Credentials – the basics of IT Street Cred

Credentials are needed in every area of life. From the ability to drive a car (you need a license), to ability to travel internationally (you need a passport), to even the ability to work (you need a certified I-9 form). Beyond the basics of the ability to work, credentials in each field may vary. For nurses, typically schooling and certifications are required. For Air Traffic Controllers, their time spent with simulations, on-the-job training, and certifications required.

You have to have credentials before you can break into any field… Creds (or credentials) can be broken down into two (2) areas -1. Education or 2. Experience.

For the first, Education, if you completed formal education, you have the sheet of paper that demonstrates your will and dedication to the subject matter at hand.

For the second, if you have some sort of Experience, say you already spent some time in an IT related job, say helpdesk or a computer repair technician, you have a direct line to having creds.

Now the biggest thing to remember with creds, and something that helps ease the whole chicken and the egg scenario (i.e. you can’t have one without the other), is you can always substitute Education with an informal path. Many individuals opt to go through formal Education through a 4 year undergraduate degree, and sometimes a 2 year graduate degree. By the formal path of this credential, it shows determination, grit and tenacity to put many years of dedicated study to the field. The informal Education path is a very popular one to IT and perhaps the quickest path to credentials and to getting the IT career you want is getting certified!

Summarizing to get credentials in anything you either must have either an education (whether formal or informal) or have experience.

The power of progressing your career forward in your field is when you have both of these credentials, Education & Experience.

IT street cred varies across the industry, but given my firsthand experience, most would say the more valuable part of these credentials is the experience portion. So whenever given the opportunity to get IT experience, take advantage of the opportunity presented. Personally speaking, when I was more junior in rank, I would often be shy and timid when getting hands-on opportunities presented to me. I would like to challenge each and everyone of you reading to push yourself past this “intimidating” part of your career journey and lean into the opportunity. All experience is worthwhile and it will be very fruitful as you continue your journey in IT with each experience and skillset you add to your career portfolio.

Remember, there are two (2) paths to getting your creds in IT – through Education or Experience. The power of both of them combined, paired with overall time will bring anyone in any field much success!

Also, when thinking of creds, creds can mean credentials 1) your credentials before you start to work in your field of expertise, but also it can mean 2) your credibility as an expert in your field of work.