Ask LH: How Should I Train For My Next IT Pro Role?

Dear Lifehacker, I’m currently coming to the end of an 18 month contract working in a L1 helpdesk role, and I’ve been looking into industry certifications such as Cisco and VMWare certs. I’m unsure what’s the best route to take for training (classroom? self-help?) and whether I need to sit exams. Any suggestions? Thanks, Wants To Get Certified

Dear WTGC,

We’d definitely love to hear from readers who have been there on this one, but we’ll offer three thoughts here first:

  • No matter which certification route you choose — an intensive course, an evening class, self-study — you’ll be facing an exam at the end of it. That’s just the way it goes.
  • If you’re studying in an area that’s largely new to you, we’d recommend a face-to-face course — if there are elements you struggle with, it’s much easier to overcome them. If you’re looking to extend existing knowledge, then self-study could be more appropriate. But if you do that, set formal time aside in your calendar on a regular basis.
  • If you’re looking to advance your career immediately, an intensive course makes more sense than spreading out your study. You can concentrate on the task at hand, and you can potentially sit the certification exam immediately afterwards when the knowledge is still fresh.

Ultimately, practical issues — your current working hours, course availability — will play a major role in the option you choose. But consider those factors when planning. Readers, what would you advise?

Cheers
Lifehacker

Got your own question you want to put to Lifehacker? Send it using our [contact text=”contact form”].
au, ask lh, ask lifehacker, training, certification


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

Here are the cheapest plans available for Australia’s most popular NBN speed tier.

At Lifehacker, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

Comments


One response to “Ask LH: How Should I Train For My Next IT Pro Role?”