When I graduated college nearly 10 years ago, I opened a newspaper, made a few calls, and had a job as a technical writer with an IT consulting firm within the week. Within six months, my salary jumped 20%. By the end of two years, I was an analyst with a dozen projects under my belt. Within five years I added trainer to my list of titles and my salary had tripled. All this, with a liberal arts degree and no notion of what to do upon graduation. Times have certainly changed.
Many of the emails I receive now are somewhat desperate pleas for help. Several are mid-career changers wanting to know the best certification to get them into IT. Others are from college students looking for certifications to give them an edge in a career search during the biggest hiring slump in years. One thing everyone has in common is a general worry about how to handle a difficult job market.
College Grads
According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, recruiters are facing the challenge of competing for college grads, which is a good indicator that the job market is looking up. In fact, the NACE is "seeing an average salary increase of 3.7 percent at the bachelor’s degree level, and 4 percent at the master’s degree level."
Although those employers might be competing for your attention, many grads with technology degrees continue to look to professional certification as a way to make their resume stand out in the pile. This is a very worthy endeavor that can prove your dedication and give you knowledge of real-world applications of your skills. More on beginner certifications.
Career Changers and IT Veterans
If you are looking to forgoe your current career to be a techie, be sure to leverage your skills. Take what you know and apply it to what you want to do. If your current job has you in a management position, consider managing IT projects. If you are in a position that requires great attention to detail, consider programming. If you are a creative people-person, consider training or analyst positions and certifications.
For the experienced IT survivors, the best thing to do right now is continue getting certified, expand your resume with new skills, and focus on your current position while keeping a tentative eye out for good projects both within and outside your company.
