April 2004 Newsletter

Welcome to April's Newsletter!

This month we are looking at how certification has a direct impact on your salary and ask the question which so many of you ask "Will I get a better job with MORE qualifications?"

Let's start with the Microsoft titles...

It is clear within the industry that if you hold a combination of titles, such as MCSE and MCSD or MCSD and MCDBA, you’re in rare company. 

The most highly compensated employees are those who hold the dual titles. Developer type certifications tend to be the best compensated. Being able to add “developer” to your CV will generally have a positive impact on what you can earn.

If you’re not interested in becoming a developer, obtaining any premium title above the basic title of MCP or MCSA will get you further in salary negotiations.

If you’re an MCSA, consider going after a database credential. Salaries increased last year by about 30% (an increase of about £15,000 - £20,000) for those who pursued a career in database management work.

Other Certifications:

The most popular certification after Microsoft is the A+ which increased its foothold to 51 percent last year.

This vendor-neutral certification is particularly popular among individuals holding the MCSA - 78% of all MCSA's said they possess the A+ too.

Another popular certification is the CCNA held by 33% of all respondents to our survey. This certification is especially popular with MCSE's and MCDBA's with 44% of both groups holding the CCNA certification as well.

Web Design is also a booming area where qualified  individuals earn well above average salaries. Most students who complete their Master CIW Designer certification tend to go it alone to become self employed, with over 60% usually working from home.

Certified employees who specialise are also better compensated than those without specialist skills and qualifications. Currently data warehousing knowledge is one of the most in-demand skills areas. This is closely followed by software design.

Women in IT:

Women generally earn about 10% less than their male counterparts in IT. Paradoxically, this is actually good news - as over the past few years this disparity has continued to drop. 

The gender/income gap is getting smaller every year and there are actually three certifications in which women are earning more money than men - the MCSE, the NT MCP and the MCSA.

Does Certification increase the chance of a job?

One of the interesting factors we found is that students who were seeking a career change into IT were more likely to get their first IT position prior to completing their Career Development Programme with ITlearneasy. 

Students already in the IT industry were more likely to have a salary increase on completion of each stage of their training as their certification added to their current skills and knowledge.

Do employers recognise Distance Learning?

It is clear that employers recognise that individuals who choose to study using distance learning methods tend to be more motivated than other students as they have not only found the monetary resources to fund their training, but also juggle home and work life with their studies.

Final thoughts:

The IT industry continues to expand as technology advances. Those already in the IT industry need to keep abreast of the changes - or specialise.

Those students looking to break into IT need to prepare thoroughly. There are no quick fixes to achieving a successful career - no matter what some training organisations may tell you!

To become recognised as an IT Professional you need to progress through different levels (treat your training like an apprenticeship) to attain the advanced Certification. You cannot jump in at the deep end and you cannot take shortcuts.

The final factors to consider when looking to study are what suits YOU best. What areas interest you and where you see yourself  in 1 year, 2 years or 5 years.

Individuals who go on to gain the higher-level Certifications such as MCSE and MCSD with the complimentary prerequisite Certifications usually go on to serve in supervisory or management roles - earning  higher salaries than those who stay content with an entry-level MCP credential. Those who go on from there to specialise continue to increase their income exponentially.

In the IT industry, it's called "cross-training." In simple terms, the more Certifications you have, the more in-demand you will be and the more money you will earn!

Free career brochure:

If you wish to have more information regarding career paths and titles we have put together a brochure on PDF format entitled "What IT Career?" Click here to request a copy and we will email it to you.

ITlearneasy Career Development Programme	Related Job Title and Average Salary
Computer Technician	PC Help Desk Support £19,239 PC Support £19,343
IT Professional Technician	PC Support Analyst £23,527 Senior PC Support £25,387 Senior PC Support Analyst £30,673 Office Systems/PC  Manager £36,413 Technical Pre-post Sales Support £44,719
The Complete CIW Web Master Designer	Web Author £25,838 Web Designer £29,416
The Complete CIW Web Master Administrator	Web Administrator £31,248
Network Expert Network Administrator	Network Support Engineer £23,850
IT Professional Technician Network Professional Network Specialist	Senior Network Support Engineer £30,510 Systems Administrator £32,546 Senior Systems Administrator £44,244
Network Professional PLUS	Senior Network Engineer £42,642 Operations Manager £42,960 Communications Manager £45,748 Systems Development Manager £51,093
Professional Programming Visual Basic 6.0 Professional Programming Java 2	Programmer £25,883 Software Engineer £31,568 System Programmer £34,453 Senior Programmer £35,037 Senior Software Engineer £39,383 Software/Programming Manager £53,386
DataMaster .Net Master	Database Administrator £36,029 Senior Database Administrator £54,550
The IT Success Passport	Senior Network Engineer £42,642 Operations Manager £42,960 Senior Systems Administrator £44,244 Technical Pre-post Sales Support £44,719 Communications Manager £45,748 Systems Development Manager £51,093 Software/Programming Manager £53,386 Senior Database Administrator £54,550
Source: Computer Weekly Survey of Appointments Data & Trends March2004

At ITlearneasy our recommendation is always to develop your skills and knowledge gradually. 

If you want to reach a higher level you have to proceed through each stage to get to that level

Jumping in at the deep end to get a MCSE, for example, without any previous IT experience or qualifications could be disastrous. Ask yourself this – if you do not know how to repair and look after one PC, how will you be able to set up a multi million pound network? That’s why we recommend the A+ or Network+ prior to stepping up to the higher level. Training for a new career in IT is NOT rocket science. It is just about learning each subject, thoroughly - and in the right order!  It just makes sense!

If you want further advice about careers in IT contact our professional Course Advisors now.

You will receive unbiased, real advice about jobs and careers in IT and we will tell you how to achieve your training without braking the bank. Or, if we feel that ITlearneasy cannot help you reach your goal, we'll point you in the right direction.

Either way, you'll know what to do next!

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Copyright © 2005 Digitech Training Limited trading as ITlearneasy. No part of this document shall be reproduced in any way without the express written consent of the Managing Director of Digitech Training Limited. The information therein is for the personal use of the individual and may not without express permission be incorporated in commercial programs of any type, including web sites, books, guides, databases, or any kind of software or electronic transmission.

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