Choosing the right certification has become extremely important. The path you choose can impact how employable you are at the end of the road. One of the best things you can do is track the latest trends and there are many Web sites and magazines that can help you accomplish this. This does not only apply to those who are trying to get into the IT industry but also to those who are currently working in this sector.

Knowing what is currently in demand can help you plan out a certification path that will increase your chances of finding a tech job. Take for example, an MCSE. In order to obtain an MCSE you have to pass a certain number of elective exams. Knowing what is currently in demand can help you choose the right elective exams.

An MCSE basically certifies you in systems/network operating systems. It used to be that this was the most sought after technical certification. However, this is no longer the case. Obviously Microsoft recognized this and it, in turn, created several new certification tracks and also added the specialization tracks to the MCSE/MCSA. An MCSE is a dime a dozen but an MCSE with a specialization in security is a different story.

If you have come to the fork in the certification road and need to choose which direction to take, here are some of the areas that are currently in demand.

• Project management certifications

• Security certifications
• Database certifications
• Web certifications