Breaking into the IT Industry

by Paul Griffin

Changing to an IT career:

There are a lot of people that want to break into the IT industry, but they face a dilemma: they aren’t certain whether or how they should make the switch from their current career. This article will offer some helpful hints for anyone looking to make the change to a new and rewarding IT career.

The first and most important thing for any candidate is to understand the industry. Any candidate serious about an IT job will want to become familiar with publications that are popular with those in the industry. These publications include “Fast company”, “Business 2.0″ and “The industry Standard”. Candidates should always strive to gain understanding of key business principles and common problems within the technology world. Jargon is very important in this industry. If you’re working for an internet company, you’ll want to know the difference between “hits” and “unique”.

Update your resume:

If you haven’t switched jobs for a while, you might notice that resumes and job searches are completely different these days. You may want to invest in a professional resume writer or at the very least, do some research on how to write a modern resume. There are a lot of new things that employers are interested in, and a lot of old things that you should no longer put on your resume.

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An Overview of CompTIA A+ Exams

CompTIA A+ Core exams are some very important exams to take if you are interested in being certified to work in the IT industry. A+ certification happens to be one of the world’s largest programs for IT certification and it is developed by Computing Technology Industry Association. The majority of large corporations are part of CompTIA including Compaq, Microsoft, IBM, Dell, Lotus, and plenty of others. The IT industry really would not be the same without CompTIA and its standards for IT excellence in the industry.

Of all the PC repair and technical support certifications available today A+ is the most popular of all and above all it is the most recognized. This is because the IT industry as a whole supports the A+ certification training programs. Additional reasons why A+ is the best of the certification programs is because most every manufacturers, professional body, vendor, service provider, and the like accept this type of certification.

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Top 4 Reasons to Get CompTIA Certification

If you are pursuing a career in the information technology field, chances are you will need to obtain some kind of IT certification in order to qualify for a job. There are many IT certification options out there, so sometimes it can be difficult to choose which one is best for you. The Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) offers a wide variety of certification exams which are well regarded in the information technology sector as a reliable indicator of employee qualification. There are lots of compelling reasons to get a CompTIA certification. Here are just a few:

1. CompTIA A+ certification is the gold standard of IT certifications.

If you’re just starting out in IT, chances are you will need to obtain your A+ certification at some point. This certification covers the absolute basics of computer technology. By obtaining this credential, you prove to prospective employers that you have the necessary knowledge to install software and hardware, perform preventative maintenance, do basic computer networking, and have a clear understanding of computer security essentials. The CompTIA A+ certification is also a prerequisite for a whole host of other certifications offered by CompTIA and other credentialing organizations. If you don’t get your CompTIA A+, you won’t be able to move on to more advanced certifications and job openings with greater levels of responsibility.

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Programs For IT Training

Good for you! Finding this article proves you must be pondering over your options, and if you’re considering retraining then you’ve already got further than almost everybody else. Are you aware that a small minority of us consider ourselves fulfilled in our working life – but the majority will just put up with it. We encourage you to break free and do something – those who do hardly ever regret it.

Before embarking on a course, look for some advice – find someone who knows the industry; an advisor who can discover your ideal job, and work out what career tracks you may be suited to:

* Is working with other people your thing? Perhaps you like being a team player? Or you may prefer task-orientated work that you can get on with on your own?

* What elements are you looking for from the area of industry you choose? (Building and banking – not so stable as they once were.)

* After re-training, how long a career do you hope for, and can your chosen industry offer you the chance to do that?

* Will the information you learn make it easier to find new work easily, and remain in employment until you choose to stop?

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Important Information Concerning Your CompTIA Certification

As a follow-up to our announcement in January, CompTIA is updating its certification policy for CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ certifications. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, individuals will need to complete continuing education to maintain certification.

The new policy will only apply to candidates who:

• Certify on or after Jan. 1, 2011
• Certified prior to Jan. 1, 2011 and choose to enroll in the continuing education program

So why did CompTIA change the policy?

Changing the policy brings CompTIA certifications in line with the practices of other major providers of certifications for IT professionals, such as Cisco, Microsoft, Project Management Institute (PMI) and Linux Professionals Institute (LPI).

Additionally, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and CompTIA Security+ are accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a standard-setting institution which approves the procedures used by personnel certification bodies. ISO requires that CompTIA provides candidates a way to renew the currency of their certification on a regular basis. In CompTIA’s case, that renewal will occur every three years from the date the certification is earned.

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