When it comes to earning a computer professional certification, many people sit on the cusp of aspiration but never make it to the promised land on the other side. You know you should do it, you want to do it, but you’re just not doing it! So what’s holding up the train? We surveyed some IT pros we know to find out what has interfered with their certification plans and then consulted with training and certification experts on how these stumbling blocks can be overcome.
People earn certifications for different reasons. It’s a ready made way to leverage your position in the workforce, either by offering solid proof of skills you already have or by providing an easy to follow roadmap for adding a new skill set while obtaining tangible proof of it at the same time. Gaining priority access to tools and programs that will enable you to do your job better or help your employer reach a particular level in a partner program can also be big motivators. Some repeat certifiers do it as a way to assure they keep their skills sharp and up to date, and to provide independent proof that they are at the top of their game. So what’s holding you up?
Excuse: I already know my stuff, why do I need a piece of paper to prove it?
Reality: Let’s agree that you really do know your area of expertise inside and out, which is impressive and admirable, but why not take that next step and get the credential that formally attests to your abilities? Would you advise someone to quit college one credit shy of a degree because she has already learned what she needs to know? Of course not! A certification, like a traditional degree, is a critical capstone to the work you’ve already put in becoming a master of your technical domain. You’ve already done the hard part, now get the most out of it! Take the last few steps and get that formal piece of paper, and it will make a difference, especially if the day comes when your qualifications are being lined up against those of five other people who didn’t.
Excuse: I am not sure which certification to get.
Reality: Choosing an appropriate certification is an important step and not one to be taken lightly, but it’s not like you’re making a decision that’s going to cause a shift in the time space continuum, so relax, take a realistic look at your options, and make an educated selection. Although there are hundreds of certifications to choose from, it is really quite easy to narrow that list down to just a few that are appropriate for your goals.
You can, of course, do this by researching online and talking to friends, but we’ve made it incredibly easy for you by creating the Certification Counselor. All you have to do is choose a skill area (developer, communications, wireless, trainer, security, etc), a skill level, and answer a few more questions about your goals, and a ready made list of applicable certifications will be delivered to your desktop for your review.
Excuse: I can’t possibly add study time to my daily schedule.
Reality: People today squeeze an incredible array of activities into each day and often end up exhausted at the other end, so how are you going to add studying to the mix? It is not as hard as you might think. If you actually analyze the amount of time spent on various activities throughout the day, you may find a few things you can cut out at least temporarily. Bring lunch to work instead of driving somewhere and waiting to be served and so forth, so you can study over lunch. Instead of reading the morning paper, listen to the radio news on the way to work instead, and you can always get up a little earlier (as painful as it might be) or got to bed half an hour later.
Although little blocks of study time are helpful, its important to have larger blocks where you can cover a significant amount of material, which means that yes, weekends are probably going to come into play; but it’s only temporary until you get what you want - that certification. Meanwhile, learn to say no to extra activities and protect your study time. Set a regular study schedule, even if it isn’t every day. Stick to it and protect it or it won’t happen. Once it becomes a part of your regular routine, your brain will find it much easier to slide into study mode. Like any other self improvement program, there’s no getting around that it will require commitment, so commit and move on to the next step.
Excuse: I don’t know where to get training.
Reality: With just a few minutes of research, you can wipe this particular stumbling block right off the map. Thanks to the Internet, you can find study options for any available certification virtually instantly. Start at the certification vendor’s Web site (if they don’t have one or it looks terrible, pick a different certification, this is IT after all). There will likely be suggested training there, but don’t limit yourself to that; go to an online bookstore and look for self study guides. Buy them new or buy them used (only the most current editions) and save a bundle. Check with your local community colleges for courses, or try our online computer training school finder. In very short order you will see that there are plenty of study options available to you.
Excuse: The study materials are too expensive.
Reality: Basic study materials for an entry level certification are not going to set you back very much, but the higher level or more involved your chosen certification is, or the farther it reaches from your current skill set, the more you can expect to lay out to get the necessary materials. This is an investment in your future that with careful planning will pay off handsomely in the end.
When Peter Gregory, CISA, CISSP, and certification study guide author, hears this concern from his students, he advises them to find a colleague and split the costs of the needed materials and then share the materials back and forth. You can buy a set of official study materials from the organization that offers the certification or purchase new or used books about the certification from online sites such as Amazon.com or Ebay. If you are studying with one other person, you can buy two different books and trade back and forth. You can gradually build up a library of study books that you can use to study for your own exam, and then loan your books to others who want to study for the same certifications later on. Be certain not to make unauthorized copies of materials for sharing though, because that constitutes copyright violation and will disqualify you from the certification before you get a chance to earn it.
Excuse: It’s too hard to study by myself.
Reality: You don’t have to go it alone. According to Gregory, a study group is a great way to stay motivated and keep on track. Many larger metropolitan areas have study groups that are either independent or associated with a local user group or chapter. He suggests that you contact the organization that sponsors your certification to see if your community has a local chapter that may be sponsoring or know about a study group. If you can’t find a study group, consider starting one or asking one of the local chapters to help you start one. You should be able to find an organization that will let a study group meet on their premises, and a local user group or chapter of a larger organization should be able to promote the study group by sending out e-mail announcements about the study group. If you can’t find a study group to join live and in person, there may be an online group you can turn up thorough search engines or through a certification Web site.
Remember, you don’t have to do the whole thing with self study! Many local community colleges and technical schools offer certification related training that is very affordable and will provide you with structure, hands on access to equipment, and the opportunity to connect with others with the same goal.
Excuse: I’m afraid I will fail the tests.
Reality: For many would be certified pros, this is their biggest fear, that they will invest time, money, and effort to prepare a certification exam and then? fail it. And then the boss gives their job to the intern, colleagues fall on the floor laughing, and the dog moves in with the neighbors. But if you prepare diligently for your exam, the chances are very high you will pass it on the first try and forgo these humiliations. You don’t even have to be perfect on many certification tests, you can get quite a few questions wrong and still demonstrate enough expertise to get a passing score. If the worst comes to be and you fail a test, it is really not that big of a deal unless you let it stop you in your tracks. Just regroup, reschedule, and retest, and know that you are far from the first to experience this. Your dog won’t really go live with the neighbors, unless they server better dog treats.
If you should fail to achieve a passing score, as soon as you leave the testing center, immediately sit down and create a list of the subjects that gave you difficulty (it’s amazing how quickly the details will slip from your mind if you wait until later). Then take a day or three off to relax, reschedule your exam, and have at it again. The most you will be out is the exam fee, and you may not even lose that. Some certification vendors, such as Microsoft, periodically run promotions that allow you to retake the same exam without spending an extra nickel, giving you a free second shot. Even though you probably won’t need the do over, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for such promotions when they arise and take advantage of them just in case.
The Time is Now
Whatever has kept you from earning that certification is most likely, well let’s face it, an excuse. Earning a certification does take time, effort, and expense, but those are all resources demands that can be met with a little planning. Nobody is suggesting that you rush out and select the most advanced certification out there, lock yourself in the wiring closet and study for the next two years, and emerge as an IT superstar (although you could if you wanted to), but why not take that logical next step? Why not pick an appropriate certification and go for it? Your career is waiting.
