Experience vs Certifications
Our second article from March 2023 follows our event whereby CIISF Chair Dave Cartwright and member Grant Mossman discussed Education, Training and Qualifications within the IT and Cyber Industry. Grant provides his insight on the classic debate of experience vs certifications.
Information Technology (IT) and Cyber Security have become essential to any business or organisation in today’s digital age. The need for skilled professionals in this field has also increased with the rise of cyber threats. Many people interested in pursuing a career in cyber security may wonder whether it is better to gain work experience or complete a certification. While certifications can be helpful, there are several benefits to giving someone a chance to gain work experience in either Information Technology or Cyber Security.
First and foremost, work experience provides a hands-on approach to learning. In IT, hands-on experience is essential. It enables individuals to gain practical skills that cannot be acquired through a certification program alone. Work experience allows individuals to work on real-world problems and scenarios, developing their analytical and problem-solving skills.
Secondly, work experience exposes different areas of the Information Technology industry. The Information Technology landscape is vast, and there are several areas that one can specialise in, such as network security, information security, and application security, to name a few. By gaining work experience, individuals can explore different areas of cyber security and determine where their interests lie.
Thirdly, work experience provides networking opportunities. Information Technology & Cybersecurity professionals often work in teams; collaborating and communicating effectively is critical. By working alongside other professionals, individuals can develop their networking skills and build relationships to help them in their future careers.
Additionally, work experience provides a competitive edge. Employers often value work experience over certifications because it demonstrates that an individual has practical skills and can apply their knowledge in real-world situations. Work experience can make a candidate stand out from others who have only completed a certification program. Employers often look for candidates who are passionate about their work and are committed to their field. By gaining work experience, individuals can demonstrate their passion and commitment, which can help them stand out to potential employers.
We often hear that there is a skills gap or there need to be more skilled people in the market. Well, of course, there aren’t. These skills, or any skills, are things you learn by doing, getting your hands dirty, and making and fixing mistakes. You are not born with these skills.
Work experience provides a hands-on approach to learning, exposure to different areas of Information Technology & Cyber Security, networking opportunities, a competitive edge, and a chance to demonstrate passion and commitment.
Every organisation wants its employees to be passionate and committed. Still, they often miss these people in the hiring process because they have set the JD requirements too high, where you must have 10 years of experience and an ‘x’ number of certifications behind you before they even consider you for a role. I would love to see more organisations putting JD’s together that only detail the position they are looking to fill and have the candidate requirements as follows: ‘Must be willing to learn something new!’ I think they would be surprised at how many really good talented people are out there.
