IT Insights Blog — TestOut Continuing Education

Flowers, other than the ones that are involved in producing fruits and vegetables, don't serve much practical purpose in this world. Yes, they're vital to the Circle of Life that, much like the Force, surrounds us and penetrates us and binds us together. (What, incidentally, does it say about our culture that both the Force and the Circle of Life are now registered trademarks of The Walt Disney Company? Think about that.) And yes, they're a good way for forgetful spouses and children to communicate affection at times like Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, and on wedding anniversaries. But really? Come on. Flowers pop out for a few months in spring and early summer, stir up people's allergies, then wither and vanish. If anything, a flower is a nuisance, right?

I’ve done a bit of studying on certifications lately — which is a good thing since I write about them for a living. The simple definition of a certification is “a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task.” Although I deal almost exclusively with certifications in IT, I was surprised to learn that there are literally thousands of certs across all occupations. There are certs for business, banking, engineering, real estate, medicine, law, religion, plumbing, sales and even peer support — you can be a certified peer recovery professional providing guidance, knowledge and assistance to others.

On April 4, 1975, two men in Albuquerque, N.M, ventured into a fairly new market with some new ideas and founded what was at the time a language software development company. That company would one day become one of the largest, most influential companies in the world, showcasing the now ubiquitous name of Microsoft. Bill Gates and Paul Allen couldn’t have known how successful their venture would become when it all began. Now, not only is Microsoft continually distributing best-selling products like the Xbox, Microsoft Office and the Microsoft Windows operating system, but the company is training the next generation of IT professionals with its unique certifications.

TestOut markets its products very heavily toward students at the high-school and college levels. We also embrace lifelong learning, however, which is the reason that TestOut Continuing Education exists. The TestOut CE brand embraces working IT professionals who are looking to advance their careers, or workers in other professions who are considering switching to IT. Certification can absolutely play a role both in strengthening existing IT careers, and launching new ones.

Sales has evolved. The “used car salesman” persona that many of us associate with salespeople is fading. Today, consumers are able to research products, read reviews, and get recommendations from friends before they even talk to a salesperson. There are times, even, when the consumer knows more about the product than the salesperson does. A salesperson today is now more of a consultant, someone the customer trusts will treat them fairly and take care of them. Indeed, sales is more customer service-focused than ever before. If a salesperson treats a customer badly, then that customer can go online and leave a frank assessment of their experience, which can have an immediate negative impact on the company.