Authoritative Certifications to Consider for Thriving IT Career

IT certifications are always considered as decisive tools when applying for a job or aiming for a promotion. These are prominent testaments of your proficiency in a specific area of information technology such as networking, programming, security, database, and web applications. And with these on your profile, recruiters get a glimpse of your skillset and eventually put you in a better position compared to other candidates. So, if you want to get your knowledge validated and boost your success rate, check out the top IT certifications below from respectable vendors around the world.

1. Microsoft

First on our list is the tech giant, Microsoft. With over decades of experience, this company has achieved a lot of recognition through its excellent products, services, and of course, certification track. Not long ago, this vendor revamped their certification program to focus more on technical designations. This resulted in the birth of role-based endorsements, which have been widely acknowledged by the public. Some of their highly credited certificates are the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), the Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate (MS-500), and the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert (AZ-400), among others. Along with the job-focused qualifications, Microsoft still offers a number from their older MCP program, which includes the MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration (70-764 & 70-765), the MCSA: Windows Server 2016 (70-740, 70-741, and 70-742), the MCSE: Core Infrastructure (70-413, 70-414, 70-744, 70-745, and 70-537) and more.

2. CompTIA

Next on the list is CompTIA, a distinguished name in terms of cybersecurity, infrastructure, and networking. They deliver fundamental certifications that serve as a starting point for your career. On top of that, they have more advanced validations and even additional professional certifications to further reinforce your skills. As their core designations, they offer the IT Fundamentals (FC0-U61), Security+ (SY0-601), A+ (220-1001 and 220-1002), and Network+ (N10-007). But if you’re ready to pump up your knowledge, choose among the more specialized certifications like the Cloud+ (CV0-002), CySA+ (CS0-002), CASP+ (CAS-003), and the like.

3. Cisco

The certification path of Cisco is quite more detailed, offering programs for neophytes and even experienced specialists. It commences with the entry level through its solitary CCT validation (100-890). Then, the associate certifications follow, including the DevNet Associate (200-901), the CCNA (200-301), and CyberOps Associate (200-201). After that, there’s the professional path, which focuses on specialized areas like Collaboration, Data Center, Service Provider, and Security. These certifications have a corresponding core test and optional concentration exams, allowing you to customize your career according to your preference. For the expert level like the CCDE and CCIE, there’s a qualifying test and a lab exam. And lastly, there’s the architect phase with only one certification known as the CCAr, a first-rate endorsement given to senior network infrastructure architects. Following through the Cisco broad certification track definitely puts you in a better position when it comes to career opportunities. Also, it refines a particular skillset, giving you leverage in the industry’s most pivotal job roles.

4. Amazon

Being part of the best certification vendors, Amazon is a globally-recognized company known for its credible online marketplace. Because of their reputation in the industry, their line-up of certifications is also well-received. Comparatively, they only give emphasis to AWS Cloud, starting with the foundational validation, the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C01). Subsequently, it moves to the associate and professional levels, offering roles for a Solutions Architect, SysOps Administrator, Developer, and DevOps Engineer. Aside from the core certification path, Amazon also presents a path to hone your skills even better. Through their “specialty” track, you will get to highlight a particular AWS Cloud domain, including advanced networking, security, data analytics, machine learning, database, and Alexa skill builder.

5. VMware

The list wouldn’t be complete without VMware, another vendor branded for its brilliant cloud solutions and products. Their certification track, in particular, is focused on major tech areas such as virtualization, cloud management, security, digital workspace, network, and the like. For entry-level operators, you have to initially take the VMware Certified Technical Associate certificates. To progress towards career efficiency, you can continue with the VMware Certified Professional and VMware Certified Advanced Professional paths. The VMware Certified Design Expert, on the other hand, is the top-ranking endorsement given to skilled architects. To give you a reference, some of the latest and most relevant certifications to try are the VCP-DCV 2021 (2V0-21.20), VCAP-NV Design 2021 (3V0-42.20), VCP-CMA 2021 (2V0-31.20), and VCP-DW 2021 (2V0-61.20).

Benefits of Tech Certification Among Specialists

Whether you want to launch a new career or step up your existing profession, IT certifications can help you with your goals. These are designed to keep you on track with the latest technologies. More so, having an IT certificate opens so many doors for you like career advancement, salary boost, colleague recognition, and more. Hiring managers often put specialists with certifications on the pedestal because they know that those potential employees can handle tasks efficiently and that the certification on their application is more than just a validation of their technical expertise. It says a lot about their character and competence as an individual.

Key Ways to Ace Your Certification Exam

Surely, certifications offer an amazing set of benefits for candidates. But of course, the process of getting certified is certainly challenging. In fact, it’s not something that can be completed in a day or two. It’s a long and sacrificial procedure that involves weeks or months of training, hundreds of dollars, and strong mental preparation. And to efficiently prepare for an IT exam, you need to gather all sorts of materials, from books to online courses to practice tests. Commonly, it’s not enough to stick to just one reference. However, you should be very cautious about the resources that you use. Maximize first those sources recommended by the official sites. If you still have time and you want to further build up your confidence, check out some top-rated platforms like Amazon or YouTube. These are great sites to provide you with extra information about the areas that you want to master. And of course, there are also trustworthy sources of video courses and practice exams online found on some third-party websites. Just make sure to be nit-picky before you dive into one.

Conclusion

Pursuing a certification from any of the above-mentioned tech organizations is no doubt a beneficial step to your career. It sets you apart from other specialists, adding plus points to your application. So, if you’re ready to kick off your career to the next level, start plotting your certification goals now.