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	EMPLOYMENT TRENDS

Volume 3 , Issue 9

What's hot in the world of IT certification

By Lorne Chase

Want to know what the most popular certification courses are right now? Web-based database design and development. And Microsoft's dominance in server operating systems is keeping demand high for Microsoft Certified Solution Developers (MCSD) and Microsoft Certified Database Administrators (MCDBA)...

At least that's the word from Stephen Ibaraki,..., who studies the certification industry as one of his many ongoing research projects...

Ibaraki has been involved in the HiTech industry since the 1960s and has done everything from computer hardware engineering to high-level consultancy. As a result of his expertise in IT, he is much sought after as a speaker, educator and researcher...He was a key designer of the Technical Computer Professional program..., an academic diploma course offering training in close to a dozen major IT certifications.In his opinion, the trend toward Microsoft certification will continue unabated when the Windows 2000 Datacenter Server hits the market this fall, creating a need for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSE). "Even though there is increasing demand for Linux and Java certification, the change to Windows 2000 will drive the demand for those with an (MCSE) during the next two years."

So, what does Ibaraki feel is the single most important certification an IT professional can have today? "From both an employment and salary standpoint, an MCSD with SQL Web development options is the most valuable right now, and XML and SOAP ability will [be] in the future."

Obtaining several certifications, says Ibaraki, is your best bet to securing top jobs. With the large number of certified IT professionals out there, being a multi-certified individual helps give you an edge in the job market. He recommends accumulating some combination of an MCSE, MCSD, MCDBA, Java and Linux, but stresses they still need to be combined with at least two years of on-the-job experience.

And experience still carries a lot of weight with employers. Many seasoned IT professionals without certificates earn more than their counterparts who have them. But Ibaraki thinks older workers can still benefit from taking courses. In his view, a resume showing recently acquired certifications makes older workers appear more current in the eyes of employers. Before deciding on a certification course, Ibaraki recommends compiling a short list of authorized vendors offering the courses you want to take. All these vendors offer the same training (i.e. Microsoft courses, Novell courses, etc.) but can vary a great deal when it comes to such things as fees and supplies. For that reason, your next step should be to attend information sessions held by each vendor.

This is your chance to make queries about fees, guarantees, supplies, hidden costs, student loans, financing packages, access to mentors, counselling and more. If it's an online vendor offering some free trial courses, try them out. It's a vitally important fact-finding mission you shouldn't undervalue, says Ibaraki. "Many people spend more time hunting for a car than looking at [courses] that could impact on their entire future." And when cost per course ranges anywhere from $600 to $2,500, you definitely want to get your money's worth.

The type of courses Ibaraki likes best are those that approach teaching from several different angles.

He believes the best courses combine contact with an instructor; mentoring from an expert; communication with fellow students and certified professionals in real-time; interactive questions on course material; a simulated work environment; seminars with leading experts; plus videos, whitepapers and pre- and post-assessment testing.

And if you want to stay ahead of the competition, it's going to require an investment of your time.

Ibaraki estimates 1,000 hours of training a year will help maintain your position in the forefront of HiTech. By continually updating your skills, and keeping abreast of what's happening in the industry, you'll be able to ride the next wave in HiTech and quite possibly land a higher paying job.

Once you decide to take a certification course, it's time to knuckle down and study. Juggling work, personal life and a course can be challenging. At the end of it all, you have to write an exam - something many people haven't done for years. Although everyone learns to assimilate information and prepare for an exam in their own way, Ibaraki suggests making three passes through the course material. "The first time for an overview, the second time for details, and the third time asking questions and experimenting through hands-on experience with simulations and in labs."

He also recommends exam preparation software that can be useful for honing your skills; some packages provide exam quizzes for review purposes, others realistic exam simulations.

Certification is presently being offered in-class, online and in-house by companies. As the industry continues to evolve, Ibaraki plans to continue monitoring it. "I'm always keeping my eyes and ears open. It's part of my job to research the marketplace to determine where it's headed two, five, or ten years down the road."