Business23.11.2015

Best IT certifications to land a high-paying job in South Africa

Money salary earning professional qualification

To land a job in the IT industry requires the right skills and experience. However, without a suitable qualification some companies may disqualify potentially-suitable candidates.

Many companies look for a minimum qualification – like a degree, diploma, or certification – when candidates apply for a position.

This is partly due to South Africa’s poor education system, where a matric certificate is no longer an indication of the skills required to function in a company.

Specialised skills have also become sought after, and companies are looking for qualifications – which are typically certifications – which illustrate competency.

This raises the question: Which certifications are currently the most sought after in the SA IT and telecoms market?

MyBroadband asked prominent telecommunications and technology companies which certifications are currently of the most value to them – their answers are below.

Cisco Career Certifications – CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE

Many telecommunications companies said the most valuable technical certifications for them are Cisco Career Certifications.

The most sought-after qualifications include Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), and Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE).

Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)

Many South African software development companies said that people with Microsoft Certified Professional Developer certifications are in demand.

The certification demonstrates that you have the skills required to build solutions which target both web and rich-client user experiences.

The MCPD serves as the premiere Microsoft certification for enterprise applications developers.

Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer

Oracle’s Certified Professional Java Programmer certification demonstrates a solid understanding of Java, and is a prerequisite to a number of the other Java certificates.

It is designed as a detailed test of knowledge of the core features and constructs of the Java programming language, and is sought after by South African companies developing in Java.

Certified Scrum Master

A Certified Scrum Master helps project teams use Scrum, increasing the likelihood of the project’s overall success.

This is a valuable certification for managing projects, especially in software development environments.

IT Security Certifications

With the increase in online systems, South African companies are looking for qualified security professionals.

Security certifications, like the Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and the Cybersecurity Forensic Analyst certification (CSFA), are in demand.

Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC)

The Linux Professional Institute Certification (LPIC) is a certification in the field of Linux, provided by the Linux Professional Institute.

It is a multi-level certification, with the fields of system administration and security covered.

Certified Associate in Project Management or Project Management Professional

Local software development and IT companies are looking for project managers, and a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification are sought after.