Information technology industry leaders predict more than 234,700 new positions will be created in the field of internet technology by 2018. Whether looking for a career in network administration, database management, wireless management or virtualization, the IT world is one where jobs are growing.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with a group of IT professionals at the Association of Information Technology Professionals meeting in Denver, CO on Sept. 19, 2013. A key topic of discussion was the benefit of earning an associate degree in IT and continuing on to earn valuable industry certifications.
Westwood College recently launched a new IT associate degree focused on the skills and core IT principles needed to be successful in the industry. The curriculum is focused on the networking aspects of IT and provides students with the skills needed to design, install, configure and maintain network and technology infrastructures. Students can earn their associate degree and be prepared to enter the workforce in as little as 17 months.
Certifications can enhance the value of your degree. Think of a certification as a stamp of approval on training and skills — one that can be very appealing to employers. Certification involves a formal testing process to make certain that an individual is qualified with specific knowledge or skills. Most employers prefer job candidates with industry-standard certifications, and some even require their employees to be certified*. The facts speak for themselves:
- Ninety-one percent of hiring managers consider certification as part of their hiring criteria. (Microsoft®, Microsoft Certification Program Satisfaction Study, April 2012)
- Eighty-six percent of hiring managers indicate IT certifications are a high or medium priority during the candidate evaluation process. (CompTIA®, Employer Perceptions of IT Training and Certification, January 2011)
- Eight in ten Human Resource executives verify certifications among job candidates. (CompTIA, Employer Perceptions of IT Training and Certification, January 2011)
- Sixty-four percent of IT hiring managers rate certifications as having extremely high or high value in validating the skills and expertise of job candidates. (CompTIA, Employer Perceptions of IT Training and Certification, January 2011)
- Certification, training, and experience are three of the top four most important characteristics when selecting a candidate for a cloud-related position. (IDC/Microsoft, Climate Change: Cloud’s Impact on IT Organizations and Staffing, November 2012)
When we designed this program, our first step was to speak with industry experts. We wanted to better understand what skills and training employers were looking for in their ideal employee. We incorporated their feedback into the curriculum so our program equips students with the right skills, making them highly competitive candidates once they enter the job market.
Westwood’s new IT program gives students the opportunity to specialize in one of five areas:
- Microsoft Systems Administration
- Cisco Network Security
- Cisco Network Wireless
- Cisco Network Voice
- Virtualization
We all know how quickly the newest information and technology can become obsolete – especially in IT fields – and the best way to be successful in your career is to start out with a leading edge among your peers. Through the hands-on, industry-standard training students receive while attending Westwood, they become a more effective and valuable professional in their industry.
To learn more about the new IT program at Westwood, visit tech.westwood.edu.
*Westwood prepares students for certification. Graduates wishing to attain certification must take and pass any applicable tests/exams.