Tips to Effectively Prepare for IT Certifications

IT certifications are a relatively fast and inexpensive way to add industry-recognized credentials to your resume. They don't convey the same weight as a four-year university degree, but neither do they take four years of your time (plus college expenses). Likewise they don't substitute for years of industry job experience. However, they can help get you into an IT position, and again... obtaining a certification doesn't take years.

IT certifications are available from dozens of different companies in hundreds of tracks. Which one is right for you isn't something that an article on certification can assist with. However, once you have made the decision of what to pursue, you have to decide on the best method for gaining sufficient knowledge to pass the test. Most industry certifications will have books and other study materials created by third parties available. When you are looking for a study method, the problem is generally less a matter of finding one, than it is selecting one or two from the multitude of available options. As a general rule, the somewhat tired saying "Faster-Better-Cheaper, Pick any Two" holds true with certification study methods. The most effective methods tend to be time-consuming or expensive, and the least effective tend to be faster, cheaper, or both.

The definitions of 'fast' and 'cheap' vary depending on the test and on the perception of individual candidates. I've taken numerous tests from multiple vendors. As a rule of thumb, I think that six to eight weeks is a reasonable average study time for tests. Any study method that allows you to shorten that timeframe is 'faster'. In determining whether the cost of study materials is reasonable, I tend to measure their price against the cost to take the test. After all -- if you fail the test, then you won't appreciate having saved a few dollars by skimping on what you purchased to study for it. Exam costs vary widely, but a significant number are in the vicinity of $200. Spending between a quarter to a half of the exam cost on materials is what I consider reasonable. Of the three, 'Better' is the by far the hardest to rate. Not everyone learns the same way, so a method that is effective for one person may not work well at all with another. You need to be aware of how you absorb information most effectively and then pick a study method that fits your style of learning. Learning styles are often broken out into categories, the below three are commonly used:

Visual Learner: People who are visual learners respond well to information displayed visually. This might include pictures, graphs, interactive software, or PowerPoint presentations.
Verbal Learner: Verbal Learners absorb information through written or spoken words. They may learn subjects well through reading material or through listening to someone else present the material in a classroom setting.
Physical Learner: Physical learners prefer to learn by physically performing the skill being taught. Alternately, they may just need to perform a physical activity, like taking notes, in order to effectively absorb new information.
Most study methods can work for more than one learning style. For example, an instructor-led course might have written and spoken information for the verbal learner; on-screen bullet-points, images and demos for the visual learner; and in-class exercises for the physical learner. When deciding on a method of study, you have to determine if the means by which the information is being presented has elements that will work for you.

Once you have decided on a study method and obtained the materials you'll use, you should create a study plan. Following a plan will help keep you on track and reduce the feeling that you aren't making progress. I've studied for many certification tests, and every time, there are a couple of things that always happen. First, in the middle of my study program, I get bored and consider cutting short the time I had allowed for studying. Then on the day I take the test, after a couple of questions pop up where I'm not sure of the answer, I wish I had studied for a few more days. You should always keep in mind that the real goal is to learn the material, not to pass a test. Focusing too much on the test tends to produce a 'good enough' mentality. You'll tend to stop when you feel that you know 'enough to pass'. If the goal you have set is learning the material, you're liable to get more out of the process and be more likely to pass the test.

Always try to find more that one source of material to study from. My personal preference is to have one dedicated certification book, one software package such as a self-test or a computer based training course, and a third source such as a study guide. If I can't find those, a third-party book that covers the material being tested without being specifically targeted towards the test is useful. The documentation for the product the exam targets is also always a good option.

Don't rush into scheduling the test. Make a study plan that includes a timeline and stick to it. There's seldom a time crunch on obtaining a certification. Normally I'll read through all of my sources at least twice. For certification books, I'll generally read through carefully one time, and then rapidly scan through the book a second time. Often on the second run I'll catch something I missed on the first read. I really like study guides that contain information in a very condensed format. They tend to be short enough that I can read through them several times to reinforce the material.

Whatever certification you pursue and whatever method you use to study for it, bear in mind that the valuable part of IT certifications is not the little logo that you can download and put on your business card. It's also not the line that you can add to your resume or the certificate that will get locked in a drawer somewhere. The value of a certification is the knowledge that it represents. If you spend time, money, and personal effort obtaining a certification without learning the knowledge it represents, what you have in the end is just an empty container.

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