Additional IT certifications are not normally a prerequisite to qualify for a job, but they can make the difference between an offer and a rejection.
As one Graduate Recruitment Manager for a top automotive company said, “Professional accreditation’s are not essential but we may consider them as a factor during the selection process”.
In addition 75% of IT recruiters stated in a recent survey that candidates with additional certifications stand a better chance at securing a role. As a result IT graduates can increase their employability and even their market value with professional accreditations to back up their degree.
What to look for…
With the vast number of different certifications and training qualifications available, it is important to know which ones will be most useful for your career. You must realise that any additional training completed will only act as a ‘top-up’ to your degree and shouldn’t be solely depended on.
Current Certifications…
The only way to really gain the most out of certifications is to ensure that they are recognised in the IT industry. Certifications that are relevant in today’s market are an absolute must, as there’s no point in spending time and money on out-dated training that won’t add value to your CV.
IT Jobs For Graduates recently carried out a survey of over 150 IT professionals to find out what particular certifications were seen as most valuable in the IT industry. We bring you the top 3 most recommended as voted for the following areas;
In the hardware category;
- Microsoft (e.g. MCSE, MCSA, MCT) - 42%
- Cisco (e.g. CCNA, CCNP) - 29%
- CompTIA (e.g. A+, Network+, CTT+) - 5%
For the software category;
You should bear in mind that the above is only a guide to some popular certifications and it is by no means an exhausted list. You should further research your particular area of IT to find specific qualifications more suited to your field.
