Your Career Chances with an MCSA Certification

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Your Career Chances with an MCSA Certification

By Della Wyler

Monday, November 12th, 2018

Cloud computing has become an integral part of today’s corporate/business world. Therefore, these businesses need qualified staff that can implement and work with cloud computing technology. As one of the major providers of cloud technology products, Microsoft offers the MCSA certification as well as a set of other certifications that serve as credentials for expertise of these products.

MCSA Certification

What kind of jobs can you get with an MCSA Certification?

An MCSA Certification (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) is considered an entry-level certification and is a great credential if you are still in the early stages of your IT career. When you look up the job offer requirements for positions like

Network Administrator
Network Engineer
Exchange Administrator
Systems Administrator
Desktop Engineer
Web Administrator
IT Project Manager

You will often find “MCSA” among them.

Since there are several similar certifications with different focus areas, the selection of your focus area will of course also influence your fit for specific job descriptions. If you add additional MCSA certifications and additional focus areas, this will enhance your expert profile.

MCSA does not necessarily limit you to entry-level positions: Especially in combination with extensive hands-on work experience and additional qualifications, one or more MCSA certifications can mark the well-rounded profile of IT professionals even in senior positions. If you already have several of these certifications, it might make sense to use these as stepping stones to obtain an MCSE Certification (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert) as well. This will show your qualification to work on and build more complex cloud technology solutions and platforms.

The amount of money you can expect to earn of course depends on several additional factors, but to give you an idea: “Payscale” states 72K as the median annual salary for a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator,

Get your certification!

If you want to find out more about how to become an MCSA, you can read more about that in our blog post “MCSA Certification – how to become a certified Microsoft Solutions Associate”. You might also want to have a closer look at our article about the Microsoft Certification Paths, where you can find more information about the requirements and the various focus areas of the MCSA Certification and the MCSE Certification (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert), the next step, which is another part of the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification program.

As a Microsoft Gold Partner, TechSherpas professional certified instructor provide certification training for MCSA as well as MCSE.

Sources:
https://www.itcareerfinder.com/it-certifications/microsoft-certifications/mcsa-2012.html
https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=msca&vjk=ba8027abcc0d5981
https://techsherpas.com/the-microsoft-certification-paths/

Categories : Careers in IT, Cloud Technology, IT Certifications, MCSA

Tags : IT Career, MCSA, MCSA certification, MCSE

Switching Careers? How to Become an IT Professional

By Della Wyler

Monday, October 22nd, 2018

In case you are wondering: Switching careers, even at a later point in life, is not that unusual anymore. One reason for that is probably the fact that due to modern technologies, further education and training is far more readily available and accessible than it used to be.

Computer and information technology (IT) can be found everywhere, in our business as well as private lives. Therefore, the idea of putting their IT affinity to professional use does not seem a huge leap for many people.

switching careers

What to consider when it comes to switching careers to IT

Area of expertise: information technology is a vast field, so carefully consider which area you feel most at home, for example computer hardware and periphery, network design and administration, cyber and computer security, programming and coding.
Job market: Enter the respective keywords into search engines and job portals to get an idea about the corresponding job titles/descriptions as well as requirements for applicants.
Credentials/experience: Does your current job, professional training or past work experience provide you with any experience or credentials that you could apply towards a new career as an IT professional and would look good in your updated CV?
Professional training/practical experience: Depending on which kind of future position you have set your sights on, you might need to be able to present proper credentials, practical experience or both. While an internship might offer first practical experience, professional IT training and even certification will probably be your most important step towards switching careers to become an IT professional.

Education, training, and certification

There are various college programs available to help you achieve a degree in the field of information technology and related areas. When you consider switching careers though, you might not be in the position to invest that much time (and money) into your education and training. This is where IT certification courses come in. They allow you to achieve a professional, industry-acknowledged IT certification within a comparatively short period of time. For example, a TechSherpas Boot Camp Certification Course prepares you for a certification exam with a time investment of just a few days. TechSherpas also offers you virtual learning solutions and learning on-demand, so that you can get educated and achieve your first certification without having to quit your current job. It also allows you to get a deeper knowledge and familiarize yourself with the work of an IT professional before having to make any major career-changing decisions.

Many open IT positions do not require an IT college degree, and with the TechSherpas learning solutions you can quickly achieve industry-recognized credentials and work on making your dream of switching careers a reality. To learn more about these available opportunities, have a look at our blog post “3 of the Best Entry Level IT Certifications to Boost Your Career”.

Sources and further reading:

https://techsherpas.com/3-of-the-best-entry-level-it-certifications/

https://techsherpas.com/2-additional-technology-jobs-in-demand/

https://techsherpas.com/technology-jobs-and-how-to-qualify/

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/too-late-career-change-ask-vicki-quora-0417

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/how-do-you-restart-career-later-in-life-quora-vicki-salemi

Categories : Careers in IT, IT Certifications

Tags : advantages of IT certification, career switching, IT Career, IT certification

3 of the Best Entry Level IT Certifications to Boost Your Career

By Della Wyler

Tuesday, September 4th, 2018

If you want to make yourself a career in the field of information technology, you should consider achieving one of the well-established, entry level IT certifications as a credential for your IT skills.

Why are Entry Level IT Certifications important?

Many people are nowadays interested in computer and IT subjects, which is a continually changing and evolving career path. An IT Certification serves as a standardized tool to help potential employers or customers to assess your knowledge and skill set and make an informed decision about hiring you.

Which of the Entry Level IT Certifications is right for you?

Entry level IT Certifications

CompTIA A+

A CompTIA A+ certification provides a starting point and foundation for your IT career as an entry level IT technician. A CompTIA A + technician offers technical and operational IT support and maintains, troubleshoots and repairs PCs, mobile devices, operating systems and peripheral equipment.

TechSherpas CompTIA A+ training course provides qualified training and preparation for your CompTIA A+ certification for participants who already possess basic computer skills.

Cisco Certified Entry Level Technicial (CCENT) and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

For aspiring network technicians, a Cisco Certification as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and/or Cisco Certified Entry Level Technician (CCENT) as a stepping-stone to becoming an associate is the way to go. Typical job titles for professionals with such a CCNA certification are “Systems Administrator,” “Network Administrator” or “Network Engineer.”

Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

The Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) is an entry level IT certification and a stepping-stone to becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE). Both certifications are part of the Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP) program.

There are 17 different focus areas for an MCSA, among them:

BI Reporting
Cloud Platform
Office 365
Windows 10
SQL 2016 Database Administration

Depending on which area or areas you want to focus on, you can select the particular MCSA accordingly. You can also group several of these focus area certifications (as illustrated in our Microsoft Certification Map). This enables you to achieve the mid-level Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification.

TechSherpas is a Microsoft Gold Partner and as such specially certified by Microsoft to provide training and certifications for MCSA and MCSE. Have a look at our course catalog to get a better overview about the various training courses and learning solutions that help you to get your IT career started or better yet, take it to the next level.

Sources:
https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/technology/blog/5-it-certifications-to-get-your-foot-in-the-door/
https://certification.comptia.org/certifications
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/entry.html

Categories : Careers in IT, CompTIA, IT Certifications, MCSA, MCSE, Microsoft

Tags : entry-level certifications, IT Career, IT career building

3 In-Demand Technology Jobs and How to Qualify for Them

By Della Wyler

Tuesday, May 15th, 2018

Are you looking for a job in the field of technology? Do you want to learn more about the qualifications and career options regarding technology jobs? There is a high demand in skilled people to fill IT- and tech-related positions. Considering the constantly evolving technologies, it is unlikely that this demand will change in the nearer future.

technology jobs

So, what are the in-demand tech jobs, and what kind of qualification do you need to get them?

Software Developer/Engineer

Computers run with various kinds of software/computer programs. These can be standard commercial products or highly specialized with customized programs to meet the exact needs of the user. Some corporations even have their own proprietary software, with which they organize their processes.

The development, design, maintenance, and testing of these programs is the domain of software engineers and developers.

There are various college programs in computer science and software engineering available at the undergraduate as well as advanced levels, such as Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSE).

Systems Administrator/Engineer, Network Administrator/Engineer

Especially larger organizations do not simply use single computers for their operation, but entire information technology systems. Administrators are usually occupied with the day-to-day running and maintenance of the computer systems/networks. The tasks for a systems engineer rely mostly in the organization and planning of the network infrastructure.

The typical entry level education is a Bachelor’s degree, but there are also special certification programs, such as the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP).

Web Developer

Web Developers build, design, implement and maintain an organizations websites and create or integrate back-end applications by using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript and XML. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical entry level degree is an Associate’s degree.

Further Technology Jobs Qualification Options and Information

Many tech careers provide options to work either as an employee or independent contractor. Depending on which state you work in, there are regulations for the use of certain professional terms and job titles. Example: As an “Engineer” (like “Software Engineer”, “Computer Hardware Engineer” etc.) you might need to obtain a license.

It is not necessary to have an IT-related college degree to secure a job in the growing industry of technology. There are also degrees in other fields like mathematics, statistics, and more, that serve as basic qualification for an IT job. With such a degree, your best option is to combine it with additional IT-relevant certifications. These are not only available at colleges, but also via commercial providers.

We at Techsherpas offer you a variety of IT certification training, including on-demand learning solutions.

Sources:

https://www.modis.com/it-insights/infographics/top-it-jobs-of-2018/

https://www.itbusinessedge.com/slideshows/top-10-most-in-demand-it-job-titles.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/media/americas-10-toughest-jobs-to-fill-in-2017/

https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0471/0471.html

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htm

Categories : Careers in IT, IT Certifications, Training & Education

Tags : IT Career, IT career building, IT certification, IT jobs, IT qualification

Networking Tips for the IT Professional

By Della Wyler

Monday, June 19th, 2017

Networking is an important part of being in any career but can open up unlimited doors in the tech industry job market. Networking can be daunting for someone not familiar with it, no matter how advanced they are in their career. Regardless of why you’re looking for new connections, there are effective ways to approach someone you want to get to know and make a connection. Remember, looking for and locking down potential connections to work with you is a long term affair. Much like any relationship, it will require planning, a lot of work and compromise.

Launch Your IT Career With The Right Connections

To help you better approach future long term connections, here are some tips for networking and relationship building so you can launch your IT Career.

Research First

Going to a networking event? Got your eye on a specific connection you want to make? Do a little research. If you think that there is one specific formula you can go through each time you approach someone, you’re wrong. Your approach to any would-be connection should depend on what you know about them. Spend some time to do an in-depth research on their name, career, preferences, and a little background. Know the major players in both of your industries. Look into their background, what their career path was like, what their most recent ventures are. You can even research on how to best research a potential connection. Just make sure you use your research wisely. Don’t spit out facts about themselves when you meet them- simply know the information so it is easier to find a natural common ground.

Get Creative and Make an Impression

When you make that initial connection, you want to have some creative form of continuing the relationship. Whether this is a memorable business card, setting up a meeting in a unique setting, or just buying their coffee, you want to make an impression that will be remembered.

Get to Know Multiple People in the Organization

If you have someone in mind you want to reach, but you don’t have anyone in common, get to know people who work for their company. They don’t necessarily have to be decision makers because the goal is to have them brief you of the company culture and point you in the direction of their heads. Eventually, you will get to the top. This process a little tedious and will require patience and a lot of creative thinking, but it will eventually pay off. At least, when you do get to the decision makers, you know enough about the business to hold a conversation. You never know where your next big break could come from. The mail delivery person can be just as valuable as the president of the company!

Sources:

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223468

Categories : Careers in IT, IT Certifications

Tags : IT Career

Your Career Chances with an MCSA Certification

Archive for IT Career