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Have you ever felt like you aren't advancing as rapidly in the I.T. field as you would like to be? Have you ever watched someone get a promotion that you felt that you were much more qualified for? Are you new to the I.T. industry or thinking about getting into it? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then this article is for you.

There are many misconceptions running amuck regarding the requirements to get into and be successful in the I.T. industry that we need to dismantle immediately. The following are myths:

A certification is required to get a job in the I.T. industry.
Certifications are my ticket to success.
Knowledge and experience alone define what one is worth in the marketplace.

These are very common beliefs particularly among those that are new to the computer field. We see these themes reflected in message forums, in our email box and on many computer/certification websites. See if you can identify the problems with each of these statements. And now, let's dispel the myths.

1) A certification is required to get a job in the I.T. industry.
There are very few positions that actually require a certification in order to get hired(even if they say so). Often you will see "MCSE or equivalent experience required" or "MCSE Preferred". This doesn't mean that if you DON'T have an MCSE you can't get the position. It also doesn't mean that if you DO have an MCSE, you will get it. It means that the employer wants someone that knows what they are doing. Nothing more, nothing less.

2) Certifications are my ticket to success.
This is the most common and scariest attitude that we see. Certifications are pieces of paper that tell others that you passed a few tests. And honestly, nearly anyone can pass these tests nowadays. It just isn't that difficult now that all of the exact exam questions are posted all over the web. It is just a matter of memorization if you choose to go that route(and we hope that you don't). You must realize that many employers are already aware of this fact. In reality, a certification is a nice supplement to an already existing skill set. When we use the term "skill set" we aren't necessarily referring to technical knowledge - there are many other qualities that you can bring to the table that can make you valuable(This will be discussed later). The point is, if ALL you have is a certification, then you are worth what it cost to print the piece of paper.

3) Knowledge and experience alone define what one is worth in the marketplace.
The problem with this one is similar to #2. If all that you can offer is a bank of knowledge, then you are worth the cost of the books that contain the knowledge that you have. These 2 qualities are very important, but they are not the total package. Be the total package - it is how you get ahead.

Now we get to the good stuff. What is it that employers are looking for? What qualities make a successful I.T. Professional? listed below are our favorite attributes in an IT person.

Peopleskills/Customer Service skills - We have already written an entire article on this subject that can be read here
Resourcefulness - We cannot stress enough the importance of this one. We are always amazed by how many visitors to our site email us with questions that are clearly answered(sometimes in several places) on our website. This is definitely not to say that it is wrong to ask people questions, but it can get to a point of laziness. Do the research and you will find that you learn more that way. Keep in mind that it is perfectly fine to not know the answer to the question. What makes you valuable as an employee in the I.T. field is the ability to find the answers. Nobody expects you to know everything - Nobody knows everything!
Willingness to learn - like we have said, it is O.K. to not know the answer, but you absolutely must be willing to learn it and love learning it. This is the problem with braindumps. For many, they are a shortcut around the learning process and create a memorization process. There is a big difference.
Company Focus - Many view themselves as someone that is being paid to fix things. Try viewing yourself as someone that is there to make/save your company money. Find out exactly what makes your company tick. What are their goals and how do they plan to get there? How can you use technology to work for them, help them run more efficiently and create more revenue? Nothing in the world makes an employee look better than when they improve a company's bottom line.
Patience - This is the most difficult one of them all. Most of us that work in this industry find ourselves working with a variety people that can tend to get under our skin such as an angry user, another I.T. professional that really doesn't deserve their job, a know-it-all salesperson, etc. As hard as it may be, have patience with them whether they deserve it or not. Always remember that you were once a beginner too and feel good knowing that you deserve your job.
Knowledge and Experience - As we mentioned before, these things are important, however, if this is all that you can offer you may find yourself stuck in a rut. Those that are new to this field can tend to get caught up in the figures listed in salary surveys. While these are a good benchmark and a useful tool, it doesn't mean that you will necessarily make that much. It depends on many different factors.

Notice that we did not include certifications in this list. Certifications do not make you a good employee, although they can increase your worth. They can be good for getting your foot in the door, a resume builder, meeting company and/or customer requirements, proving initiative and discipline to yourself and your company. However, it is the qualities listed above that will make you a good I.T. professional. Please be one of the good ones - We may have to work with you someday :}