Succeed in Your IT Quest

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." — Gandalf

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic high fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings revolves around the quest of a group of men, hobbits, an elf, a dwarf and a wizard. This “fellowship” of adventurers sets out to destroy the ultimate ring of power, forged by the dark lord Sauron, that fate has put around the neck of young Frodo Baggins, a doughty hobbit.

Throughout his journey to destroy the ring, Frodo encounters great trials and faces what seem to be insurmountable odds. Frodo begins the journey with his companions knowing what the ultimate outcome must be, but he doesn't yet know what actions will need to be taken, and what decisions made, to get the ring to far-off Mount Doom, where it can be unmade.

The most important thing Frodo does on his journey is to begin it. The second most important thing he does is to not give up. When he starts his quest, the perils that lay ahead are only hinted and guessed at, but he continually adjusts along the way, exerting his wits and will to push through each new challenge.

When you begin your IT certification quest, you have an end goal in mind. This goal could be in the form of a promotion within your company, or landing a job with a six-figure salary. There is a path to achieving these career goals, but it’s not easy — and not always clear. The important thing is that you start. Pick a course of action, get going, and don’t give up until you achieve your goal.

If your career goal is important to you, then you will make time to train for it. Research desirable IT careers, and find out which one of those careers will fit your skills and personality. When you’ve settled on your desired career, research the best career path to get there. You will likely have to pass multiple certification exams to be considered for one of these desired careers.

You aren’t going to just wake up one day with the skills needed to be hired for a job with a six-figure salary. There are steps you need to take to prepare yourself for those jobs. You will face adversity, things will come up that will distract you from your end goal, but you must press forward if you want to be successful.

Unlike Frodo, you will not have the wise council of a wandering wizard to help you along your way, or the physical strength of a devoted servant to bear you up. Don’t get discouraged! Frodo didn't have top-quality IT courses like the ones offered by TesOut Continuing Education to prepare him for his quest. We all make do with the tools we're given. Decide now to take the next step on your journey toward your career goals. You won’t regret it.

About the Author — Jake Slater is the social media manager for GoCertify and a graduate of Brigham Young University. Jake has never carried an evil ring of power to Mount Doom, but he did toss a virgin into an active volcano on his recent visit to Hawaii.