As competitiveness goes, the information technology industry is currently the most competitive industry for talented professionals searching for a job. This is due to a number of factors which includes; number of IT professional’s universities across the globe churn out on a daily basis, globalization, and the rise of outsourcing IT projects to external staff. Therefore, to remain competitive in the information technology industry, one must discover ways to highlight his or her skills and stand out from the crowd, and this is where an IT certification comes in. Here, we will outline some key advantages of having IT certifications and how you can leverage them to shape up your career to achieve the growth you deserve

1. Enhances your skills

Though some graduate courses improve your IT skills, in most cases, these courses focus solely on the relevant theories without paying attention to the practical aspects. Certification programs on the other hand, aim to strengthen the practical aspects of your IT training. This makes you more capable and skilled in applying the knowledge you have gained.

Certification programs are also a great way to acquire knowledge on particular IT solutions and services provided by established tech powerhouses such as Microsoft, CISCO and others. Additionally, the old adage ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ is applicable here. A certification program makes you a specialist in using a particular service or product to solve IT problems. And as a certified specialist, business organizations recognize that you have gone through the process needed to prove your ability to solve the complex IT problems an organization may encounter.

2. Highlights Your Ability to Learn and Re-learn New Processes

In today’s rapidly-changing job market, potential employers continually strive to hire employees who are able to keep pace with the different emerging technologies in order to ensure that their IT infrastructure stays compliant.

Acquiring an IT certification its one way to prove to prospective employers that you have the ability to learn and re-learn as new compliance IT polices and regulations come into play. Completing an IT certification in your chosen field also sends out a message to your current employer about your eagerness towards your professional growth and the length you would go to achieve your career goals. Thus, making you a highly valuable asset to the organization.

3. Boosts Your Networking Pool

It is common knowledge that most programs that offer IT certifications are run by established vendors who have products or services developed for the tech community. And the ability of IT professionals to use these services to solve common or complex IT problems directly boosts the popularity of their solutions.

Therefore, brand names such as Microsoft, DELL, CISCO etc. have created certification programs dedicated to teaching IT pros about the importance of their services and how they can be deployed as solutions. To further recognize the talents of successful candidates, these brands create a hall of fame or registry for its certified professionals which provides great networking opportunities for those inducted into its talent pool.  Therefore, successfully completing a certification program comes with perks such as being a part of a talent pool and integrating certification badges on your CV.

4. Highlights Your Understanding of Professional and Corporate Requirements

The duty of choosing capable staff with the ability to recognize and implement industry standards through a firm’s entire IT infrastructure falls on the employer’s shoulders. And how do employers go about selecting individuals that meet these requirements? By looking for certified professionals with provable knowledge of implementing IT policies across an ecosystem.

Therefore, choosing to pursue a certification and going through the training involved highlights your understanding of the professional requirements and corporate policies needed to integrate these policies across the board.

5. Highlights your Abilities to Receive Training

Certifications validate your expertise and reliability as an industry-standard professional. Being trained in newer technologies, you’ll require less training compared to those without certifications. Therefore, employees will view you as the finished product that requires little to no further assistance to deliver on the job.

Thus, from the employers’ point of view, they’ll be happy to retain you and offer you an industry-standard pay package. Certifications are the proof that you’ve mastered a particular skill. It becomes the ‘game changer’ when it comes to deciding on the candidates to interview and the candidates to hire.

6. It Gives You the Opportunity to Work with Fortune 500 Organizations

If working in a blue-chip organization is something that you dream of, it’s advisable to obtain an IT certification that validates the level of your abilities. An excellent example is attaining Cisco’s Cybersecurity Specialist certification which helps validate your knowledge and expertise in the field of Cybersecurity. This certification will open doors for you and provide you with a chance to work with the company of your dreams.

Therefore, IT pros who would like to be shortlisted for hiring by top-notch organizations should consider participating in an IT certification program.

Here we come to the end of our take on the excellent advantages an IT certification brings to the table. At SkillsBuild Training, your progress and career growth are important to us. So, feel free to go through our definitive guides that cover a diverse range of IT certification programs.  They were written to help you to make educated decisions when choosing an IT certification.