How to get into IT Career?

You should already know that IT is the hot career right now. You may not agree with us in thinking that the work is glamorous or particularly

exciting but you can agree that the market for IT professionals is. This industry is hands-down the number one field of 2013 in the amount of job growth and pay increases it is forecasted to witness now and over the next seven years. This industry requires more certifications than formal education and with the right accreditation of experience you will easily break into IT.

We understand the opportunities that lie ahead for IT; no matter what the organization, from banking to government, forming a great IT team is priority number one. This is why we broke down the career paths you can take towards entering the IT world’s top four positions as either a Help Desk Technician, Network Administrator, Security Specialist or IT Project Manager.  Regardless of your education or certification level, one of this careers will be the perfect match for you, trust us!

Help Desk Technician

Average US Salary $46,000

Applying to be a Help Desk Technician is by far the easiest way to break into the IT field. This position does not require formal training; college degrees and even certifications are not necessarily a prerequisite to getting hired. However, as with any career, some accreditation of knowledge or prior work experience in that field always provides a competitive edge. In the case of Help Desk Technicians, the golden ticket to entering this field at a higher pay rate than your peers is simply gaining the industry certifications applicable to a Help Desk job description. Here is the certification path you need to take to rise from beginner to expert in the field of Help desk technicians.

Beginner-level Certifications:

  • CompTIA A+
  • CompTIA Network+

Intermediate Certifications:

  • ITIL Foundations

Advanced-level Certifications:

  • ITIL Expert
  • MCITP Consumer

Specialist Certifications:

  • CompTIA RFID+
  • MCITP Enterprise Admin

Expert-level Certifications:

  • ITIL Master

Network Administrators

Average US Salary $69,000

 

The position of Network Administrator is often referred to as the “recession proof career,” as companies consistently hire and retain employees in this field despite economic conditions. If the job security of being a Network Administrator is not appealing enough, maybe the fact that the US Department of Labor forecasts the field to grow 28% by 2020 will. Companies are constantly revising their networking technologies in order to maintain a competitive advantage within their fields; this makes it necessary for Network Administrators to consistently update their certifications to reflect the changes in standards and technology. Whether you are just entering into the career of Network Administrator or if you need to update your certifications, follow the path below.

Beginner-level Certifications:

  • CompTIA A+
  • MTA Network
  • MTA Server

Intermediate Certifications:

  • CompTIA Network+
  • CompTIA Linux+
  • CompTIA Server+
  • CompTIA CTP+

Advanced-level Certifications:

  • CCNA
  • CCDA
  • MCSA

Specialist Certifications:

  • CCDP
  • CCNP
  • MCSE
  • MCITP Enterprise Admin

Expert-level Certifications:

  • CCIE
  • MCM

IT Security Specialist

Average US Salary $87,000

65,000 new IT Security positions are to be added over the next few years; need we really say more. This field is growing rapidly not only in the amount of new jobs forming but in the high emphasis companies now place on developing their security teams. Combatting frequent and damaging cyber-attacks are a high priority across all industries and companies currently lack the resources to address all of them. Certified security specialists are becoming a must and there is no evidence that will change at any point in the future. Everything utilizes technology now and the demand for certified IT Security Specialists is high so why not take the certification paths you need to meet this job need today?

Beginner-level Certifications:

  • MTA Security
  • CompTIA Network+
  • CompTIA Linux+

Intermediate Certifications:

  • MCTS
  • CompTIA Security+

Advanced-level Certifications:

  • CASP
  • MCITP Server Admin

Specialist Certifications:

  • CEH
  • CHFI
  • CCSP
  • CCNP
  • MCSE
  • MCITP Enterprise Admin

Expert-level Certifications:

  • CISM
  • CGEIT
  • CISSP

IT Project Manager

Average US Salary $121,250

If the already high average salary for an IT Project Manager wasn’t enough to make you skip right to the certification section, then hopefully the fact that this position can launch you into the role of CIO or CTO where salaries can surpass $250,000 will. Using certification training to learn today’s top tools and techniques for managing projects effectively will allow individuals, already experienced in the field of IT, to take full advantage of the opportunities for job advancement and increased earning potential available to IT Project Managers. If you are ready to take the next step in your IT career then follow the certification path below toward realizing your full potential.

Beginner-level Certifications:

  • IT Work Experience

Intermediate Certifications:

  • CAPM
  • CompTIA Project+
  • Prince2 Foundation

Advanced-level Certifications:

  • IPMA (C)

Specialist Certifications:

  • IPMA (B)

Expert-level Certifications:

  • IPMA (A)
  • PMP
  • Prince2 Practitioner

Are you looking to get into the IT world, what questions do you have?

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