{"id":15134,"date":"2018-02-28T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/identifi-global.eu.applyflow.com\/your-personal-toolkit-for-a-future-proofed-career-in-it-part-1-certifications\/"},"modified":"2022-12-09T06:15:54","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T06:15:54","slug":"your-personal-toolkit-for-a-future-proofed-career-in-it-part-1-certifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.identifiglobal.com\/news\/your-personal-toolkit-for-a-future-proofed-career-in-it-part-1-certifications\/","title":{"rendered":"Your personal toolkit for a future-proofed career in IT: Part 1 – Certifications"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\tAt first glance, 2018 looks like a good year to be seeking a new role in IT and cybersecurity. Demand for technology professionals has grown by almost 25% since 2015 and still outstrips supply; average salaries in tech roles have risen by nearly 5% in the last year; graduate roles in the industry pay well above the national average wage.<\/div>\n
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\n\tHere\u2019s the question though: can you make the most of it?<\/div>\n
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\n\tEmergent technology is the key driver for talent demand in the IT and cybersecurity industry. To prove they fit the bill, IT professionals need to future-proof their skills and CVs. Preparing for the tech of tomorrow means doing the work today, engaging in that process of continual learning and development – and acquiring the certifications to prove it.<\/div>\n
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\n\tWhy are certifications so important?<\/h2>\n
\n\tCertifications provide your prospective employers with evidence. It\u2019s one thing to say you have twenty years\u2019 experience, but that doesn\u2019t prove you\u2019ve invested in yourself by improving your skills and staying ahead of developments. If you can show an updated certification, employers know you\u2019re up to date.<\/div>\n
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\n\tThe specific certifications that are of most value in your target role will vary, of course. CIO\u2019s research into the most in-demand certificates of 2017 <\/a>provides a solid profile for the up-to-date IT generalist, starting with core Microsoft certifications in office software, solutions and development, then radiating out into security and project management certifications that may be useful.<\/div>\n
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\n\tFor cybersecurity professionals, however, the focus should be on information systems, system management and ethical hacking certifications. Within these specialisms are further niche subsets. The EC Council UK<\/a>, for instance, offers a generalist Ethical Hacking cert<\/a>, a big part of which is system penetration testing. And there are plenty of penetration testing certs<\/a> to get stuck into.<\/div>\n
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\n\tSpecialist project managers won\u2019t be adequately served by PMI by itself, which is suited to particularly large organisations with a traditional project structure; they\u2019ll need agility and scrum certifications to demonstrate competency in a range of organisational cultures and styles.<\/div>\n
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\n\tOne thing to remember, there is no limit – the more certifications the merrier.<\/div>\n
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\n\tShowcase your personal development<\/h2>\n
\n\tAside from showing up-to-date knowledge and skills, certifications also demonstrate your attitude and mindset. They evidence your capability in focused, personal work, your willingness to grow, and your dedication to personal development.<\/div>\n
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\n\tIn IT and cybersecurity, where tech moves so quickly and priorities can shift dramatically near-overnight – think of events like the discovery of Meltdown and Spectre<\/a> – you need to show a willingness to learn and improve.<\/div>\n
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\n\tIf you\u2019re looking to transition into a specialism you\u2019ll need to show what shape you are in with certifications that demonstrate your deep dive into a specific area, or your cross-skill potential to lead people and processes.<\/div>\n
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\n\tCompete in a changing industry<\/h2>\n
\n\tIT certifications have gone through something of a transformation, mirroring a sea change in the industry\u2019s approaches and attitudes. Nowadays, accreditations are mapped to real-world needs, and the quality of training has seen a marked improvement. In 2012, the International Organisation for Standardisation improved their ISO 17024<\/a> standard for personnel certification programmes to ensure their validity, making it easier to identify certifications with integrity.<\/div>\n
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\n\t“If you can offer experience and up-to-date qualifications, you give yourself a serious competitive edge.<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\n\tThis isn\u2019t the only change in how IT and cybersecurity fields recruit. Any time you\u2019re pursuing a new role – particularly with emergent technologies – you\u2019ll be competing with new graduates. They may be fresh out of their training, but their training is fresh from the cutting edge of the field. Certifications allow experienced professionals to tip the playing field back in their favour: if you can offer experience and up-to-date qualifications, you give yourself a serious competitive edge.<\/div>\n
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\n\tTo find the right certification for your career plans:<\/div>\n
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