Although it cannot be taken as an absolute theory, it is very common to find three types of IT professionals:
- Those who have an aptitude for using computers, but confuse the user profile with the technical profile;
- Those who have some specific knowledge, such as an engineer or a mathematician, and who end up getting involved in the IT area during projects that require software development for problem solving;
- And finally, those who truly wish to become professionals in this area, specializing in creating solutions based on available tools and technologies, or in some cases even innovating technologies.
Before continuing with the subject, I would like to highlight the difference, where at the beginning of the text the term “IT workers” is used, and in the third type, “professionals” and “specialized” are used. This qualification, although somewhat overlooked in many cases, brings effective results for both employees and employers.
Note that any of the three profiles mentioned above can become a specialized professional.
IT Professionals: Knowledge vs Experience
IT solutions have become increasingly voluminous, complex, and specific regarding the workforce required to produce them, where in some cases it becomes unfeasible to wait for the time necessary to acquire knowledge, and afterwards still the time necessary to acquire experience.
This is where the debate arises as to which of these two factors is most respected in the IT market: proof of knowledge or proof of experience? And the argument that has been practiced in some cases, that certifications do not guarantee the formation of a professional, has some truth to it when one reaches the conclusion that knowledge without experience does not truly translate into the same result.
However, it is wrong to say that one is worth more than the other, since the greatest value lies in the sum of these two factors: knowledge combined with experience translates into trust, agility, quality, and maturity. As expected, this is a subject that could go on for pages and pages, so let’s move on to the final conclusion.
IT Certifications
Certifications certainly have their importance and make a difference in the IT market, having advantages for those who seek them for simple facts such as the following:
- They prove that, at the very least, the certified person has knowledge of the concepts necessary to work with such technology;
- They streamline the stage of acquiring this knowledge, as they direct studies in a way that ensures a quick and coherent understanding of the subjects;
- They allow the certified person to prove, in a simple and direct way, the investment made in themselves in order to specialize in what they do, providing a truly professional service;
- They allow the market to understand what a professional must offer to deliver a good service, through the disclosure of the content required during certification.
IT is in constant change, so anyone wishing to specialize in IT must also adapt to this fact, making use of available tools such as certifications to achieve knowledge in the necessary time and with the necessary quality, being able to focus their extra efforts on acquiring experience, thus becoming competitive naturally.
Specialize, invest in yourself, and become a valuable professional, keeping pace with the speed at which this market is moving.
