Certification Path: Why you need your map and compass
An acquaintance sent me an e-mail yesterday in which he essentially asked: 'I am interested in becoming an IT Professional. What certifications should I get and where should I start?' Here is my answer to him:
You are right on the mark… certifications, no matter which one, take a lot of learning to achieve. Before you start on a path that can be truly never-ending, you have to make a couple of decisions, especially if you are just starting out on a path toward a career in IT:
- What is it that you want to do? If I were to divide the general term ‘computer professional’ into four categories, they would be (and these are quite rough):
- Systems Administrator / Engineer (SA/SE)
- Desktop Support Technician (DST)
- Developer (DEV)
- Database Administrator (DBA)
Although in many cases there will be overlap, these are four very distinct professions. You have to decide which one (or ones) interests you, and then decide what certifications would be relevant to that/those. A DST might benefit from an understanding of the DBA role, but chances are an MCDBA certification would be irrelevant to their work.
- Are you more interested in working within a larger organization, or are you more interested in smaller companies (or even supporting small businesses as a consultant)? In large organizations the job roles will be pigeonholed – a DST will work on and support desktop PCs, and will escalate network issues to an SA (or often to a senior DST who will work with the SA), whereas the SA will delegate even the smallest desktop issues to a DST. The smaller the environment the better the chance that an IT Generalist will be called upon to perform multiple tasks across these boundaries.
Once you have answered these questions – and you have to do it honestly – you can then sit down and chart the certification path you should take, both from the perspective of what certifications you need/want, and what course you should take to get there.
Your career in IT is a path that should be mapped out before going into it. Just like you would not walk into a forest without a map or at least a compass, you should similarly map your goals or at least have a clear understanding of your direction before you embark on a long journey.
Depending on what experience a candidate may have, some exams and certifications may be easier to attain than others. For example, a candidate who has been a power-worker on Windows XP for several years might not have to spend too much time studying for the MCDST (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician) exams (070-271, 070-272) and would be able to get by with a decent study-guide and practice exams. The same candidate who is interested in becoming an SA would have to chart a path to the MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) certification, and may require ILT (Instructor-Led Training) in addition to practice, study-guides, books, and practice exams.
With all of that in mind it could be seen as the ‘easy path’ to become a DST and stay there. There will likely always be need for them, but they are also going to be paid less than the SA/SE. It might be a good plateau/stepping stone for a candidate entering the market to get certified and work as a DST while working toward an SA role. These decisions would determine the career path which might not be set in stone, but would be a great way to map out the certification goals for the short- and medium-term.
Remember there are a plethora of resources available to you along your path, including:
http://www.microsoft.com/mcp
http://www.certguard.com
http://blog.mitchgarvis.com
Good luck!