Which IT certification will get me a job?
Which certifications are in demand?
Which certifications are better Microsoft or Cisco?
Should I do MCSA or MCSE?
Is MCSA better or CCNA?
How will the IT job market in 2015 for networking professionals?
And many more ….
We are often asked the questions listed above by numerous people in various stages of their life and careers in different words and dialects. The answer is simple, not one certification will get you a job unless you are extremely lucky.
The History
The IT job market pre financial crisis had abundance of opportunities, it was prospering, it was growing and it was only going in one direction, that’s Up. Business was booming for most and employers had the money and the luxury to hire staff for specific tasks e.g. server guy and network guy. Server professionals usually had a background in server management and were getting more into virtualization. The network professionals were Cisco, Juniper centric and worked with routers, switches, Access Points, Firewalls or “infrastructure???.
Post financial crisis painted a doomy, gloomy picture with business going bankrupt or facing financial hardships. It is at this time that the axe was taken up by medium employers and they decided to make IT staff redundant, they had to decide to get rid of one of the roles and mostly in small to medium companies the infrastructure professional lost their jobs. Around this time the term “WinTel??? was coined which meant professionals with Windows (Microsoft) and Telecommunications (Cisco) skills.
So to anwer the question, in today’s day and age only 1 certification is not enough. New IT professionals should get Cisco (CCNA) and Microsoft (MCSA 2012) certifications to stand a chance and add ITIL Foundation certification to this list.
Please find short concise answers to the questions posted above:
Q: Which IT certification will get me a job?
A: It has to be a combination of Microsoft Server and Desktop, ITIL Foundation and Cisco associate certifications.
Q: Which certifications are in demand?
A: Microsoft – MCSA 2016, MCSA Windows 10, MTA certifications are in demand
Cisco – CCENT, CCNA certifications are sought after
ITIL Foundation is a must if you plan to work in IT as it is a requirement by most emplyers
Q: Which certifications are better Microsoft or Cisco?
A: You would need to do both if you want your resume to stand out. The Microsoft certification gives employers the peace of mind you have the knowledge to install, configure and manage servers. The CCNA certification highlights that you know about cabling, routers and switches and create and maintain LANs and WANs.
Q: Should I do MCSA or MCSE?
A: If you are trying to get into an IT job, MCSA is enough if you are already working in a Microsoft environment, choose MCSE to indicate you have the knowledge and skill to be a Microsoft Expert.
Q: Is MCSA better or CCNA?
A: Once again in today’s IT market, we suggest you attain both.
Q: How will the IT job market in 2015 for networking professionals?
A: IT industry has mostly been doing well and with new devices added to the network every day, new acronyms created every day. The networking industry will continue to grow in 2015.
Murad Tanvir is an IT industry veteran with over 15 years of experience, he is currently working as Manager IT at Logitrain, his previous employers include NEC and HP. He has a Bachelor of Computer Science and holds certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA and ITIL. His certifications include double CCIE # 17081 in Routing & Switching and Service Provider, CCDP, CCNP, CCIP, CCNA-SP Operations, CCNA Security, CCENT, CCNA, MCP, MCP+I, MCSE NT 4.0, MCSA 2000, MCSE 2000, MCITP-SA, MCITP-EA, Microsoft Certified Trainer MCT, A+, Network +, Security+, CTT+, ITIL Foundation Certified, ITIL Intermediate SS & SOA and is a Certified ITIL Instructor.
Find out more at: www.linkedin.com/in/muradtanvir
