Your IT Career
Whether you're just starting your Information Technology career,
or wanting to get further ahead in your current IT career, you
have probably thought about earning one of the many popular
computer certifications such as the Cisco Certified Network
Associate (CCNA) certification, or the MCSE (Microsoft Certified
Systems Engineer) cert.
A major point of frustration for individuals pursuing one of
these certifications is a possible lack of experience with these
technologies. Many future CCNAs or MCSEs simply stop trying to
earn their certification, feeling that their lack of experience
will hold them back.
Adding to this are those in IT who will stop everything they're
doing at the drop of a hat to stomp on the dreams of others. I
recently saw a post by an IT newcomer on a popular website where
he declared his intention of earning his CCNA. Within minutes,
several naysayers popped up and told him that he shouldn't
bother, it wouldn't do any good due to his lack of experience,
etc. (Did you ever notice that people who bash certifications
generally don't have any themselves?)
I am in no way discounting the importance of experience. What I
am saying is that every single one of us was a beginner at one
point, and a lot of IT professionals forget this. None of us was
born knowing everything we know today, and we shouldn't spend
any time dismissing the goals of others in the IT field, or
those just breaking in. I am speaking from experience on this
point. I had a tough time breaking into the IT field, and made a
lot of calls and knocked on a lot of doors before I got in. I
found out later that the reason I got that entry-level job is
that I had a professional certification where the other
candidates did not.
The pursuit of certification is the pursuit of knowledge, and in
our field, you can never have too much knowledge. If your work
is strictly on the Local Area Network side, don't let that stop
you from pursuing a CCNA. If you work exclusively on the WAN
side, don't let that stop you from going after your MCSE. If
you're just breaking into Information Technology, don't let a
lack of experience prevent you from studying for your A+,
Network+, or even your MCSE or CCNA.
Because one day, opportunity is going to knock - and the more
you know, the readier you'll be to answer that knock! Use your
long-range vision to envision the day when you will have both
experience and certification - an unbeatable combination.