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Anita Bora
Rajeev Sinha is a little upset. After a degree in computer science, he did an IT certification course four years ago, in the hope that it would increase his job prospects. "It was expensive at that time," he remembers. "The resources were few and far between, and I had to travel a great distance to appear for the test. To top it all, I paid a bomb for it."
Today, his younger brother Pritesh is also a networking professional, but faces none of the hassles. "I simply went online, found resources on certification and practice exams, joined a community of students appearing for the same test and was a qualified Microsoft Certified Software Engineer a few months down the line."
In a nutshell, certification implies that you have taken a few extra steps to receive a particular designation (Certified Internet Webmaster, Certified Lotus Instructor, for example). It indicates, to your employer or client, that you are an expert in a particular area, and are attested by the organisation that has awarded you the certificate. Those interested in finding out more about certificates awarded by different vendors can try this great resource.
Apart from increasing job prospects, improving your skill level and keeping them current, the International Data Corp (IDC), in a study, suggests that certification is a wise investment for employers as well as employees. Another report says that the industry demand for certified professionals will rise by 15 per cent through 2003.
Once you have decided to get yourself equipped with an IT certification, the Internet will probably appear more confusing than organised. From online universities and study groups, to expert help, fellow students, and practice exams, there is no dearth of information. Certification training is available on your desktop, but it is always better to understand your options before launching straight into it.
Start with online courses, where classes are instructor-led or self-study depending upon the complexity of topic. You can check out sites like SmartPlanet and Digital Think, which have already implemented e-learning and also offer online certification testing.
Brainbench, a US-based online certification site, boasts over two million registered users. You can choose from ASP and Client/Server Concepts ($19.95) or Adobe Photoshop 5.5 and Computer Fundamentals (free) amongst a list of others. The section on getting started should help you take that first step.
Then there are learning communities and study groups, designed to reinforce your preparations, and containing instructional or practice material, and message boards. CCPrep is one such subscription-based community for CISCO Certification, where members can find white papers, news, downloads, interviews, and magazines, free of cost.
Informal study groups are another way to prepare, and are usually created by participants who get together to share and form a learning community. Groupstudy is for CISCO candidates, Java Ranch for java greenhorns and Saluki has message boards and mailing lists for Microsoft, CNE and CISCO candidates.
The study section of Brainbuzz, Cramsession, contains over 200 study guides that are available for download in a PDF and HTML format. Microsoft, Novell, Unix, CISCO, Lotus, Oracle, Sun and IBM certifications are some of those included. If you are sure of your knowledge, go ahead and take a Skill Drill. You can also search for jobs or take part in the tech discussion boards.
The trick is, of course, to find the right combination of sites, and to be consistent. Since there is no teacher looking over your shoulder, it takes more motivation to stay on course. Many informal study sites have information volunteered by students themselves, and it is advisable to look up new material with a reliable reference.
If you need any more inspiration to strive harder in your endeavour, read success stories by professionals like this writer who increased her earnings dramatically by becoming a MSCE trainer, or this network engineer who got a 110 per cent pay raise after certification.
If that's not enough for you, read about Krzysztof Szarkowicz from Ericsson, whose certifications include CNI, CNE, MCT, MCSE, MCPS and Certified Technical Trainer. He studied manuals and training material, and took some online help to amass a grand total of 20 designations.
One certification probably seems like piece of cake for you now, doesn't it?
Additional Resources:
--Certification Tests
--Free Online Certification and Skill Tests
--Certification Zone
--Dmoz Certification Resources
--Other Certifications
--Certification Guru
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