Top 21 Pandemic Proof Career Certifications in 2021

It is a great place to get experience and learn more about the inner workings of the IT infrastructure. With a shift to a work-from-home culture at many companies, the help desk is more critical than ever to quickly help end-users resolve the many challenges that may affect them.

Getting certified improves your chances of getting a help desk position and elevates your resume for promotions down the line. There are three key certifications one should pursue if they are currently in or looking for a job in technical support.

Average Salary for a Help Desk Technician: $41,351 (PayScale.com, November 2020)

Certifications Involved:

• CompTIA A+
• Microsoft 365: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate
• Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)

In the tech industry, there is a high demand for software engineers and a low supply of certified professionals. In fact, most tech companies have seen no layoffs since the beginning of 2020, and about a third of them are actively hiring.

The main reason this remains a thriving job market is the rapid rise in digital transformation. In order to keep up with the job market, those in or looking for Software Development careers should be looking at Microsoft Azure for Development and Artificial Intelligence.

Average salary for a Software Engineer: $86,442 (PayScale.com, November 2020)

Certifications Involved:

• CompTIA A+
• Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204)
• Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-100)

While the cloud has been around for years, the increased need for collaboration tools for a remote workforce has made this mission critical for most companies. Increasingly, companies and even government entities are moving their infrastructure and software to cloud-based solutions.

Developing your skills in one of the three main cloud service providers will help make your role irreplaceable for employers. Certifications in Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google are all available and extremely valuable for job-seekers or working professionals alike.

Average salary for a Cloud Engineer: $98,850 (PayScale.com, November 2020)

Certifications Involved:

• Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)
• AWS Solutions Architect
• Google-Certified Professional Cloud Architect

Even before the pandemic, cybersecurity was an ideal job market as it was consistently growing and hiring. Due to compliance and regulations, information security certifications are indispensable to this field.

The following certifications are highly respected by employers, and in many cases, requirements for employment, especially with companies that work with the military.

Average salary for an Information Security Analyst: $72,576 (PayScale.com, November 2020)

Certifications Involved:

• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

An added bonus is that most Database Administrator positions can be worked 100% remotely, so geography and office space is not an obstacle.

It is increasingly common to find job postings that require experience/certification in multiple database technologies. By getting certification in Microsoft Azure, Oracle, or IBM, you will show you have the knowledge to do the job.

Average salary for a Database Administrator: $74,035 (PayScale.com, November 2020)

Certifications Involved:

• Microsoft Azure Database Administrator
• Oracle Database Certified Associate
• IBM Analytics Certification

It also offers a long and secure career path that could offer countless promotions as you work your way up the corporate ladder. Because of the massive growth in the IT industry, demand for certified Network Administrators continues to be on the rise.

Companies need Network Administrators to do most of the other functions on this list, like hooking up to the cloud, keeping data secure, and developing software as a team. Cisco is far and away the biggest technology player in the Networking world, and getting certified as an Associate or Professional will put you at the top of the list for one of the most secure careers in the industry.

Average salary for a Network Administrator: $59,974 (PayScale.com, November 2020)

Certifications Involved: 

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
• Cisco DevNet Associate

Certifications in the Microsoft Office Suite will make you a Power User that can whip up spreadsheets and presentations at a moment’s notice. Or if you enjoy organizing complex projects, the Project Management Professional certification is one of the most highly respected certifications in the world.

An added bonus for these certifications is that they can be applied to any department of a company, which means you will have more doors opened than just that to IT.

Average salary for an IT Project Manager: $88,841 (PayScale.com, November 2020)

Certifications Involved

• Microsoft Office Specialist
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt