I've been working in IT for a decade and am currently a Senior IT Infrastructure Engineer. I'm looking to enhance my skills and certifications to stay competitive in my field. Right now, I hold several certifications including VMware and Microsoft Azure certifications, ITIL Foundation, Cisco CCNA, and CompTIA Security+. Given my background, I'm seeking your recommendations on what certifications or skill areas I should focus on next to further my career.
6 Answers
These days, many of my certs are driven by vendor requirements rather than personal development. I find that once you're established, the need for certifications becomes less pronounced. The last cert I pursued was CISSP, which is more of a standard for security roles than infrastructure.
I’m going for the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) and Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) from The Linux Foundation. Those seem like good picks for boosting your skills in this area.
It really depends on what technologies you're currently working with. If you have an interest in containers, diving into Kubernetes could be a solid choice. I've been focusing on Python and Kubernetes myself, and it's opened up a lot of new opportunities for me.
I'm curious about how valuable certifications really are once you've reached a senior level, though. I've been in the field for over 20 years without getting any new certs. Does all that experience outweigh new certifications? I feel like practical experience is what counts most in interviews.
I think practical experience far outweighs certifications once you're at a senior level. Unless you're working for a VAR or MSP, they probably aren’t as crucial as how well you present your experience in interviews.
Totally agree! I haven’t bothered with certs since I got established in my career. With over ten years in the field, they seem less necessary.
Check out Infrastructure as Code. It's becoming a big deal and adds a modern approach to managing infrastructure that employers are looking for.
If you're using Microsoft 365, consider pursuing the Identity and Access Administrator certification. It could really help you stand out, especially with identity management becoming increasingly important.
I can second that! Kubernetes has a lot of potential for future projects.