• Why should I get certified?• What are my certification options? What is the difference

between them?• Which certification should I start with?• Which exams should I take first among the various

certification paths?• How do I prepare for a test?

Dear Mobman, I'm thinking about switching jobs, but it'll be difficult for me to get a lot of work experience before I apply. I was thinking about getting a certification in my new field to help even the odds between me and other job applicants. Do certifications matter anymore? Can they really help me land a better job, or are they a waste of time and money?

To Cert or Not To Cert?

Mobman

Good question! In some circumstances, a professional certification can make all the difference between landing a job or not being considered for it at all. In others, it's not really useful and most hiring managers will look for experience or skill over a set of letters after your name. If you can't tell, it's not cut and dried, and the answer is a little complicated. Let's cut through the fog and help you understand when certs are really valuable and when they're just nice to have.

Really????

Mobman

First, Not All Certifications are Created Equally

Mobman

Search for Certifications Useful in Your Field

Mobman

• Check the job listings you're interested in.• Browse LinkedIn industry groups.• Browse LinkedIn Company groups.• Look for professional groups and societies for your field.

Here are some places to start your search:

Mobman

The Most Valuable Certifications are the Advanced Ones

Mobman

Start with the Certs that Matter for Your Career, and Train Up From There

Mobman

There are myriads of reasons why you should seek out certification in a number of IT-related programs, software or skills, but three reasons are key:

• Credibility• Marketability• Personal development

The Bottom Line: Yes, Certifications Can Help You Get a Job...As Long as They're The Right Certs

Mobman

The certifications provided by the biggest certifications providers, are:

Microsoft (Microsoft Certified IT Professional, MCSA/MCSE, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, etc.)CompTIA (CompTIA A+, CTP+, CDIA+, Network+, etc.)Cisco (CCNA, CCDA, CCNA Security)In recent years, another group of certifications have cropped up: those related to the cloud, specifically, virtualization.

Examples include certifications from:

VMWare (VMware Certified Professional, Certified Spring Professional, Certified Design Expert 5, etc.)Citrix (Citrix Certified Administrator, Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer, etc.)

Different Certs

Mobman

NicheKevin Mitnick: Known worldwide as the “most famous hacker” and for having been the first to serve a prison sentence for infiltrating computer systems. He started dabbling when he was a minor, using the practice known as phone phreaking. Although he has never worked in programming, Mitnick is totally convinced that you can cause severe damage with a telephone and some calls. These days, totally distanced from his old hobbies and after passing many years behind bars, he works as a security consultant for multinational companies through his company “Mitnick Security.”

Mobman

Meet the future of security training.

Mobman