months, CompTIA Study Reveals

Many planning for expansion and new hiring, but are cautious on tech spending

Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., November 10, 2008

Though wary about current economic conditions, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are hopeful that business will grow over the next 12 months, according to a new survey released today by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

The survey of 772 SMBs in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom found that 85 percent plan to hire new employees over the next 12 months; 54 percent anticipate revenue growth of 10 percent or more; and 40 percent plan to add new business locations.

SMBs are a bit more cautious when it comes to information technology and communications spending. The CompTIA study found that 51 percent of SMBs surveyed intend to increase their tech spending in the next 12 months; and 49 percent expect their tech spending to remain flat or to decline. By comparison, 62 percent of SMBs said in last year's study they planned to boost spending, while 38 percent said it would remain flat or decline.

"Small and mid-sized businesses have made significant investments in technology over the past dozen years," said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. "In the past, tech spending might have been one of the first line items slashed in a tough economy. Today, SMBs are savvier because they rely on technology for an increasing amount of their core business operations. It's encouraging to see that the majority of SMBs plan to maintain, if not increase, current tech spending during this time of economic uncertainty."

New technology investments will support SMBs expectations of growth over the next 12 months. On average, SMBs expect to add eight new employees during that time frame; while 40 percent plan to open between one and five new locations.

The Web-based survey was conducted in September 2008 and included businesses with between 10 and 999 employees across several industries, including manufacturing, finance and insurance, healthcare, government, wholesale, retail, professional services, agriculture, mining, transportation, utilities and construction. For more information on the SMB technology spending study and other CompTIA research, visit www.comptia.org/research.

About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is the voice of the world's information technology (IT) industry. Its members are the companies at the forefront of innovation; and the professionals responsible for maximizing the benefits organizations receive from their investments in technology. CompTIA is dedicated to advancing industry growth through its educational programs, market research, networking events, professional certifications, and public policy advocacy. For more information, please visit www.comptia.org.

Steven Ostrowski
Director, Corporate CommunicationsCompTIA
sostrowski@comptia.org

What Certification do I need to get a job?

Most people, even some of those in IT, get confused and/or overwhelmed by the whole Certification process. Well, I am here to sort it out for you. First, you have to assess your situation- i.e. current documentable work experience, products/applications you work with, educational background, your particular job market and what kind of connections you have already in IT positions. Notice I said current documentable work experience, if you have been away from IT for more than 6 months you need to be realistic with yourself. A lot of changes occur in 6 months (you get duller and rounder and IT gets sharper and more streamlined). Here is a question to consider: Are the products and applications you are familiar with mainstream? Microsoft, UNIX, Cisco, Oracle, Adobe or are they Industry specific applications? What kind of education do you have? Have you been exposed to particular technologies? Do you have a good understanding of Networking, Scripting, or Querying? How are your people skills? In your job search, what skill sets have you found companies are looking for? What are the requirements? Experience level? Do they require Certifications?

Once you know where you are in the big scheme of things, you need to decide what fits your current situation. If you are a green IT person looking for work, do not waste your time or the companies’ time by applying to a Network Security Administrator position for which you are not qualified. That is a good lofty goal, but grab the low hanging fruit first - everyone has to start somewhere. Aim for the entry level PC Tech, IT Support, Bench Tech, or Help Desk positions to get your feet wet.

Research jobs to find out if you meet requirements and can perform listed job duties. The majority of entry-level positions require an A+ Certification. Even if they do not require an A+, it is still an excellent way to get noticed ahead of your competition. CompTIA A+ certification validates one’s skills and abilities to perform PC/Laptop upgrades, hardware/software installation and troubleshooting. Microsoft uses A+ and Network+ as prerequisites for other, more technical certifications. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician Certification (MCDST) is also a relevant path to pursue. The MCDST will teach a beginning IT Professional how to manage users running Windows desktops and applications, which could be close to 100% of the end-users in your market.

Are you a new college grad with an A.S. or B.S. in Computer Networking Systems? Or Information Technology Security? Are you ready to tackle something new and to work in your chosen field? Do you want to have more than an expensive piece of paper hanging on the wall? The best way to get yourself noticed is to earn a Certification because it will make you stand out among all other applicants. While the A+ is always the initial Certification for most, IT professionals pass it up. This is not an practice I would recommend.

One can look into obtaining the CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), or Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP); these will take a little bit more effort. Network+ teaches skills enabling you to set up a network for a small to medium business. It covers topics such as: OSI model, TCP/IP Protocols, troubleshooting, fault tolerance, remote and wide area network (WAN) connectivity. Security+ will provide understanding into the field of network security and how it relates to other areas of information technology by covering topics such as: Intrusion detection, Cryptography, Security baselines and Computer Forensics. You should earn an A+ and Net+, or at least the equivalent knowledge of the content covered in A+ and Net+ before taking the Security+. Security+ lays the foundation leading to specialized security certifications. CCNA is a highly respected, sought after certification; Cisco maintains about an 80% market share in the routers and switches arena and plans to add 1.7 million CCNA’s by 2010. The CCNA validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. The Microsoft Certified Professional or MCP certification is designed to help the future Network/System Administrator get familiar with the Windows Server environment and explains how to manage and maintain Windows Server 2003.

If you are a seasoned IT Professional with a lot of chops, but still feel you want more knowledge, need to update your skill sets, or better position yourself in future negotiations regarding promotions and salary increases, you can look beyond some of the entry-level certifications I mentioned above. Ask yourself the questions and assess where you are currently and what career goals are you looking to accomplish? What does your current job entail? What are your job duties and responsibilities? If you are looking for advancement the best way to validate your abilities and knowledge is to earn a certification in your particular discipline. Certifications validate your knowledge of best practices, skills, and your familiarity with the tools to make your network and IT department run at its optimum level. The payback for your and your employer is higher morale, less stress, a pleasant work environment, and higher wages.

Back-to-School Debate: IT Degree or Certification?

It’s nearing that time of year again. The air will get crisp, the leaves will turn yellow and the days will be full of anticipation. As you prepare to return to campus, you’re probably more concerned with sharpening your pencils and dusting off your books than brushing up your resume. But isn’t the reason we go to school in the first place to better prepare us for that thing out there called the “real world?”

Taking the time out to map the best course of study will not only maximize your return on investment but will help you lay the groundwork for the career of your dreams. What’s your best move: four-year IT degree or specialized certifications?

“It’s really an apples and oranges kind of discussion,” said John Estes, vice president of strategic alliances at Robert Half Technology, an IT consulting and staffing services company. “What companies tell us all the time is they want people that demonstrate willingness and a track record of lifelong learning.”

A Degree in the Door

At many IT companies, a four-year degree is a prerequisite for a job and could be the deciding factor between getting an interview and getting passed over. “There are some companies out there that, as a condition of employment, won’t hire you unless you do have a college degree. That’s just part of their basic requirements,” Estes said. Many companies are flexible when it comes to the major of the degree, however. Estes said he’s seen hiring managers eagerly set up interviews with candidates who majored in art history, for example. That’s because the degree really signifies broad, basic knowledge and demonstrates your ability to follow through on a project. Just don’t count on your degree to get you promoted or to open the door to additional opportunities. “Many people, when they get out of college [think], ‘Well hey, that’s done.’ They’re done with their education. And in IT, you’re just getting started,” Estes said.

Continued Education With Certification

In addition to showing your employers you’re committed to furthering your education, there’s another reason to get certified: The speed of innovation in technology is so rapid that “by the time you learn a technology, the beta for the new version’s already out,” Estes said.
Thus it’s important to show employers you’re working around the clock to keep your tech skills current.

“Certifications have become more and more en vogue as just one more differentiator for someone,” Estes said. “Because, even if you’re getting a college degree, you’re getting [it] in computer science; you’re not getting [it] in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. The certification will come into play more specifically with what you’re doing.”

Half the battle, however, is knowing when to begin the certification process. As a new grad, you’re not expected to have specialized already, but when is the right time to consider it?
“I would say as soon as possible,” Estes said. “It’s not like they graduate in May and have to start the certification by July, but [they should start] once they get more of an idea of where they are in the organization, truly what they have passion for, what really interests them.

Even if you’re not interested in a hands-on implementation job, you still are likely to get into some type of project management or business analysis role as you progress in the field of IT, and it’s worth getting certified to back up your experience, Estes said.

It’s also entirely possible that, as a recent grad, you’ll start off in one discipline but come to decide you’d like to go in a different direction instead.In that case, you should definitely consider a certification, but know that you’ll need to back it up with real-world application, Estes said.


– Agatha Gilmore, agilmore@certmag.com

Cisco Adds 3 Specializations to CCNA

Cisco anticipates the talent shortage for specialized IT professionals will reach about 3 million by the year 2012. To help close this gap, the technology giant’s training group has created three new specializations for its CCNA certification portfolio.

“One of the reasons for this gap is that the role of the network is expanding,” said Christine Yoshida, senior manager of learning product management for Learning@Cisco. “It’s becoming more sophisticated, and there are more applications and technology that are running on the network. That requires people who are working with these networks to know more about different advanced technologies.”

To provide these workers with the advanced knowledge they need, the associate-level CCNA program now includes CCNA Security, CCNA Voice and CCNA Wireless specializations.
“We are doing what we think is really going to help in this trend toward specialization and getting people the skills they need to specialize,” Yoshida said.

Professionals interested in one or more of these specializations must first complete the current CCNA exam to build foundational skills. Then they can try their hands at the specializations, which can help them advance in roles related to the exams’ respective skills.

CCNA Security is meant for those such as network security specialists and security administrators, who need to know how to monitor and troubleshoot security devices and technologies, as well as create and adopt security policies.

CCNA Voice ensures one knows how to install, configure and perform maintenance for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and is recommended for voice administrators and engineers.
Finally, CCNA Wireless — Cisco’s first talent development track for wireless specialists — builds competency in configuring, implementing, monitoring and troubleshooting wireless LANs (local area networks). This specialization is meant for wireless and support technicians and security engineers, among others.

Courses and exams for CCNA Security and CCNA Voice are available now, while those for CCNA Wireless will be available July 24.

“We recently did a survey of IT managers around the world,” Yoshida said, “and we found that the IT managers are anticipating they’re going to need specialists at an increasing degree. Right now, there are people who need to know all of these, but there’s going to be an ongoing trend for people to specialize in just these areas.”

By Meagan Polakowski "CertMag" — July 7, 2008

Entry-Level Certs Fill Skills Gap

Certifications for workers in the information technology industry, historically targeted at professionals with at least a few years of experience on the job, are more and more being tailored for entry-level candidates.
For certifying bodies, the shift is aimed in part at addressing shortages of certain technology skills that are impacting the industry and have the potential to be even more problematic in the not-so-distant future.
For workers new to the high-tech sector, the emergence of new certification options at the entry level is good news.
Even in a market in which companies say technical skills are lacking, employers are more demanding and selective in their searches for technology workers.
Individuals securing jobs in today’s tech workplace are equipped with greater versatility and a broader skill set than was required in the past. An industry-recognized certification puts the worker — even an entry-level worker — in a stronger position with prospective employers. Certifications are a clear indicator for the employer that the individual who wants a job has the skills to perform the tasks.

Meeting Demand

IT jobs are among the 10 hardest jobs to fill, according to an April 2008 survey by Manpower. Nearly 25 percent of employers surveyed for Manpower said they are having problems filling open jobs because of a lack of talent.
Today’s IT jobs are more complicated than they were 10 or 20 years ago. Applications, networks and systems call for IT professionals with a much broader set of skills, even at the entry level.
Multiple studies suggest there will be a wide gap in the next five to 10 years between the demand for IT workers and the supply of workers with the right technical skills. Research firm IDC puts that gap at 40 percent.
A 2008 study commissioned by CompTIA that surveyed more than 3,500 IT managers in 14 countries found that there are gaps in several critical technical areas. There is a wide gap between the IT security skills that organizations want and the corresponding skills that workers bring to the job.
Among organizations surveyed in nine countries with established IT industries — Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and United States — 73 percent identified security, firewalls and data privacy as the IT skills most important to their organizations. But just 57 percent said their IT employees are proficient in these security skills, a gap of 16 percentage points.
The gap is even wider in five countries where the emergence of a strong IT industry is relatively recent: China, India, Poland, Russia and South Africa. Among respondents in these countries, 76 percent identified security as the top skill their organizations need, but just 57 percent said their current tech staffs are proficient in security. That’s a difference of 19 percentage points.
Other skills with significant gaps between importance and proficiency are soft skills — such as customer service, sales, project management, communication — and nonspecific server technology including database, storage, maintenance and administration.
Development of new entry-level IT certifications and the refinement of existing certifications are intended to address this critical skill issue, according to Gretchen Koch, director of skills development for CompTIA.
“It gets back to enlarging the number of IT professionals and keeping the pipeline of workers filled,” she said.
Adobe Systems is among the major players in the IT industry that have expanded their certification programs to include more entry-level candidates.
In June 2007, Adobe Systems launched the first in a new line of entry-level certifications for its software. Targeted at high school and college students and entry-level workers, the Adobe Certifications exams are intended to test a candidate’s ability to use Adobe’s multimedia, video, graphic and Web software. The first offerings are tied to Adobe’s Flash and Dreamweaver products, with other certifications to roll out later this year.
“Adobe is committed to offering educators the resources to give students the necessary digital media skills to succeed in today’s highly competitive workplace,” said Megan Stewart, director of K-12 education at Adobe. “We can offer teachers and students the ability to not only learn to use Adobe’s industry-standard digital communications tools, but to validate the skills and competencies that they have acquired.”
“It’s a market plan that allows Adobe to increase the user base that’s knowledgeable about its programs and is capable of entering the higher-level certifications when they become professionals in the field,” said David Saedi, president and chief executive officer of Certiport, which Adobe partnered with in developing its certifications. “Trying to verify how many people out there qualify for a particular job is difficult. By [knowing] the number of people using Adobe programs in high schools and colleges around the world, it will give us a much better feel for the ebb and flow of talent coming into the market.”

Entering With Acumen

The CompTIA A+ certification has been revised to reflect the evolution of skills required for individuals embarking on careers in technology, which includes the need for technical, business, communication and personal skills.
“The role of the IT professional is more strategic for organizations, and technical skills alone are no longer enough for most IT jobs,” Koch said. “More than ever, companies value employees who can think strategically and communicate effectively, as well as those who possess strong business fundamentals. IT workers who understand how to use technology to meet business goals, and who can articulate this understanding, are golden in the eyes of employers.”
Though IT certifications take time, effort and resources — including money — to attain, the return on investment can be significant. Certification in the IT industry is critical for getting your foot in the door. Employers are looking for job candidates with some level of industry knowledge. What better way for an entry-level worker to demonstrate his or her knowledge than by obtaining a recognized industry credential?


by John Venator


John Venator is the president and chief executive officer of the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA). He can be reached at editor@certmag.com.

Get an entry level IT position with these Certs

Information Technology Certification – entry level gives you the chance to either change or begin your career.

It’s a….

Starting point

It’s a…

Stepping stone

The certifications I’ve listed below are the most popular ways of getting into I.T. They don’t require you have any experience or any other certifications under your belt in order to be eligible to sit for the exam.

They will help your career as a starting point. We all need to start from somewhere and they are great stepping stones – they can lead you to higher level certifications which will land you the higher paying jobs.

These certifications by themselves have the weight of getting-your-foot-in-the-door. They don’t have the weight of this-will-land-me-a-great-paying-job. If you are a newbie reading this, I want to make this very clear to you because this is the most important step in your I.T career.
And the first step is the most crucial step.

A beginner, soon-to-be I.T professional has many, many years of study ahead of him or her. We constantly don’t stop learning. We are constantly striving for the next certification we need as we climb to where we want to go.

If you don’t absolutely love information technology, then an information technology certification may not be for you. So really think about it ok?

But if you are sure, these are the top entry information technology certifications you want to get under your belt. Read through each and select the one that excites you the most…


Comptia’s A+ Certification
You learn how to build and fix computers as well as load operating systems and troubleshoot. Learn why this information technology certification is one of the most popular…

Cisco CCNA Certification
Just as popular as the above, this certification concentrates on the networking side of computers. Because ultimately you will need to understand networks, this is a great certification to get. Learn more

Comptia Network+ Certification
Another great networking certification. Alot of people continue to this after obtaining the A+ Certification. Learn more.

Microsoft MCDST Certification
Because most entry IT jobs will be support jobs, this certification concentrates on teaching you how to support end users and troubleshoot desktop environments running on the Microsoft Windows operating system. Learn more.

The Microsoft MCP Certification
Most IT Professionals start with this certification. Learn why.

Tips for Certification exam taking

New Horizons has an instructor who has began blogging with networkworld.com Chip Wenz. Since he has taken many more Certification exams than me I will allow him to give his insight on test taking.

"Chip Wenz has been an instructor for New Horizons for eight years where he teaches courses on Microsoft networking, messaging and .NET programming. He is an MCSE, MCSA+M, MCDBA, MCAD, MCSD, MCTS, MCPD and a MCT. Chip has been working in the IT industry for 30 years and has done many projects in both networking design as well as .NET programming."

How to Take a Test…

Submitted by Chip Wenz on Thu, 06/05/2008 - 8:58am.

Since I have been an instructor I have had to take a number of exams from different vendors to maintain my credentials and I have developed some guidelines on how to take a test that I thought that I might share with you. Now some of these should be taken with a large grain of salt (followed quickly with a shot of Tequila and a lime slice), but for the most part they can be used when all else fails and you either have to guess or skip that question getting it wrong anyway. So here they are in no specific order.

First, there are no official classes from any of the vendors that have a one-to-one correlation to any of the tests. With that being said, how do the classes help you to prepare for the exam? The answer to that is the classes teach you HOW things work. With that little tidbit of information, taking the test can be a breeze. If you know how the different pieces work then you can use that information to eliminate any of the answers that could not possibly be correct.

This leads me to the next item; on most of the tests that I have taken, I really only know 50% to 60% of the correct answers, but luckily I can spot most of the totally wrong answers as well. Now this may sound weird, why do I care what the wrong answers are when I am being graded on picking the correct answer? If you look at it from a purely statistical point of view (bear with me, not a real strong subject for me in college) if you have answers labeled A, B C and D, you have a 1 in 4 chance of choosing the right answer. If you can eliminate 2 of the answers because they could never work the way they are described you have increased you odds to 1 out of 2. If you could get odds like that in Vegas, it would probably still be a little town in the middle of the desert.

Okay so now you have your answers down to 2 choices and you think to yourself that both could work; now what do you do? The rule here is pick the answer that uses the ‘Least administrative effort’ as Microsoft would say. What this means is if you have a question that states that you need to issue IP addresses to 50 machines; would you A) statically assign the addresses or B) use a DHCP server, the DHCP server answer would be the least administrative effort over the long run.

Finally, if you have to take a total S.W.A.G. at the answer, remember the following:
· If it makes the vendor of the test look good, it is probably the right answer.
· If it makes the competitor of the test vendor look bad, it probably is the right answer.
· On networking tests the right answer is usually the longest (because it is more detailed) and on programming tests the shortest is usually the right answer (because it is more ‘elegant’).

Above all…relax, it’s only a test.

For even more test taking tips see http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/29014 for steps to 'Guess your best'

Life of Certifications?

You have spent tremendous time and effort to earn a certification only to have re-certify a few years down the road. Some might gnash their teeth in protest over this and assume it is only a ploy by the various certification entities to part more money from our pockets and others just think it ridiculous, yet I believe there is validity in this concept of having to recertify or earn continuing education credits. Ours is a field that changes constantly. New technologies are released or new versions of current technologies. There are always new updates and service packs that are released. In other words, the IT field is always changing and we have to keep up with these changes or we risk falling behind the technology power curve.

There are some certification programs that require you to either earn Continuing Education credit (taking classes, attending conferences, teaching classes, etc) or to recertify or take a test in the next higher sequence of certification tests (Cisco). There are also some certification organizations that do not require recertification at all - CompTIA being one of them (though they do strongly encourage you to recertify on the newer technologies). Once you are certified - say on Security+, you are certified for life (or as is found on their web site "CompTIA certifications are valid for the rest of a professional's career"). This is nice - you take a test and you are certified for life - no fuss and no worries. But let's say you are A+ certified and that you were certified in 2000 - yes, you are A+ certified and for life - but the technology that you originally were tested on is now 8 years old and has changed significantly. Microsoft also had a similar approach. If you are an MCSE on NT4 - you kept that certification, even though there aren't many NT4 networks left (they have changed this approach with the MCTS and MCITP).

The argument that is put forward for continuing education credits or recertification is that there is concern about the relevancy of the certification with regard to current technology. Three years ,in many cases, is enough time for a technology to have matured enough that you might need a "refresher". I like the idea of continuing education credits - if you resit the class, teach a class that covers the material or even jus t attend a conference or seminar - that should suffice.

Certifications vs. Degrees?

Frankly, it would be easier to solve the age-old question “Which came first the chicken or the egg?” than to ever reach a consensus on the question of whether it’s better for an IT pro to have a technical degree or certifications.

It may be one of the oldest, yet most hotly debated, issues ever to post on TechRepublic.
It’s constantly debated because there are no clear-cut answers. So I’m not going to throw out any concrete facts and I can’t hope to change anyone’s mind on the matter, but here are a few things to consider when weighing the benefits of a degree vs. a cert.

First of all, keep in mind that the degree/certification matter is only a part of what you should concern yourself with when you’re marketing yourself for a new job or a better position. Degrees and certifications may comprise the bulk of your “calling card,” but you should not depend on either to be the overall marketing strategy for what you’re selling to potential employers — yourself.

Once you get into a job, above anything else, your employer will want to see you as a person who can get the job done and do it in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. No one is going to temper your good results because you lack credentials.

However, this is IT, one of the most constantly changing industries there is. Keeping up with technology is important, and certifications demonstrate that.

Who’s going to see your resume?
Another variable in this equation is whether an HR person or an IT manager is the one looking at your resume. Unless specifically instructed otherwise, the chances are that an HR person is going to respond to the presence of a degree before a jumble of Microsoft acronyms. In this way, “Bachelor’s degree” is a universal language. Is that a reason against certs? Not at all, just something to keep in mind.

The flip side is that if you have an HR person who does a lot of tech hiring, you might get someone who knows all of the certifications and simply uses that as a criterion to filter candidates. For example, if you are applying for a job as a Windows administrator, you must have an MCSE to be seriously considered for the job.

If a technical person, however, is vetting the resumes, it helps if you have some certifications. It’s a language a technical person speaks.

And another possibility to consider is that if the person doing the hiring is an “academic” sort, he may be of the mindset that if he suffered through getting a degree, it’s the very least he would expect from you.

Like I said, there are really no hard-core facts here, just things to consider.

The perception
There are lots of good reasons to get a degree, both personal and professional. In the eyes of some employers, a completed four-year degree shows that you can finish what you start. It gives them an idea of your dedication and work ethic. And, as an article from DataStronghold.com says, “Through the courses covered in a four-year degree, students are given the opportunity to learn a variety of skills in different portions of the major they have chosen. Technical as well as analytical talents are developed and tested.”

On the other hand, degrees can become dated. Certifications have to be renewed as technology evolves. You may have earned a computer science degree 10 years ago, but that doesn’t ensure that you’ve demonstrated proficiency recently. A certification does.

The timeline
The timeline is a very important factor in the degree/cert question. Let’s say you’ve been in a job for five years and you haven’t been promoted because of a company policy requiring managers to have degrees. Then, by all means, you might want to explore the option of going back to school. But if there is no formal policy and you haven’t been promoted, it may be because of something that neither a degree nor certification would have any influence over. In other words, don’t waste money on a four-year degree if the problem is you’re a general pain in the butt or don’t show any initiative in other ways.

A solution may be to pursue a goal that could be achieved in a shorter time span to show your desire to better yourself. And that could take form in a certification.

The power of specificity
We’ve all heard stories like the guy who has a Masters degree in Computer Science but can’t figure out a simple problem that anyone with an A+ cert could. That could be an issue of specificity. Some IT shops only have the budget for a “Tech of all Trades” so to speak. But some have the luxury of being able to hire those with specialties and that’s where a cert does some talking.

I asked Ramon Padilla, an experienced IT manager, what he looks for in a job candidate — a degree or certs, and he said it depends:
“If I am looking at a highly technical position (DBA, network engineer, etc.) then I lean more heavily toward certification. Someone with experience and a CCNA or CCIE for Cisco equipment or Oracle certifications for database admin goes further with me than someone with a generic IT degree. However, if I’m looking at a managerial, administrative, or analyst type position, the degree is more valuable.”

Renewable knowledge
As I said, degrees can become dated. Certifications have to be renewed as technology evolves. Degrees can prepare the foundation for dealing with technology, but you can’t generalize everything. Let’s use a car analogy: You may be a mechanical person who is used to taking apart muscle car engines with your eyes closed. But that may not help much if the electronic sensors fail in your new car.

The answer to the age-old question of degrees vs. certifications is “it depends.” Depends on the specifics of the job, on the person doing the hiring, and on your capabilities in general.

Toni Bowers, Blogger, Tech Republic

CompTIA gains ANSI Accreditation for A+, Net+, Security+

CompTIA certifications earn ANSI accreditation

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has announced that three of its professional certifications -- CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ -- have achieved accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Accreditation of the three certifications is the culmination of a multi-month process to verify compliance with requirements outlined in internationally accepted standards for assessing personnel certification programs (ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024); and for the operation of accreditation bodies (ISO/IEC 17011).

"The ANSI accreditation process provides certification bodies with an internationally recognized measurement of quality and benchmarks by which to evaluate and improve their practices," said Dr. Roy Swift, ANSI director of personnel certification accreditation. "Accreditation by an independent body that conducts an impartial review under the auspices of ISO/IEC 17011 and ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 creates an extremely valuable distinction for a personnel certification program. This value extends through the service network - from certification body, to certificate holder, to employer, to the public they serve."

ANSI is a global leader in the accreditation of personnel certification programs and is the only U.S. accreditor that requires a week-long assessor training as well as a mandatory annual training update to meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011.