Preparing the new technologist for certification
In today's market, those embarking on a technology career or transitioning to a different area are finding it increasingly difficult to gain the necessary knowledge to complete IT certification exams. As a result, many new technologists are left wondering how to get that first foot in the door. This article provides a roadmap on strategies for the new technologist and how they can prepare for the increasingly difficult certification exams.
Certification vendors are incrementally making exams more difficult in a fierce race to ensure the integrity and value of their certification programs. This is primarily in response to the emergence of "braindump vendors" that have become known for selling their test questions. More rigorous exams also serve to maintain the elite status of the certification, safeguarding certifications from becoming so saturated that they lose significance. Most vendors have raised the stakes so that even the introductory exams require at least a year of experience with the technology that is being tested. With the market still in a slow uphill climb, new technologists are unfortunately left far behind in a wake of uncertainty as to where or how to begin new pursuits and technology interests.
Where should the new technologist begin?
Where to begin ultimately depends on the chosen career path of the new technologist. CompTIA has a variety of vendor-neutral exams that serve as an excellent starting point such as the A+ and Network+ certifications. Technologists drawn to the A+ topics can easily use that certification as a springboard for Microsoft exams and careers. Likewise, the Network+ exam is a warm-up for other networking careers such as Linux, Novell, and Cisco. Lastly, CompTIA's Security+ certification, which covers many of the fundamentals of security, opens the technologist's door for a career in security implementation, administration, and/or design.
How to get started
The new technologist can choose one of three paths: self-study, traditional classes, or bootcamp-style accelerated learning. Self-study, on its own, has slowly become more and more difficult due to the increasing integration of real-world application into the test questions and simulations. Since many certifications require a demonstration of real-world knowledge, new technologists without access to the technology being tested will benefit greatly by attending classes in which they can solidify new concepts while having kinesthetic interaction with the technology.
Traditional learning is a viable option for the new technologist under no time constraints. They then have the luxury of attending multiple classes over the course of several months, depending on the certification chosen. However, if budget and time is critical, the new technologist should consider attending bootcamp-style classes, such as those offered at TechTrain. With the bootcamp -style accelerated class format, concepts are relayed in a compressed amount of time, allowing students to gain certification for less money and in less time than with traditional learning.
Taking into consideration that training classes typically maintain similar prerequisites for experience as the exams, the new technologist's best plan is to build up an arsenal of self-study books or videos prior to taking classes. The self-study materials will serve as an effective way to introduce the new concepts and theories that should ultimately be reinforced in the classroom. In addition, quality training courses should also contain hands-on labs, allowing the beginner to gain real-world experience while being in a controlled environment. This enables the new technologist to make mistakes under the instructor's supervision before being tested on the concepts and ultimately being released into the IT community. Combining self-study with formal training (traditional or bootcamp) will provide the new technologist with the solid foundation necessary to successfully complete the certification exams.
The journey for the new technologist is definitely an uphill battle, but by doing a bit of homework, researching training providers, and reviewing self-study materials before attending the class(es), the new technologist can begin their new career choice confidently, with the appropriate certification.
» posted by jnaze
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