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Motivating IT Workers... with Training
IT (Information Technology) professionals have
it tough. Their industry is constantly changing, and technical
skills learned today
will be
obsolete in a just a few years. The alphabet-soup of industry certifications
(MCSE, CCNA, MSCA, A+, OCP) is testament to the many skills
required in this fast-changing career.
That's why it's important for technical professionals to be constantly
learning new skills, maintaining certifications, taking exams,
and charting their career goals against their basket of skills.
If your
employees get their certifications on their own time and their
own dime, they're more likely to leave you and seek a better job
elsewhere.
If you're an ally in their search for advancement, they're more
likely to stay.
Here's a great tip from a GoalManager reader in Alexandria, Virginia
- that combines an employee reward with important training:
" We were looking for an
alternative way to reward our best IT staffers for excellence and
for
meeting their goals. When offered the choice
between $2,000 as a bonus, or $2,000 spent on training, 11
out of 12 recipients opted for the training (most opted for the
MCSE or MCSA courses). We found that the training made them more
confident, and much better-able
to
step
up to the challenges their department faces every day. We got a
huge
benefit
at the
very same
cost."
If you're a non-technical manager responsible for motivating
IT workers, here's a brief introduction to the most popular training
programs.
MCSE and MCSA (Microsoft-certified
systems engineer, Microsoft-certified Systems administrator) Crucial
for anyone on a Windows Server-based
network. It takes between 8 and 10 weeks to gain a basic certification,
with more advanced options requiring months of study. Expect
to spend about $1500 at the low end for an MCSE.
CCNA
and CCNE (Cisco Certified Network Architect,
Cisco Certified Network Engineer): These are essential certifications
for
anyone working on big networks, including switches, routers,
and security.
Cisco is the biggest name in routers (the machines that move
computer data from place to place). Certification can be
a year-long process,
but a basic CCNA course can be had for $2500, lasting four
weeks.
A-Plus (A+):
This is the basic, entry-level credential for computer-support
staff. Unlike the other major certifications, this one
is vendor-neutral. Expect to take four weeks and spend about
$750 to get certified. Options include network security
and hardware repair.
OCP: Oracle Certified Professional. The biggest name in
corporate databases is Oracle. An OCP certification is
highly prized
by DBAs (Data Base Administrators) at most larger firms.
Odds are
you have
Oracle systems running at your company. OCP is frequently
handled directly through Oracle itself, or their authorized
trainers
worldwide. Costs vary here - check Oracle University
http://education.oracle.com/ for details.
There are plenty of other training programs as well,
venturing into areas like Java, Linux, and Solaris.
If you're using
these technologies,
look around to see what training is available in your
area.
Remember: IT training is a reward that directly benefits
your company and your employee.
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ABC's
of CCNA and MCSE