For IT professionals, getting a certification is in my opinion the number one thing you can do to “get ahead” in your career. This is especially the case early on when you don’t have a lot of experience. It’s a pretty good barometer for measuring your technical prowess. With that said, how do you prepare for a certification? In this blog post, I’ll outline a process that you can follow.
Step 1: Create/Review Career Goals
This may be one of the most underrated steps in my opinion. Everyone should have at least one career goal. That goal could be a specific job (Systems Administrator, Network Engineer, etc.) or even a broader career path (Enter the Cybersecurity field).
Goal setting is an entire topic in itself but here are some basic points. Make sure your career goals are clear, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Unclear goals will lead to unclear results.
Step 2: Research Certifications
Now that you have determined your career goals. You can start researching which certifications will help land you that dream job. Just doing a simple Google search for a list of recommended certifications is a great start.
Check job postings for positions you would like to apply for. See what employers are asking for from a certifications standpoint. You should start to see trends in your results that will give you an idea of what certifications recruiters and human resources are looking for. Some certifications are more well-known than others. Remember that your time is valuable! Don’t waste your time on a certification that are not relevant or interesting to you!
Do a deeper dive once you have a list of potential certification candidates. Understand who the certifications are targeted for and their level of difficulty. Is it Vendor Neutral or Vendor Specific? Pick the certification that is the best match for you at your current stage of development.
Step 3: Pick a Certification
Once you have determined the certification that you would like to pursue. What are the certification requirements? Like the number of exams? What study material or courses do they recommend? Some certifications require you to take a class or have a lab as part of their requirements. Does it require some documented job experience? Does it have a prerequisite? This is important and often missed. Do you have the foundational knowledge or experience to pursue that certification?
Make sure you read ALL the requirements very carefully so there aren’t any surprises. Typically the more advanced the certifications will have more requirements which is part of the reason why they are so difficult to achieve.
Step 4: Purchase Study Material
Everybody learns differently. For me, I prefer video-based training courses and in-person classes over just reading a textbook. Mainly because I’m a visual person. Video on-demand-based training is good for learning at your own pace but having an instructor can be useful because it allows you to ask questions.
The advantage of book-based training is it tends to go deeper. I typically use a textbook or study guide to supplement my learning to help maximize comprehension.
I would recommend getting at least 2 video courses. I know that can be tough for anyone on a budget but there are benefits in hearing two instructors teach a topic. Hearing another instructor explain a subject may give you some additional clarity.
I would recommend getting practice exams from a reputable source. Some courses or books provide them as part of their package.
Build a lab and get some hands-on experience. Depending on the certification this may be a requirement. You don’t really learn something unless you can apply it.
Step 4: Create a Study Plan
Now, it’s time to create a study plan. I start by doing some research
I usually calculate the total amount of hours I think it’s going to take to go through the material. Be sure to be realistic. Give yourself enough time to go over any areas that you may need additional time.
Do some additional searches on Google or YouTube to see how long it’s taken others to pass the exam.
Next, you need to determine how long it will take you to go complete the training material, practice exams, labs, etc.
Block out your calendar with study blocks. I would recommend making them daily vs weekly to keep the momentum going. It will help make sure you stay committed to the process.
Step 5: Schedule the Exam
From my personal experience, scheduling your exam in advance has helped prevent me from procrastinating. It gives you a clear deadline and always forces me to work a little harder when money is on the line.
You can reschedule the exam if needed but don’t use it as a crutch. Try to be realistic on your timeline and it shouldn’t be a problem unless something major comes up.
Step 6: Prepare for the Exam
Using high-quality practice exams is a great way to mimic the actual exam and get you into test-taking mode. Practice exams give you a barometer of how knowledgeable you are on the topic.
I would recommend you continue to take the practice exams until you consistently get a 90% or higher. Most good-quality practice exams will make the exam questions similar to the actual test and sometimes harder.
For any questions you fail, make sure to focus on those topics to address any weaknesses you have on the topic.
Step 7: Take the Exam
I typically give myself a day of rest before the actual exam. In my experience cramming the day before doesn’t work. I have done a lot better when I take the day off and focus on something enjoyable, fun, and relaxing.
The night before, I would make sure you have a nice healthy dinner and get plenty of sleep.
The next morning I would eat a healthy light breakfast and make sure you are well hydrated. Dehydration and sugar can cause you to be tired and lethargic. You want to give yourself every advantage possible.
Bonus:
If you struggle in following through with a goal like a certification, get an accountability partner. Preferably someone that isn’t a family member or friend. Mainly, because you want your accountability partner not to let you off the hook.
If you are struggling to pass a certification then get a mentor or find a study group to help you with your struggles. Someone with more experience than you can provide some additional insight that you may have not considered. They can also provide support and encouragement.
Conclusion:
Don’t fixate on planning and preparation. This goes for most things in life. The most important thing you can do when studying for certification is to make sure you are consistent and deliberate with your study time.
If you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt, don’t be too hard on yourself. Failing exams is part of life and it’s a learning experience. If it was easy, everyone would do it.
