According to Larry Dignan, Editorial Director of TechRepublic, in his recent ZDNet blog, IT certifications will be more relevant than ever due to the unstable economy, unsettled workforce, and new technology and platforms. He lists 10 reasons why:

#1: Job retention: When organizations are faced with the difficult decision of workforce reductions, they will want to retain those who are the most skillful and knowledgeable. Though not a guarantee, those with certifications will have more of an insurance policy.

#2: Salary maintenance: It is becoming commonplace, especially in government organizations, to see employees being asked to take a pay cut. The certification will not protect you from a reduction in compensation, but those that hold IT certifications, “including A+, Security+, Microsoft credentials, and other accreditations,” typically can pull in higher salaries so when a pay cut is implemented, these professionals will still be earning more then their non-certified counterparts.

#3: Hiring and promotion eligibility: Believe it or not, some organizations are actually hiring and promoting employees. Those with certifications have a competitive edge over others that are going for the same position. Not only do the certifications on a resume get a hiring manager’s attention, in many cases, they are becoming a requirement for the job.

#4: Career improvement: Many positions have a ceiling in which there are no more growth opportunities within that particular job function. The only option for career advancement for some employees is to re-tool their skill base. IT certifications become the trigger for opening the door to these new growth opportunities.

#5: New-generation certifications increase relevance: “Certifications are receiving a boost from considerable reworking. Many organizations, including CompTIA and Cisco, are revamping and redesigning exams and instructional initiatives. And Microsoft really stands out due to the variety and impact of changes made to its training and certification program.”

#6: Organizations will become more discriminating: Organizations are scrutinizing their expenses more than before and will be ensuring that the firms they outsource to are the most skilled, knowledgeable, and competent. Consultants with IT certifications are better able to demonstrate that expertise to clients.

#7: New products will gain momentum: Those individuals with current IT certifications will be able to better position themselves by demonstrating knowledge and expertise with new technology and platforms as organizations begin the transition to replace older and outdated equipment.

#8: Organizations must minimize downtime: With reductions in staff, production-down issues are more critical. Those remaining employees must have the appropriate training and instruction to get the business up and running again quickly. Those who have IT certification demonstrate the skills necessary to do so.

#9: Organizations need to reduce costs: When reducing operating expenses, organizations know that IT certification efforts help maximize ROI. “A Kotler Marketing Group study published by CompTIA revealed certifications enabled organizations to reduce expenses, identify knowledge gaps, and improve productivity. In addition, certifications proved helpful in improving uptime and reducing turnover.”

#10: Confidence proves handy during turbulent times: According to the same Kotler Marketing Group study, 75 percent said they felt their CompTIA certifications made them more attractive to the current employer and more in demand with prospective ones.

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Check out the video below and to the right to better understand the importance of certification at La Salle College High School!