Pump Up Your Resume - Get IT Certified!

Despite the threat of recession, or perhaps because of it, certifications are proving once again to be a great way for IT professionals to ensure that their resume gets a serious look.

Pump Up Your Resume - Get IT Certified!

With the US economy slipping into the grip of a recession, there has been a significant drop in number of new job opportunities in the IT sector. Organizations prefer to outsource their non-core IT related jobs to low-cost destinations. Nonetheless, there is still a healthy demand for on-site IT professionals in the states, as organizations look for qualified specialists who are experts in their fields.

Certified professionals are often a preferred choice, as they have proven themselves to be particularly effective in the certified skill set. Certifications are proving once again to be a great way for IT professionals to ensure that their resume gets a serious look.
IT Certification provides confirmation of the capability of an individual to handle particular IT operations. Surveys have repeatedly shown that IT professionals with certifications earn more money than those without them, although there are, of course, exceptions. IT professionals with in-demand certifications such as ISACA's Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) earn as much as $115,000 annually. Most certifications pay significantly less but still improve employability and income. Because of this, it is quite important to choose your certification carefully so that it complements your existing skills and future goals. In this article, we look at some of the most in-demand certifications and the paths to obtain them.

Microsoft Certifications

Microsoft certifications continue to be popular among IT professionals and employers. Essentially, you can elect to certify your skills with a particular Microsoft product, which requires only one or two exams, or opt for a more advanced, role based certification that incorporates multiple products and skills.  Premier Micorosft certifications now include the MCITP server administrator and enterprise administrator

Cisco Certifications

Cisco Systems operates an extensive certification program covering internetworking technologies and Cisco products. The certifications are available at different skill levels ranging from the entry level Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) to the high level Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), and most are available for both support and design job roles. In the intermediate level, there are "specialist" designations covering topics such as networking infrastructure, IP telephony design, and Cisco IOS security.

Cisco offers instructor led training for all of these certifications, and most of them have third party self study resources available as well.

Sun Java Certifications
Sun offers a wide array of industry-oriented certifications, which are globally acclaimed and rank among the most in-demand certifications. Sun certifications are available for application development, web and business components, and mobile applications, among others.
Classroom training is a good training option for many certifications including these, but for many people it is not really practical due to logistics or cost. Self paced preparation aids are available through the Sun web site. In addition to Sun's courses, there is a wide array of preparation tools available. For example, the book SCJP Sun Certified Programmer for Java 6 Exam 310-065 is keyed to the latest version of the SCJP exam. The web site JavaPrepare.com is a very good resource as well.

ISACA Certifications
As we mentioned earlier, ISACA certifications are among the most lucrative these days. The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification, which first came on the scene in 1978, has set a benchmark in auditing, monitoring and safeguarding Information Systems. Many prominent organizations have mandated the CISA certification for IS audit vendors. The CISA examination is only offered twice a year, in June and December. ISACA offers an online review course on their web site. There are also quite a few excellent self study guides available.

The next rung up the ISACA certification ladder is the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). This higher level certification covers managing, designing and assessing any organization's security program. The CISM has a 5 year experience requirement, some of which can be met through alternative means such as other certifications or advanced education. ISACA has published an exam guide for this certification, which candidates receive upon registering and paying for the CISM exam. There are also several good self study guides although not as many as there are for the CISA exam.

Additional Certification Options
At last count, there are over 400 IT certifications available today, way too many to fit into an article, but you will find virtually all of them here on the GoCertify web site. In addition to those mentioned above, certifications that have stood the test of time include:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

• CompTIA A+

• Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)

• Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)

*This article was originally published on gocertify.com.  It has been edietd for the purpose of this post.