How to grow your IT career in 2016 with skills and certification

 

Competition among businesses is fiercer than ever, and it is often the organisations with the best IT infrastructure that come out on top. Computer skills are in high demand amongst employers, so use 2016 as your springboard to professional success by getting the required certification through the right IT training courses.

Advancing technologies and increasingly sophisticated software packages ensure that the world of IT is always changing. In order to stay one step ahead of other candidates, you should always be looking to further your skills. Gaining professional certification in new and emerging branches of IT is critical to a successful career, which is why you should never rest on your laurels when it comes to training.

What are the most in-demand computing skills amongst employers?

In order to be at the top of the shortlist when major companies advertise IT vacancies, you will need to be certified in some very specific areas of computing.

Computer networking 
This is an engineering discipline that involves designing and creating computer systems that share and link resources. Various systems and devices are linked in order that different individuals within an organisation can efficiently share and harvest data from different locations. The three main types of network are Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN) and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN).

Web security 
A large selection of data is stored on the computer systems of organisations – some of which is either valuable or sensitive. Web security involves creating systems that are resilient to attacks from hackers, malware, spyware and viruses. A number of recent high-profile hacks have affected large companies profoundly, so experienced and qualified web security experts are in very high demand.

Project management
IT projects can be highly complex within large organisations. Involving several different forms of hardware, software and network, these projects require planning and a range of different IT skills. The ability to manage IT projects from conception to delivery is a skill that is going to be very valuable in 2016.

IT support
IT support services have never been so important to businesses. Systems that are down for just a few minutes can lose companies a great deal of money – and give an advantage to their competitors. Well-trained staff, efficient IT systems and fast solutions to problems are all very valuable to 21s century companies, which is why IT support staff are in such high demand.

The scope and reach of IT in business these days is huge, and the sheer number of IT courses available is proof of that. Whether you are just starting out on your career or you’re looking to advance your existing skills and knowledge base, training is your ticket to a more successful and lucrative professional life.

Software training

As well as key IT disciplines, there is training and certification available for specific software packages, applications and hardware. You can train in the use of Excel for business, Microsoft PowerPoint, web design or networks. There are courses available through online classrooms or brick-and-mortar colleges – giving you the flexibility to fit training around your existing commitments.

The Jivjav online marketplace for training courses makes searching for the right course a quick and simple process. Whether you want to train as a network technician, an IT support worker or a web designer, the course that’s right for you can be found via a simple, easy-to-use search facility.

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Ben Rossi

Ben was Vitesse Media's editorial director, leading content creation and editorial strategy across all Vitesse products, including its market-leading B2B and consumer magazines, websites, research and...

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