- Employers Want Experience. First and foremost, having hands-on work experience is what speaks loudest to potential employers. And no, you don’t have to have paid experience. Volunteer to help fix computers or set up a basic network for a non-profit organization. Even if you have to learn on the job, it will be great experience, and the company is unlikely to fault you for that – after all, you’re doing it for free.
- Better Exam Preparation. Gaining experience first will help you pass the exam or exams needed for certification. One of the biggest trends in certification over the last few years is the increased emphasis on being able to problem-solve in the way that’s required in the real world. Vendors are moving away from tests that only need book knowledge. More and more tests require lab practicals, forcing candidates to demonstrate their know-how.
- Raising Red Flags. Having a certification before having any experience makes prospective employers suspicious. The glut of “paper” credential-holders over the past decade has made companies wary of individuals who have passed tests, but who, when required on the job, can’t perform the simplest of IT tasks. Those types of stories are common, and in that situation, your certification is likely to work against you.
That doesn’t mean you cannot possibly get a job with a certification and no work experience – it does mean, however, that the deck is stacked against you.
The best situation of all is to have experience, then get the certification. Having both on your resume is a great way to get that raise and promotion in your current job, or to land a better job in IT.