New technologies are being added to the IT industry. Therefore, the best way for a professional IT to keep up with the new technologies is to become certified in the new methods. You will be able to prepare a better resume for more job opportunities when you have the right certifications. You will need to choose certifications according to the career path that you choose. A certification can add value to your job position, and it can help you advance your career with additional knowledge and skills. Acquiring the proper certifications can help you now and in the future.

Developing an IT Career Plan

Before starting out on a career, you need to develop a plan. The plan will allow you to obtain the training and certifications to help you advance in your career. You will find several certifications that can help improve your skills for your career. However, some certifications will be more valuable to your career than others will. Therefore, you should seek to obtain the most important certification first before attempting the other certifications.

Certifications for IT Service Management

ITIL certification is available for service management positions. You can obtain four levels of certification for these positions. The first level is a certificate that shows employers that you have general knowledge and skills for a management and leadership position. Then, to gain more knowledge, you can work to complete the other three levels of certification.

Entry Level to Master Certification

Cisco has many certifications that can help you at the entry-level, or you can choose other certifications all the way to a master level. The highest level of certification that you can achieve is the Cisco Certified Architect. This achievement is mainly for experienced professionals within the Cisco network. With this certification, your resume will show that you are a highly certified professional to a prospective employer.

Specialized Certifications

Microsoft offers you a wide range of certifications that allows you to specialize in a certain field. These certifications help you prove that you can have the ability to be a success as a Certified Technology Specialist. You will have the skills to implement, troubleshoot and debug certain Microsoft technology. This includes working with some of the Microsoft products such as Windows and Visual Studio.

Network Security Certifications

Many businesses need someone to make sure that their networks are secure. A network security certification can offer you the skills and training to work with companies around the world. The CompTIA Security+ certification proves that you have the knowledge to handle system security and network infrastructure.

Professional Certifications

Many IT jobs are related to project management. Therefore, you will find it valuable to add a professional certification to your career plan. The Project Management Professional certification program helps you develop skills in directing and leading project teams. It teaches you how to complete a project within a certain time period and budget.

The CompTIA’s Strata Green IT certification helps to enhance an individual’s IT knowledge and experience. It helps to improve your existing IT credentials so that you can become involved in the new technologies. This certification can help change the IT industry since it teaches you new methods to keep the environment green. It trains you for careers in power management, and it teaches you about the new virtualization techniques.

With a career plan, you will be ready to start your search for the right certifications to add to your resume. You will be more successful when you prepare for the future job market with the proper training and experience.

 This is a guest post for TheEmployable