In this economy, every job candidate is looking to gain an edge over the competition. As someone in the information technology field, there is no replacement for field experience. Installing and configuring a system, along with all the associated hiccups and problems, just simply cannot be taught in a classroom. So, you might wonder, why do IT certifications matter? Why should I try to get a Microsoft Certification or a CompTIA certification?
Nothing replaces experience and nothing is better at proving you have it than a certification.
Employers know that certain certifications demonstrate a candidates ability to perform a certain job function. For example, they know that if you have a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) series certification in a particular technology, you’ve demonstrated the ability to work with that package. To obtain the MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications certification, you need to pass the 70-536 and the 70-528 proctored exams. To pass them, you need to demonstrate the ability to work with the .NET framework in a variety of ways. If you look at the skills examined, you have to demonstrate a very extensive nontrivial list of skills. It’s not easy and it’s not something you can probably finish in a weekend.
It’s also important to pick the right certifications from the right certifiers. Everyone recognizes the Microsoft name and brand, they know that the certifications won’t come easily, so they are given more credibility. If you get certified by a no-name certifier, it carries very little weight. You get what you pay for and the harder it is to be certified, the more valuable the certification is. It’s why degrees from certain colleges are more celebrated than those from other, easier schools.
In the end, remember that they key to being a more attractive applicant, and subsequently a more valued employee, is to expand your skillset. By obtaining relevant certifications, you demonstrate the ability to perform the skills you’ve listed. Anyone can add “.NET Application Framework” on their resume, but it takes a lot of work to be able to say you have an MCTS: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications certification.
