Certifications for Application Support Role

[sandybeach]

I know that with any role experience is the key to progressing into a new role so i do have some limited experience in this field as part of my current and previous roles.

What i would like to know from everyone's experience is what certification(s) should i take next to increase my knowledge and make me more employable and get this role.

I currently have:

BA Honours Degree - Business and Computing (2/2)

Certifications:

MCSA - Server 2012
ITIL - Foundation
Prince 2 - Foundation
Prince 2 - Practitioner


I have been considering the following two:

MCSA - Office 365
Citrix Certified Associate - Virtualization



What does everything, should i look at adding another Cert to what i have and if so what do you think would be most valuable or do you have another suggestion apart from these two above ?

[stek]

MCSE - Minesweeper Consultant and Solitaire Expert....

[northernladuk]

Why are you posting on a contractor forum if you want advice on being employable? A majority of us do our utmost to try avoid that situation!

[SueEllen]

Why are you posting on a contractor forum if you want advice on being employable? A majority of us do our utmost to try avoid that situation!

Harsh.

Personally I would say apply for another permanent job saying how quick you learn things.

[northernladuk]

Harsh.

Personally I would say apply for another permanent job saying how quick you learn things.

It was????

[psychocandy]

On a serious note, theres always disagreement about whether things like certifications are worth bothering. Yes, they're good to have (like MCSE etc) and I you do see some contract posts listed as must have etc.

BUT, I must admit I do wonder if they are actually worth the time, money, hassle for a contractor.

And, of course, a LOT of companies now won't let you do the certification exam unless you shell out for the course first. Oracle, VMware etc all do this.

So in my mind, as a contractor, theres no way its worth me taking a week out of the office, £2000 on the course, then £200-300 on the exam.

[diseasex]

depends what roles in your field require maybe?

[MicrosoftBob]

Have you asked our certifications specialist Bob Shawadiwadi ?

[WTFH]

What applications were you hoping to support?


To be honest, knowledge and experience are more important than certificates (in most of IT).


Somewhere in the attic I have my Microsoft Office 97 Gold Cert - I think that was the last thing I did as a permie, while working for a company who were contracting me out.

[diseasex]

certs are fine. I like to say on interview when asked how well i know databases : "well, I've got 2 certs with SQL server including PRO for starters"

That said, only you know what certs you want because that depends what jobs you want to pick in the future and only you can answer this question
HTH