IBM Wants to Hone Your Tech Support Expertise
There are quite a few employment sectors in the IT world that need more workers. That includes among the ranks of computer support specialists, whose still-vital role is to enable and improve the user experience for workers across the employment spectrum — not just those in IT jobs — who interact with computers and technology. Indeed, computer support specialists also make life better for anyone who has computers or other devices for home and personal use. In addition to meeting a critical need, computer support is also a good first step to many other IT careers. There are many different ways to get started on a computer support career, but IBM has a good one. You can take a FREE online course via Coursera and walk away with the IBM Technical Support Professional Certificate when you finish. The course runs approximately eight months, but that's only if you go at the recommended pace of two hours per week. If you have greater professional development bandwidth in your schedule than a mere two hours per week, or if you happen to be a fast learner, then you could wrap things up considerably quicker. Did we mention that the course if FREE? And that you'll get a professional IBM certificate once you've successfully completed all of your work? That's a pretty amazing deal.
Certification Is Good for Your IT Career
There is, from time to time, a fair amount of skepticism in IT circles about the value of certification. Some feel that IT certifications are too easy to get. Others may view them as not really offering a sound assessment of skills and knowledge regarding whatever branch of IT they address. There's a not negligible amount of certification chicanery in the system: Various individuals attempt to cheat on an exam or otherwise shortcut the designated path to a given credential, and other attempt to facilitate such shenanigans. Given all of that, it's helpful, from time to time, to be reminded of all the ways in which getting certified can benefit your IT career. Along those lines, there's an article from the April issue of Certification Magazine, now available at CertMag.com, the official Certification Magazine website, that discusses the sundry upsides of IT certification. If you're looking for an IT certification pep talk, or if you've overdosed on certification naysaying and are looking for a more positive message, then this is a good place to look.
Roll the Dice with New Tech Career Handbook
Speaking of the duality of feeling that exists regarding IT certification, there's a brief breakdown of the overall discussion in a new post to the Insights blog of tech employment facilitator Dice. Nick Kowalski, senior editor of the Insights blog, raises the question as an enticement for IT professionals to check out the new Dice e-book Optimizing Your Tech Career. The new publication assesses the state of the tech industry, and addresses the typical milestones encountered by an IT professional in Year One, Year Three, Year Five, and Year Ten (and Beyond). So here's another place to get some nuts and bolts perspective on the answer to the question, "Is certification good for my IT career?"
Cook Up Cybersecurity Certification Success with a Study Group
There are lots of different paths to ensuring success on your next certification exam. One way you can take a big step forward is by teaming up with other like-minded individuals. The saying goes that there's strength in numbers, and that's the tree that the blog squad for cybersecurity professional association (ISC)² is barking up with a new post about cybersecurity certification study groups. Motivation and accountability are huge benefits that can come from participating in a study group. Interacting with others who are passionate about the same things that you're passionate about can launch you to new heights of success. The blog post focuses on an (ISC)² chapter in Pittsburgh that has formed study groups that proved highly successful. There's an upcoming webinar (on July 20) that focuses on these successful study groups for those who'd really like to dig in.
That's all for this edition of Certification Watch. Please keep your certification news and tips coming to the GoCertify News Editor.
