CompTIA and ITPro.TV hit the road to find out what IT pros are doing and how they got into IT. During stops in St. Louis, MO, and Greenfield, IN, we heard firsthand how IT training and certifications help people get into IT, perform well on the job and best serve their customers.
Centriq Training, St. Louis, MO
Centriq Training is a CompTIA Gold Partner that provides IT training to corporations and individuals on everything from IT infrastructure to project management to development.
“IT is an awesome field because you can get into it without having a degree,” said Jessica Oliver, vice president of operations.
Several Centriq Training graduates touted the value of certifications, explaining how IT certifications can get you noticed by employers.
“I chose to get certified because I believe that’s the best way to get your career off the ground in IT,” said James Coleman, migration field tech for Ameran UE. “You can tell an employer you’re good with computers all you want, but unless you have some sort of proof to back up those claims, they’re probably going to pass you over for someone who has a degree or has a certification.”
When Chris Frank’s last job contract came up, two employers approached him because he had CompTIA Security+.
“I think it’s important to be certified because I don’t have a degree. Both experience and certifications are how I present myself to employers and say I know what I’m doing.”
Watch More Road to ChannelCon Videos
IT Training and Certifications
IT Is Everywhere
How to Get into IT
NineStar Connect, Greenfield, IN
Just outside of Indianapolis, NineStar Connect is the only utility in the United States that offers television, broadband, phone, water, sewer and electricity. It’s bringing fiber optic internet to central Indiana.
“Our customers are the most important thing to us, and we want to be able to give [them] top-notch service,” said Mike Torrez, IP voice engineer. “To do that, we have to be trained at what we do. We have to know what we’re doing, and we have to be able to solve all of their problems.”
NineStar Connect has developed an environment that’s conducive to training and learning. The company doesn’t just encourage continuing education – it requires it.
“They’re willing to pay for anything,” said Jonathan Gingry, network engineer. “You just go to your manager and say, ‘Hey, I want to do this.’ If it’s within your job purview, they’ll say, ‘Ok, let’s go look at some training for it.’”
Torrez appreciates working for an employer who helps him grow in his career and serve his customers to the best of his ability.
“NineStar really gives me the tools that I need to be able to go into training, get certified and be able to have the knowledge that I need to be able to take care of our customers,” he said.
Ready to get certified? Check out our four steps to certification to find out how to get started.
