Saturday, December 10, 2011
Top IT Certifications of 2011
An IT certification is one of the best and easiest ways of getting into the IT job market. Though there has been some decline in premium paid for IT certifications there are some specialities that still command good money. IT recruitment will definitely pick up next year.
Here were the five of the hottest IT certifications for 2011.
Microsoft certified technology specialist MCTS Certification
Microsoft is still the most dominant player in the desktop market. In September 2010, NetMarketShare showed Windows at 91.08% of the global operating system market. Microsoft has seen a renewed interest in its new operating system Windows 7. In July, Windows 7 surpassed Windows vista in global usage and around 20% of Microsoft users have already shifted to Windows 7. Gartner Inc estimates that 250 million PC's will be migrated to windows 7 over the next few years and also predicted an acute shortfall in qualified IT staffers to handle Windows 7 migration. A MCTS program with a specialization in configuring and deploying Windows 7 can prepare you for these opportunities.
VMware Certified Professional
Cloud is transforming IT. Virtualization technology is growing with most of the companies but lack of expertise in this field is a cause of worry for majority of them. "Cloud services have a huge potential and the demand for professionals will be equally high in the coming years" says Nitin Khanapurkar, executive director (advisory) KPMG, who works in the domain of cloud computing. Global cloud computing market is expected to be over $121.1 billion by 2015 growing at a CAGR of 26.2%.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
IT security professionals had an extremely smooth sailing during the bad times. While IT budgets worldwide came down, companies fearing cyber attacks pushed IT security spending up during recession. The market is further expected to grow at over 12% YoY for next 3 years. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) has become one of the most important certifications as employers look this as a validation of candidate's skills for this profession.
Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
The number of IT project management related job opportunities has been down lately but because of a restricted supply of the quality jobseekers, it is still a candidate driven market. With economy out of recession there will be a strong demand for candidates with awareness of formal tools and techniques of project management. CWJobs.co.uk, a UK job board specializing in IT recruitment has more than 420 IT project manager vacancies listed on their website currently.
Network + Certification
The only basic certification on our list, but still one of the most important. Every IT professional must know what drives an organization's IT infrastructure whether it's Linux, Apple or Windows.Network+ certifies networking technicians with knowledge in the networking domain. It has consistently been a high-in-demand certification in the networking sector. Totaljobs salary checker data shows a healthy increase in average IT Networking salaries ( http://www.totaljobs.com/salary-checker/average-it-networking-salary ) signifying a good demand for qualified professionals.
Friday, December 09, 2011
CompTIA A+ Certification Get Top Marks from Leading Technology School
Leading Technology School Gives Top Marks to CompTIA A+
Campus Ciudad de México (Mexico City) of the venerable Tecnológico de Monterrey multi-site university system has teamed with CompTIA to become the country’s first university CAPP-Academy, a move already paying dividends.
In 2011, the campus, ITESM-CCM, installed CompTIA A+ training and certification as part of the curriculum for all incoming freshmen within the technology school, regardless of their course of study.
Students are required to take the CompTIA A+ exam at the end of their semester-long course. Loyo, 35, said the chance for students at his campus to obtain internationally-recognized certifications at such an early stage of their academic careers will “increase their chances in the labor market.”
“I’m convinced that offering different certification training programs has an impact on the professional recognition for our students as they increase their skills,” he said.
CompTIA A+ is well-known across the industry for its vendor-neutral approach to such foundation-level technical skills as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting.
“To become CompTIA-certified means not to be married with some brand,” Loyo said, noting his site’s new training program “is designed to introduce students to issues of relevance, to innovate and collaborate with our country.”
Karla Gamboa, 18, a Business Engineering and IT freshmen, is in preparations to take her CompTIA A+ exam, but can already cite tremendous benefits. “I believe that industry certifications will become more important with time because while more people get certified, the IT industry will become more competitive and capable of doing more things,” she said. “People will look to be more prepared by taking more certifications.”
Gamboa, who teaches private computer classes in the summer, credited the quality of the information provided in the CompTIA training course. “It is interactive, easy to read and understand and it is constantly testing you to see if the topic is fully understood,” she said, noting the ability to study at her own pace was also helpful.
Gamboa is mapping out her own certification path that will hopefully include CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+. Loyo recalled in his younger days querying instructors to satisfy his curiosity and build upon a burgeoning technical skill set.
A support technician at the age of 17, Loyo has worked at several IT firms and earned numerous certifications, including CompTIA A+ and Network+. He now considers it his greatest professional challenge to imbue in other students the skills and knowledge to succeed in their chosen professions. Accreditation, he believes, is a big part of that.
“Certifications allow us to demonstrate compliance with the requirements and skills needed internationally,” Loyo said. “Despite the high costs of certification exams, certifications mean better working conditions.”
“CompTIA is a worldwide industry that is recognized almost everywhere, so by having a certification approved by CompTIA you are demonstrating that you truly master the skills of that certification.”
The international recognition of CompTIA and its well-regarded industry standards is of keen significance to leaders of the private educational institution with an international presence in a dozen foreign countries.
My students were beating four-year college students for jobs. The big question was why. I started contacting companies and found out that certification carried a lot of weight.
— Terry Hand
CIS Instructor, Ogeechee Technical College
Learn more about CompTIA A+ Certification
Campus Ciudad de México (Mexico City) of the venerable Tecnológico de Monterrey multi-site university system has teamed with CompTIA to become the country’s first university CAPP-Academy, a move already paying dividends.
In 2011, the campus, ITESM-CCM, installed CompTIA A+ training and certification as part of the curriculum for all incoming freshmen within the technology school, regardless of their course of study.
Students are required to take the CompTIA A+ exam at the end of their semester-long course. Loyo, 35, said the chance for students at his campus to obtain internationally-recognized certifications at such an early stage of their academic careers will “increase their chances in the labor market.”
“I’m convinced that offering different certification training programs has an impact on the professional recognition for our students as they increase their skills,” he said.
CompTIA A+ is well-known across the industry for its vendor-neutral approach to such foundation-level technical skills as installation, preventative maintenance, networking, security and troubleshooting.
“To become CompTIA-certified means not to be married with some brand,” Loyo said, noting his site’s new training program “is designed to introduce students to issues of relevance, to innovate and collaborate with our country.”
Karla Gamboa, 18, a Business Engineering and IT freshmen, is in preparations to take her CompTIA A+ exam, but can already cite tremendous benefits. “I believe that industry certifications will become more important with time because while more people get certified, the IT industry will become more competitive and capable of doing more things,” she said. “People will look to be more prepared by taking more certifications.”
Gamboa, who teaches private computer classes in the summer, credited the quality of the information provided in the CompTIA training course. “It is interactive, easy to read and understand and it is constantly testing you to see if the topic is fully understood,” she said, noting the ability to study at her own pace was also helpful.
Gamboa is mapping out her own certification path that will hopefully include CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+. Loyo recalled in his younger days querying instructors to satisfy his curiosity and build upon a burgeoning technical skill set.
A support technician at the age of 17, Loyo has worked at several IT firms and earned numerous certifications, including CompTIA A+ and Network+. He now considers it his greatest professional challenge to imbue in other students the skills and knowledge to succeed in their chosen professions. Accreditation, he believes, is a big part of that.
“Certifications allow us to demonstrate compliance with the requirements and skills needed internationally,” Loyo said. “Despite the high costs of certification exams, certifications mean better working conditions.”
“CompTIA is a worldwide industry that is recognized almost everywhere, so by having a certification approved by CompTIA you are demonstrating that you truly master the skills of that certification.”
The international recognition of CompTIA and its well-regarded industry standards is of keen significance to leaders of the private educational institution with an international presence in a dozen foreign countries.
My students were beating four-year college students for jobs. The big question was why. I started contacting companies and found out that certification carried a lot of weight.
— Terry Hand
CIS Instructor, Ogeechee Technical College
Learn more about CompTIA A+ Certification
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Which Certification is Right for You?
By Skill Level
Foundational: For students or workers new to IT - Great foundation course
- Micro 2000 PC Diagnostics: PC installation and maintenance and repair tools
Entry-Level: For those starting an IT career
- CompTIA A+: Preventative maintenance, basic networking, installation, troubleshooting and communication skills
- CompTIA PDI+: Basic electromechanical components and tools, print engine and scan processes, color theory and networking
Professional: For established IT workers
- CompTIA Network+: Managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, operating and configuring basic network infrastructure
- CompTIA Security+: System security, network infrastructure, cryptography, assessments and audits
- CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI: Linux installation, system architecture, GNU and UNIX commands, and user interfaces and desktops
- MCITP Server Administrator Windows Server: Building, maintaining and troubleshooting server software
- CompTIA Project+: Project management process, including initiation, planning, execution and support
- Micro 2000 PC Diagnostics: PC installation and maintenance and repair tools
Areas of Expertise
Hardware: How to set up, test, and troubleshoot office equipment.
- CompTIA A+: IT equipment
- Micro 2000 PC Diagnostics: PC installation and maintenance and repair tools
- MCITP Server Administrator Windows Server: Windows Server Admin
- CompTIA PDI+: Printing and document imaging equipment
Systems: How to integrate computers and secure communications in a business environment.
- CompTIA Network+: Network infrastructure and administration
- CompTIA Security+: IT system security
- CompTIA Linux+ Powered by LPI: Linux installation and management
Methodology: How traditional business roles benefit from technical knowledge
- CompTIA Project+: Project management
Monday, December 05, 2011
Crystal Reports 2008 Training Course the Easy Way
Crystal Reports 2008 Training Course
Receive a fundamental understanding of the concepts of Crystal Reports 2008 by learning to build reports, use formulas, build groups, work with records, and create charts. Follow Heather Peterson as she teaches you the functionality within this popular software.The hands-on interactive labs will help you practice what you learn...with or without the application on your desktop.
2 levels - 62 modules - 6 learning hours
For more details on this interactive DVD-ROM Crystal Reports 2008 Training course
New IT Certification Offering from Cisco Systems
New IT Certification Offering from Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems has added a new certification in field support for their products.
This certification is to be a Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) to perform on site installation on maintenance of the products that they offer. There are three tracks that you can choose from when going for this certification: Routing & Switching, Data Center, and TelePresence, and there is a separate Cisco exam (priced at $125) for each track which you must pass to gain the CCT certification. Apparently, you must have the Routing & Switching certification before you can apply for either of the others, which means that if you want either of the other two, you will have to pay at least $250. This certification lasts for a total of 3 years and to get re-certified, you must pass one exam from the list given here. On most IT job sites, there are a quite a number of jobs available for those with Cisco Certifications, so if you are in this field, it might be a good bet.
If you need Cisco training, please visit http://www.trainingplanet.com
Saturday, December 03, 2011
How long will my Microsoft certification be valid?
From the Microsoft Q&A Section of their site.
Q. How long will my Microsoft certification be valid?
A. Today, most of our Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) exams retire when Microsoft discontinues mainstream support for the related technology. The certification will still appear on your transcript but will be listed in an inactive section with an expiration date. In most cases, an upgrade path, which allows candidates to earn the certification with fewer exams (usually one), will be available for individuals who hold the certification on the previous version of the technology.
The legacy Microsoft certifications, such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), currently do not expire, but some may no longer be awarded because all exams are retired or because Microsoft has ended extended support for the technology. In most cases, individuals who hold the certification on the previous version of the technology can earn the certification on the next version of the technology with one upgrade exam.
To maintain the relevance and value of our certifications and ensure that candidates possess up-to-date skills on technologies that are constantly changing, recertification may be necessary for some certifications. In these cases, the certification will remain valid as long as the candidate continues to recertify at appropriate intervals.
Note that Microsoft reserves the right to retire exams and certifications as well as change our recertification policy at any time.
For more info on Microsoft Certification Training for MCITP visit Training Planet
Friday, December 02, 2011
Microsoft Project Training and MS Project Tutorials Courses Reviews
Microsoft Project Training and MS Project Tutorials and Courses
Effective Microsoft Project training and practical MS Project tutorials are critical for new project managers and advanced project managers to learn effective approaches to solving project management problems.
Our line of Microsoft Project training includes MS Project tutorials that provide project managers with the training required to deliver a project on time and on budget.
Our Microsoft Project Training and MS Project tutorials focus on project management scheduling and effective lessons from experienced trainers with years of experience managing projects with Microsoft Project.
For a detailed reviewed selection of
Microsoft Project Training and MS Project Tutorials and Courses
Want more cash in your pocket? Certification is it!
Want more cash in your pocket? Get certified!
All of us in the field have seen that pages and pages of job listings asking for all kinds of certifications with silly acronyms. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to find one that doesn’t require some kind of certification, which could make many people question why they went to college in the first place when these little certificates are all they needed. While this may seem like a pain, things will most likely stay this way for the foreseeable future, so it might be a good idea to jump on the bandwagon now.
According to some, it is not only a good idea to go ahead and get the certification you want for new jobs, but they are also leading to promotions and raises. In fact, a survey featured in a networkworld.com article asked 700 networking professionals whether a certification led to a raise, a promotion, a new job, or something else. 60.5% of professionals said their certifications got them a new job, 56.0% said that they got raise, 28.8% said that they got a promotion within their current company, and 10.8% said that they got some other type of reward for their certifications. Some certifications have been clearly shown to be more beneficial than others, such as the Cisco Certifications and some Microsoft Certifications.
All of us in the field have seen that pages and pages of job listings asking for all kinds of certifications with silly acronyms. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to find one that doesn’t require some kind of certification, which could make many people question why they went to college in the first place when these little certificates are all they needed. While this may seem like a pain, things will most likely stay this way for the foreseeable future, so it might be a good idea to jump on the bandwagon now.
According to some, it is not only a good idea to go ahead and get the certification you want for new jobs, but they are also leading to promotions and raises. In fact, a survey featured in a networkworld.com article asked 700 networking professionals whether a certification led to a raise, a promotion, a new job, or something else. 60.5% of professionals said their certifications got them a new job, 56.0% said that they got raise, 28.8% said that they got a promotion within their current company, and 10.8% said that they got some other type of reward for their certifications. Some certifications have been clearly shown to be more beneficial than others, such as the Cisco Certifications and some Microsoft Certifications.
Updated CompTIA Security+ Exam
CompTIA Security+ Certification Addresses Operational Risk
The latest version of CompTIA Security+ covers the skill sets needed to proactively address security risk control and mitigation. As part of the ISO/ANSI accreditation for CompTIA Security+, CompTIA updates most exams every three years and there was a lot of new information to cover. The exam is for an IT security professional with experience in IT administration with a focus on security, day to day technical information security experience, and broad knowledge of security concerns and implementation.
http://www.trainingplanet.com/
The latest version of CompTIA Security+ covers the skill sets needed to proactively address security risk control and mitigation. As part of the ISO/ANSI accreditation for CompTIA Security+, CompTIA updates most exams every three years and there was a lot of new information to cover. The exam is for an IT security professional with experience in IT administration with a focus on security, day to day technical information security experience, and broad knowledge of security concerns and implementation.
http://www.trainingplanet.com/
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