Cutting edge of certifications

Pradipto Chakrabarty

In a world where recruiters take mere seconds to scan through most resumes, a relevant certification inserted at the right place, can make your resume stand out from the rest. Certifications tell your prospective employer that you are prepared for a job in an all-round manner. These also indicate to your peers that you take your job role seriously. These 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 in practical  skills and incorporate emerging technology skills in your portfolio. Whatever be the stage of your career,  you can go for a certification that will enhance your job prospects.  

1 For beginners, a core IT certification that covers all pillars of a digital organisation such as devices, networking, cybersecurity, software and operating system, irrespective of platform, lets employers know that you are skilled enough troubleshoot across technologies. It is, thus, the very 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 the required knowledge for helpdesks of tomorrow. It offers standardised proof of capability to the world at large and inculcates a sense of purpose and pride.

2 For workforce having a couple of years’ experience in IT, intermediate IT certifications in networking or cyber security certifications will help prepare them for critical threats, protection against which and rapid recovery from, is so important for retaining the competitive edge in today’s cut throat business scenario. If you are at this stage of your career then look for cyber-security certifications. Such certifications euip you with specialised knowledge of complex systems and processes. 

3 For seasoned professionals, certifications in emerging technology or a new aspect of an established field of practice let employers know that you’re eager and willing to improve, are proactive and ambitious. Almost all jobs of near future will concentrate on AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things) and cybersecurity. Cybersecurity, for instance, as a career path  Pentest+ and CySA+ help one prepare for critical skills such as VAPT (Vulnerability Analysis — Penetration Testing), Cyber forensics and incident response.

4 Employers, too, can benefit from their corporate certification training decision by providing better job fulfillment and satisfaction. HR earns points for employee engagement and aids map careers and development. However, employers need to monitor the progress of trainings and some might even have to micro-manage in order to achieve the desired benefits of a particular module.

5 Finally, obtaining relevant certifications show your current and future employers your quality of wanting to improve yourself continuously. You must always be ready to do research before selecting the right certification that can help you achieve the objectives you are aiming for. 

Your choice of career may necessitate a particular career progression path. In which case, it is always easier and cheaper to shift between certifications in case your aptitude and learning are more apt for a different path.

Enterprise technology certifications are incomplete without the 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, offer greater flexibility in terms of both learning content and learning outcomes and look good on your CV too!

Path to progression  

After a basic computer IT course certification, it is recommended to 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 moving into more specialised fields such as cyber-security, VAPT or enterprise risk management roles.

— The writer is Regional Director, CompTIA India