TrainACE - IT and Cybersecurity Training Blog

Candidates that have the CompTIA A+ entry-level certification typically have an easier time getting jobs than those who are not certified. This is true all over the country, not just in Maryland and the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Employers and IT recruiters often make it a point (sometimes a requirement) to seek out candidates who have the CompTIA A+ certification. This credential lets them know that you have the knowledge and skills they require for various IT positions. In the metro D.C area, there are various jobs that require candidates to have an A+ certification.

Washington, DC continues to deliver on startup tech potential — The Tech Tribune recently highlighted 20 technology companies to watch heading into 2020. Combined with increasing federal investment in IT solutions and the infrastructure needed to support these new deployments, there’s a growing market for IT professionals in the DC area.

According to Cyber Seek, there are currently 60,178 cybersecurity job openings across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV). To put that in perspective the three largest US states combined (Alaska, California, and Texas) have only 1,788 more cybersecurity job openings, so the DMV is where it's at … if you want a career in the cybersecurity industry.

Almost everyone has inevitably been affected by malware or phishing scams. In 2019 alone there have been at least 48 security breaches involving large companies such as Houzz, Coffee Meets Bagel, and Facebook. Compromised personal data continues to headline the news, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

What do digital transformation, rapid mobile adoption and increasing cloud uptake have in common? They’re driving substantial market growth for IT professionals. According to recent U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, IT will grow “faster than the average for all other occupations,” adding more than 500,000 jobs over the next five years.

If you’re considering careers in information technology, opportunity is knocking. The caveat? Figuring out your best fit.

Companies need IT expertise.  Recent data suggests that by 2020, more than three-quarters of organizations will “experience visible business disruptions due to skills gaps.” Just two years ago, only 25 percent of businesses said the skills gap was an issue.

The cyber skills gap is widening: Recent data suggests a shortfall of more than 3 million IT experts in the next three years. What does this mean for your business? Looking for new staff to meet expanding tech requirements may not be possible — instead, companies are better served bolstering current employee experience with the right mixture of on-site training and classroom-led learning.

3 Tips to Improve your IT Resume

Resumes often get a deep sigh and eye-roll because they can be tedious to create and even more daunting to update. This is especially true if you are transitioning into the IT industry or just starting out in tech and cybersecurity. Condensing your work experience, technical skills and certification credentials into a limited space while trying to represent yourself to the best of your ability can be overwhelming to say the least. However, TrainACE has you covered with 3 simple ways to help shape your IT resume and put you on job recruiters’ radar.

You made the decision to jump feet first into a new IT career. You heard all about the high salaries, the career growth opportunities, and the cool code and hardware you'll get to work with. But after that initial excitement, you sat down to plan out your job search strategy and you drew a blank. Where on earth do you start?

Career paths are not always as straightforward as they seem. There are going to be those people fortunate enough to find what they're looking for in their first job and build a career from that point. For many though, the process of learning and self-discovery takes much longer and sends them down paths they never anticipated or allows them to find passion through different means than they had pictured. This is very accurate in the mysterious world of information technology (IT).

Just because you graduated college as a history major doesn't mean you can't pursue a career in IT, right?  If you want career change, and IT looks attractive to you, follow this infographic for some direction! Then for more helpful tips on breaking into IT check out our Getting Started in IT guide

Professionals who are certified through the Cisco CCNA program are qualified for a number of jobs in the technology field. The exams required for this certification demand that each candidate demonstrate an ability to install, configure, and operate a variety of networks, making these qualified individuals flexible workers. Successful CCNA graduates are able to troubleshoot systems, operate under a number of different protocols, and demolish threats to a network’s security. This is a broad range of skills, and the Cisco CCNA certification provides each professional with a comprehensive understanding of networks. These skills allow CCNA certificate-holders to tackle a number of technology-related occupations.

A Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) is someone with considerable experience in information technology (IT) security fields who has also completed a rigorous exam to verify his or her qualifications. CISSP holders must also meet continuing education requirements to maintain their certification.