I consider it a big blessing to have landed a job in the information technology (I.T.) industry. I didn’t plan to get myself into it but work opportunities came for me to be trained and be involved in different projects.

This industry is so dynamic that one should continuously learn new trends or version releases in order to keep up with the market’s growing demands. This is the reason why I.T. training has become a lucrative industry in itself. Aiming to shift to I.T. or to simply upgrade skills or knowledge is now within arms reach. I believe that it is worthwhile to invest in training though in order to be effective, training must be coupled with actual project experience.

Since I.T. is very broad, as it covers hardware, software systems to name a few, training offered these days are countless and extensive. There are many companies these days that offer specific or tailored course outline suited for an individual or group trainees. At the tail end of each course, certification is an option for the trainee to take.

In Singapore, many of the IT guys I have met went through Cisco certification and have enjoyed a well-deserved pay rise thereafter. The same goes for other IT certification as well.

Years ago, there was a big demand for certified SAP (an ERP software) consultants. It is so expensive even to this day that companies offer this type of training with a corresponding bond. This bond keeps the employee tied to the company for certain number of years. I guess this is a good form of investment for both parties.

These days, many companies prefer work/project experience but training certificates can always add a little “umph” in your credentials.