When it comes to landing a job, grades are not everything. Aside from head knowledge, employers also look for a combination of hard and soft skills that applicants have honed throughout the years. Industries like Information Technology (IT) have a diverse set of job roles, so graduates who are versatile and well-rounded stand a better chance of getting hired.
One fundamental skill that employers look for is the remarkable ability to code. IT professionals who write code and fully understand its process do well in software or web development, and programming jobs. Code fluency in multiple languages like Python, C++, JavaScript, Ruby, PowerShell, and HTML is an asset since most systems run on multiple languages. It will also be easier to switch programming languages to address different problems. IT professionals who are well-versed in coding can work as programmers, web developers, or quality assurance specialists.
Security is another skill that can make aspiring IT professionals stand out. With the rise in cyber threats, malicious attacks, and data breaches, companies are in need of competent staff who can help protect and defend their assets. On the flip side, there are also ethical cyber hacking companies that need specialists who can help test their clients’ network and systems integrity. Good knowledge of physical, software, and network security, data encryption, firewalls and routers, cyber threat analysis and risk mitigation, and data privacy regulations can help candidates thrive in security, technical support, networking, and systems administration.
Companies, whether big or small, rely heavily on their computer systems and networks to make their operations run smoothly. This why IT departments are always keen on hiring people with an aptitude for systems, networking, various operating systems like Windows, Linux, or Mac, cloud administration, maintaining local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), storage area networks (SAN), and virtual private networks (VPNs), hardware and software installation, and configurations and troubleshooting.
Employers keep an eye out for project management capabilities. IT specialists usually handle simultaneous projects, so it’s important that they can plan, organize, and achieve the set project goals. This means that prospective IT project managers should effectively maximize the skills, tools, time, and manpower they have on hand to achieve their company’s or client’s desired results. If you’re aiming for a leadership position in IT or technology, project management should also be your priority.
Another in-demand skill set that has emerged because of the pandemic is cloud computing. Professionals who can build, maintain, and implement cloud technology and are familiar with platforms like Google Cloud, Oracle, Microsoft Azure, or AWS are a huge plus for hiring managers.
Having the right certifications on your resume can greatly increase your chance of getting a plum role or additional career benefits. An IT certification not only proves your competency in a specific field but also proves that your skills are at par with industry standards. Although getting certified may be a bit challenging since it requires passing an exam or two, it also paves the way to a higher income or fast career advancement. Some of these entry-level IT certifications include CompTIA A+ certification, Microsoft Fundamentals, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Google Cloud Digital Leader, CompTIA Security+, and CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+), and CompTIA Network+. At Mapúa, students are encouraged to take related certifications after completing their specialization track. Its School of Information Technology (SOIT) offers the following certifications: Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP), CompTIA Security+, SAS-Based Programming, Huawei Storage, Huawei AI, EC Council CEH, Oracle Associate, and SAP.
On top of professional certifications, companies especially those based overseas or have international principals prefer IT graduates from ABET-accredited schools like Mapúa University. ABET is a United States-based organization that ensures college and university programs meet international quality standards and produce graduates prepared to enter the global workforce. Mapúa SOIT’s Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology are ABET accredited.
Know more about Mapúa University by visiting https://www.mapua.edu.ph/.