Are CompTIA certifications still a viable way to get back into IT? I left the workforce at the start of 2020 to be a stay at home and I’m wanting to get recertified so I have options if I want to reenter the workforce.
Thoughts?
Depends on the role and company you’re applying for but I’d say if you’re going for something entry level or if you have no experience they help.
I know some helpdesk places near me require A+, NET+, and SEC+ at hire or within the first 6 months. Whereas I’m a small business IT manager and I look at those certs as bonuses for entry or mid level positions. I’m way more interested in your work experience than how many certs you have.
So, they’re a good baseline from a generalist perspective. If you’re going for entry level helpdesk, it proves you have a base level of technical ability.
The A+/Net+/Sec+ trifecta is a good starting point and give you a strong fundamental knowledge base to pursue other vendor specific certifications.
Past that it is very dependent on what you’d like to do, there are a lot of Niches to fill. Interested in networking? Go for Cisco certs, you might not even encounter a lot of Cisco gear because it’s starting to fade, but the certs look good on a resume.
Though at the end of the day, experience and references are key. I personally have a reference list included in my resume going all the way back to my first IT job.
A degree helps but isn’t necessary.
