subject: Take the Initiative with IT Certification [print this page] I was in a park the other day when I saw a boy having a baseball catch with his dad. However, what seemed to be an innocent father-son bonding experience quickly turned into a yelling match. And, like a bad car accident, I couldn't help but watch as the mayhem ensued. The dad, a burly 50-pound-overweight guy, insisted his son grip the ball a certain way. The son disagreed, to say the least. After a few frustrated tosses, the son started screaming because "he knew how to throw better than his dad." After all, his team had "just won the summer slam." I originally laughed this off because, having served as a baseball camp counselor throughout high school, I felt the dad's pain.
However, now, after retiring from the diamond and moving into the office, I've noticed things haven't exactly changed. I wonder if it's just human nature to think you can do a better job than an elder or superior. I've noticed this with sports, with odd jobs, and with corporate positions. It seems as if people have a natural inclination to think they're more capable of getting a job done. But then how do those holding the more powerful positions get to that point?
After some contemplation, I realized the answer is quite simple. Those people show, or have shown, initiative. But, before I get ahead of myself, I know "initiative" can be a rather ambiguous term. So, let's ground this idea.
Recently, I've had a number of friends enter the IT field. And, apparently in the IT field, everyone is judged on their competence level which, I suppose, makes sense. If a salesman flubs a pitch to a client, it doesn't mean he won't be able to land an even bigger client next time. But, if an IT professional doesn't know how to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size enterprise level router and switched networks, well, then they just don't. The thing with IT professionals, though, is that they're in high demand, but it can be difficult to sift through all the untapped talent.
Adding a new member to your sales team with a MBA from The Wharton School is a no-brainer; you know their credentials. But, the IT world runs a little differently. You don't necessarily need a degree from a prestigious college in order to get the job done. But, with a saturated job market, how do you prove that you actually can do the job better than others. Well, the answer is IT certification.
IT certification is a source of a lot of debate. Some people feel that it's a worthless piece of paper. However, this leads back to initiative. By enrolling in IT certification training and obtaining a CCNA certifications, you show initiative. What does it hurt to get the certification? Now, at the very least, you have a piece of paper that shows potential employers that you care. It makes sense that someone who has put in the effort might climb up the corporate ladder a bit quicker than someone who hasn't, right? And, yes, it's really that simple for all things. Those that assert themselves and put themselves in the best possible position are those that are going to excel. I'm not going to knock raw intelligence and talent, but sometimes you have to take the initiative for people to notice it.
