PURSUING a tech career is an exciting journey into the future in the rapidly evolving digital age.
Technology professionals are the driving force behind innovation, shaping the world profoundly.
Choosing this path opens doors to a dynamic, ever-changing field that offers endless opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, and growth, spanning AI, cybersecurity, and data science, beyond just coding. High demand for tech talent ensures job security and competitive pay.
An AWS and Gallup study revealed that workers in Asia-Pacific who have advanced digital skills potentially earn up to 65 percent more than those who do not use digital skills at work.
The Information Technology and Business Process Management or IT-BPM Association of the Philippines forecasts that the tech sector will generate 1.1 million new jobs by 2028. However, a significant portion of the country’s population lacks fundamental ICT skills, with nearly 90 percent lacking basic abilities in word-processing, internet usage and email.
High-paying IT roles, like VP of Technology or IT Manager, often require extensive education and experience, but there are diverse paths to success in IT careers.
Professional certificates provide a swift path to acquiring essential skills, demonstrating one’s competency to employers. Certifications from industry leaders like Google and Microsoft, are widely recognized, valued and can be an essential criteria for some employers.
A Coursera-Times Higher Education or THE survey found that 86 percent of students surveyed in Asia agreed that micro-credentials will help them stand out to employers.
If starting out or thinking about changing careers, consider these beginner-friendly certificates to boost one’s resume:
1. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. Cybersecurity, crucial as businesses move to the cloud, involves assessing threats, designing strategies, and implementing technologies to safeguard against attacks.
This eight-course certificate program prepares one for entry-level roles like cybersecurity analyst and security operations center (SOC) analyst.
Courses include how to protect networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access using (SIEM) tools, gaining hands-on experience with Python, Linux, and SQL. Upon completion, one can directly apply for jobs with Google and employers, including American Express, Deloitte, Colgate- Palmolive, Mandiant, T-Mobile and Walmart.
2. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate. Data analysis skills like data visualization and analysis complement traditionally human skills like people management and storytelling. As a data analyst, one can work in almost any imaginable field, with provision of a wide range of options for specialization.
This eight-course certificate offers 180 hours of interactive content, created exclusively by experienced Google employees in data analytics. It includes videos, assessments, and hands-on labs, introducing one to analysis tools and skills needed for entry-level roles like junior data analyst or database administrator.
3. Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Professional Certificate. As data-driven decision-making gains prominence, Business Intelligence analysts are in high demand. Microsoft Power BI is the top tool for data analytics and business intelligence, trusted by 97 percent of Fortune 500 firms for data-driven decisions.
This eight-course series teaches data preparation in Excel, Star schema data modeling, DAX calculations, and prepares one to take the industry-recognized PL-300:
Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst certification exam.
4. Google IT Support Professional Certificate. Since the IT Support Certificate launched in 2018, 82 percent of graduates have reported a positive career outcome like a new job, promotion or raise within six months.
This beginner-friendly program covers fundamental IT disciplines like cybersecurity, computer networks, and customer support with hands-on exercises. When
completed, this professional certificate allows one to continue his learning journey, earning credit if admitted in University of London’s BSc Computer Science.
5. Meta Database Engineer Professional Certificate. Database engineers are in high demand across industries and functions, driving the need for professionals skilled in designing and implementing digital databases.
With industry-recognized experts at Meta, this program teaches key skills in database creation and management, along with SQL, Python, and Django for web and app development. Upon completion, one gets access to the Meta Career Programs Job Board and career support resources.
A tech career empowers one to drive progress, makes a meaningful societal impact and embarks on an exciting and rewarding career path.
Earning any of these professional certificates will not only provide a solid foundation in technology but also pave the way for further specializations.
Raghav Gupta is the managing director of India and Asia Pacific at Coursera. He has over two decades of experience in the consumer, internet and management consulting industries in India, Southeast Asia and Europe. He has an MBA from the Institut Europ馥n d’Administration des Affaires or INSEAD as well as degrees from the National Institute of Fashion Technology and D Y Patil University.
BY RAGHAV GUPTA
Managing Director, Asia Pacific
Coursera
