It is an adage as old as time: You can’t judge a book by its cover. In the IT ecosystem, though, companies often do size up someone’s skills based on the acronyms in their email signature.
No letters behind a name could fully encapsulate an IT professional’s expertise, but the certifications they stand for convey a great deal. On a recent CMTY Podcast episode, VMware Senior Certification Manager Karl Childs unpacked the value of certifications in a blink-and-you’re-already-behind world, as well as how to pursue affordable, career-advancing IT training regardless of your current job title.
Education by trade, technology by passion
Karl’s career in the IT education space has been driven by a desire to equip both individuals seeking new skills and businesses pursuing solutions for growth. “I consider education my trade,” he said, “and manage technical certifications that really support our industry.”
He is not alone in this pursuit: Karl’s certification team at VMware is passionate about providing opportunities for certified professionals to grow. He explained, “That is why we do what we do, and we talk about it often. This education empowers individuals to move their careers forward, enabling their organizations to succeed by that same skill set.”
Whatever your goals are, VMware’s certifications, such as the VMware Certified Professional, Cloud Operations 2023, VMware Certified Professional, VMware Cloud 2023, VMware Certified Professional, Data Center Virtualization 2023, and VMware Certified Professional, Cloud Management and Automation 2023, offer opportunities to remain ahead of the curve in a wildly dynamic field.“We look at skill gaps and needed next steps to learn additional skills in, for instance, a broader multi cloud approach,” Karl said.
Rather than just a series of videos or instruction portals, Karl said the certification content “builds a path that shows the way for admins, architects, and professionals to learn new skills” and add value in their companies.
Why certify
CIOs face the same dilemma as every other member of the tech community: finding ways to upskill their IT team and implement the architecture needed to drive growth. When new technology is involved, that can be an insurmountable challenge without knowledgeable team members to help.
“A year ago, we introduced our VCP-VMC certification specific to Amazon Web Services and other major public clouds,” Karl said. “It was a step to fill in the skills gap, letting professionals gain skills and prove them with certifications, then support and implement those abilities for a right business outcome.”
In other words, certifications are a win for individuals and organizations alike.
Instructor-Led Training: A sandbox environment with a built-in expert
Professionals of all levels are subject to questions, confusion, and bumps in the road when it comes to new technology. For those who want extra assistance in mastering the latest skills, instructor-led training is the ideal solution. Instructor-led training provides professionals with the help they need to navigate new technology.
It allows for personalized attention that can help them understand the concepts and tools quicker than they could on their own.
“We remove some of the overwhelm,” Karl said. “Instructors have in-depth expertise not only on our projects but also as cloud-agnostic service providers. Certification reduces complexity and provides exposure to new technology in a safe environment, decreasing risk for your organization.”
Consider it a guardrail for your company and a catalyst driver for your career.
Determined to remove roadblocks to education post-pandemic, Karl emphasized the value of experienced voices and collaborative instruction in an isolating, remote-work world. Taking a course with an instructor adds nuance, offers best practices, and allows professionals to dip their toes into cloud-native services without fear.
“It’s a learning sandbox environment that comes with your own expert,” he said.
Accessible training that provides success
“VMware partners with many different cloud providers and hyperscalers,” Karl said. “It is all taken into consideration as we develop training.”
VMware’s training approach goes beyond the classroom. When developing training courses and exams, we incorporate insights from across the industry to deliver actionable content that meets the needs of cloud-based customers. We also provide hands-on experience with the latest technologies, giving our customers the confidence to deploy and manage their cloud solutions with ease. Our courses cover the basics, as well as advanced topics so that customers can stay up to date with the latest trends and best practices.
Get the most out of your career
Globally, VMware Learning provides IT professionals with skills employers are looking for and knowledge they can use to achieve their goals. We are dedicated to making you successful, keeping you engaged, and helping organizations with multi-cloud adoption.
A certification in IT is an excellent way to advance your career and enhance your prospects. As a result, you’ll be able to earn higher-paying positions with more responsibilities, increase your job security, and give yourself an edge over your competitors. You’ve never had a better chance to advance your IT career.
Ready to add a few letters to your own email signature? Visit VMware’s new certification VCP VMC blog page, sign up for theLearning Path, and explore the certification page to learn more.
