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Empowered by Certification
From managing networks to teaching and writing and to becoming a project management expert, certification has been Joseph Phillips' constant companion.
Published September 14, 2009
By GoCertify Staff
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Starting with certification on Windows NT Server 3.1 "way back when," Joseph Phillips has racked up an impressive list of certifications, including several from industry giants Microsoft and CompTIA as well as the coveted Project Management Professional from the Project Management Institute. He has found some of these so beneficial that he's looking for the next certification to set his sights on, even though fitting in study time around the consulting and teaching engagements his current certifications have brought won't be easy.
Phillips' road to certification began when he was teaching at Columbia College in Chicago, and the school brought up the topic of Microsoft certification. He immediately realized that it would give him greater opportunities to teach and consult, and because he was very interested in networking, Phillips jumped at the chance. It turned out to be a very wise career move and one that he has repeated numerous times since then. He's his own boss now, and his business focuses on helping other professionals grow their careers. He has honed in on project management and business analysis, both of which he writes about and teaches frequently.
It hasn't been completely smooth sailing though. As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, his opportunities were good, but he found it nearly impossible to juggle staying current on technology, certifications, classes, and also be involved in implementing technology. As soon as he became comfortable with a technology it would change and everything he knew was outdated, an experience familiar to many IT professionals. Since he was an MCT, this was an especially short cycle for Phillips. "I knew some tech guys that could do it, but my feeble brain couldn't handle the constant change in new technology," he says.
While he was considering his options, one of his consulting clients happened to assign him as a project manager. After a few years in the job, he realized that this could be the career turn he was looking for. "While I still love technology, the project management side of things allows some steadfastness in what I know and my skills can build on what I've already learned," says Phillips. The blend of technology elements with people and business concerns also appealed to him.
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