What to Do After Becoming Certified?

What to Do After Becoming Certified?

Congratulations on your certification! Maybe you have survived a painful week at boot camp, endured 50 hours of studying with a computer based training program, or a semester of painstaking home work through a distance learning course; whatever the feat, its time to move forward with your certification in hand. So what do you do now?

Update your resume. This is a true accomplishment, and you want employers to be aware of your hard work. Becoming certified can pass a few messages to potential employers. First it shows your dedication to finishing what you started. What employer is not going to be happy about a strong sense of responsibility and dedication? Second it demonstrates proficiency in a specialized area. Your certification serves as extensive training, setting you apart from those who havent taken the time to seek those skills. Your resume could be your one shot and capturing a managers attention for a potential job; so if you only have one shot you better make it a good one.

Express your value. For those who are already professionals in the IT industry, isnt it time you deserve a raise? Additional training means you are more valuable to your employer, and you should be compensated accordingly. Salary.com offers a helpful Salary Wizard which allows you to search for your job title in specific regions to find out how much you are worth. Using this tool can provide information to whether you are being taken care of, or if you deserve to be in a higher range. In my opinion, becoming certified has two parts; first is gain additional training and specialized skills, second is to earn more money; so why not go after that?

Know where to look. If you are new to the job market, or possibly ready for a new adventure you need to know where to find those opportunities. Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com are excellent tools which can be utilized to your benefit. Place your resume on these sites and allow potential employers to see your skills. Search for positions which meet your abilities, and send your resume. These sites are designed to network skilled professionals with those who need their assistance. Opportunities are available; you just have to find them.

Continue Learning. Like any other job field, there are endless amounts of knowledge which can be acquired. The IT industry is constantly changing, so it provides the need for continued education. When I say continue learning, it doesnt necessarily mean go after more certifications; however it does imply more training, how you decide to move forward with this that is up to you. For years we have all heard the famous phrase, knowledge is power; which proves to be true as an IT professional.

Enjoy Your Accomplishment. Again, congratulations on your success. Be sure to take the time to enjoy your accomplishment. Becoming certified requires a lot of hard work and you should enjoy your success. Hard work becomes fun when you take the time to look back at what you have done, realizing that you have completed something which you may not have thought possible. Be confident because you have earned it.