CompTIA Certification Featured Articles

CompTIA Security+ Product Manager Carol Balkcom Answers Instructors' Questions

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

In addition to her work at CompTIA, Carol also represents CompTIA on the National Visiting Committee that advises the Cyber Security Education Consortium of Oklahoma colleges and universities. The CompTIA Security+ certification is being updated.

Shawn Bolan Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Shawn Bolan went from tennis pro to IT pro in a just a few short years. Bolan took a circuitous route to IT, beginning his career as a professional tennis player. He played competitively for five years, and then took up a new role at tennis clubs and

Devin Carlson Uses CompTIA A+ to Sell His IT Skills

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Devin Carlson has nearly nine years of experience in IT, but his recently-earned CompTIA A+ certification has helped him prove his value to customers as an IT professional. Carlson earned the certification because it was one he has always wanted to g

Podcast with CompTIA Security+ Product Manager Carol Balkcom

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Carol Balkcom answers your questions in this informative podcast. Carol is the Product Manager for CompTIA Security+, and she covers what's changing on the exam, what to study and much more.

Michael Meyers Answers IT Professionals' Questions

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Michael Meyers has answered your questions about certification studies. Follow this link to listen to this informative podcast now.

Michael Meyers, lovingly called the "AlphaGeek" by those who know him, is a leading authority on CompTIA A+, Co

Michael Meyers Answers IT Instructors? Questions

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Michael Meyers answers all the questions you sent in during this informative podcast. He covers training tips, offers study advice and more! Mike is the president and co-founder of Total Seminars, LLC, a provider of PC and network repair seminars, bo

Heather Keever Shares Her IT Experiences

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Heather Keever wasn't sure what she wanted to do when she "grew up." As a freshman at Messiah College in Grantham, Penn., she explored her options through introductory courses.?A course in Computer Science gave her the direction she needed ? it was s

CompTIA Security+ Updated Exam Objectives

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The updated CompTIA Security+ (2008 Edition) exam will launch October 2008. CompTIA Security+ is an international, vendor-neutral certification that validates knowledge of access control, assessments and audits, cryptography, network infrastructure,

Joshua Van Camp Shares His IT Experiences

Tue, 6 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Joshua Van Camp was working on his business degree at Michigan State University when he started to think of ways that would make him more marketable while job searching. Having spent time working on his own computer, he decided to pursue a CIS degree

Steven Johnson Answers Questions About Soft Skills

Tue, 6 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Listen to this podcast to hear answers from Steven Johnson about soft skills and how you should use them to get ahead in your career.

Nima Khamooshi Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Nima Khamooshi was in college when his friend earned a degree in information technology (IT). He was impressed by the starting salary his friend was offered. Nima thought since he had always enjoyed playing with computers, figuring things out, and s

Certification Fills the Skills Gap

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Research released by CompTIA shows that there are skills gaps in several key areas. When comparing reported proficiency in skills to the importance of those skills, the skill with the widest "gap" in proficiency is security/firewalls/data privacy.

Ed Puchot Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

If it wasn't for Ed Puchot's brother, he would never have wound up in the IT industry. Ed's brother, Samuel, started his career working on his CompTIA A+ certification. After a few months, Ed noticed how Samuel could answer any question about compute

Certifications Keep Mark Schroeder on Track

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Mark Schroeder keeps his skills up-to-date by studying for the latest versions of the certifications he holds. Schroeder works as a network engineer for CACI, Inc., as a contractor for the U.S. Air Force.

He recently earned all three desig

David Whicker Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

David Whicker is adamant that those wishing to enter IT need to love it.

Whicker worked hard to get to his current position as a systems engineer at Miller Brewing Co., and he says it was all worth it.

Whicker began his IT career seven

New Year?s Resolutions for IT Professionals

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Many people view the New Year as a time to make a fresh start in their personal life or career.

Sello Tlabela Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

CompTIA turned Sello Tlabela into an IT guru. Tlabela was working for a company that was partly involved in IT when he decided to pursue a CompTIA A+ certification and go into IT himself. He now holds CompTIA A+, Network+ and Linux+ certifications as

Fred Larkin Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 5 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Fred Larkin?s day is quite different for most IT helpdesk administrators. Larkin works 12 hour days, six days a week, occasionally wears full body armor and a helmet to work, and must be on the alert for mortar attacks, which occur frequently.

IT Pro Shares His Job Search Tips

Wed, 5 Dec 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Finding that first job or changing careers can be tough for many IT Pros. After each issue of CompTIA IT Professional Access, our editorial inbox receives several e-mails asking for career advice; how and where to begin.

Vicki Gould Shares Her IT Experiences

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Vicki Gould wasn?t always a technician. She started off working as a communications coordinator in the medical information services (MIS) department at a local hospital. After being laid off, she was offered a position as an MIS technician.

IT Professional Salary Growth: How to Ask for and Get a Raise

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

A significant number of the 1,501 IT Professionals who responded to a CompTIA Web poll (15%) received a salary boost of 20 percent or more in the past year. In years prior, IT salaries had stagnated somewhat, but in the last couple of years, they are

Starting a Career in Cyber Security

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

With increasing threats of data theft, viruses and browser attacks, businesses today have made cyber security a crucial part of their IT operations. Even HotJobs.com recently named cyber security, and the specialty of steganography, in their list of

Standard Error Codes Help Increase Efficiency for IT Pros

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The jobs of IT technicians have just been simplified. The Services Section at CompTIA has updated the standard error codes, which will allow technicians to identify problems and solutions for equipment they are working on with a simple 6-digit code.

George Rothwell Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT

George Rothwell has always been interested in technology that is used to automate tasks. He started writing software in the fourth grade, and after college he co-founded an RFID consulting and solutions business.

Creative Ways to Land a Job

Wed, 5 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT

In today?s world, the traditional methods of job hunting may not be enough. You need to get creative to land that perfect job. But the basic rules still apply. While you may need to employ unconventional search methods, you still need to adhere to th

Mike Mancuso Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 5 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT

As chief technology officer at SYMX Corporation, Mike Mancuso sounds like just another IT guy. But Mike?s job goes beyond servicing the customer; the application he controls saves lives.

Online Training Available Through Creating Futures

Wed, 5 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Creating Futures is a program run by the CompTIA Educational Foundation. Creating Futures provides training to transitioning U.S. veterans, individuals with disabilities, youth at risk and dislocated workers. The training and vouchers for the certifi

Joe Pinedo Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Joe Pinedo got into IT by accident. But it was a happy accident, because now, Pinedo has a job he loves, working on an Air Force base as a Computer Support Specialist Technician where he supports rocket launch personnel.

Passion for Security Leads to Online Magazines and Industry Event

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, it seemed only natural that Donald C. Donzal would start his own ventures one day. As the Director of IT for the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Don had built a successful

Municipal Wireless Market Opportunities for VARs

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The municipal wireless market is growing rapidly, as more smaller communities and rural areas are demanding Internet access that is faster and easier to use than dial-up.

Alex Rosier Shares His IT Experiences

Tue, 3 Jul 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Alex Rosier persevered and wound up with a job he loves. He was working as a waiter/bartender for catering companies, and no longer enjoyed it. He decided to see if he could parlay his lifelong love of computers into a new career.

Starting a Business? Get Certified

Tue, 3 Jul 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Fernando Callender has more than 10 years experience in the IT industry. As a software engineer specializing in Internet, e-commerce and integration technologies, he was ready to start his own business.

Security Considered the Hottest Technology

Tue, 3 Jul 2007 05:00:00 GMT

A recent CompTIA Web poll revealed that the highest number of respondents (24.3%) feel that security technology will have the greatest impact in the coming year. Wireless data applications and convergence were closely behind, at 13 percent and 12 per

Lee Myers Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 05:00:00 GMT

In high school, Lee Myers? guidance counselor told him he would have a great career as a truck driver.

But Lee wasn?t interested in trucks, he liked computers. He found a job at Circuit City; however, he soon realized that selling computers mig

CompTIA Study Shows Security is a Top Priority for Management

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Security training is proving to be very valuable to employers. Thanks in large part to proper training, fewer breaches are caused by human error alone. Spyware, e-mail attacks and viruses account for more than half of all security attacks. Viruses ac

IT Pros Maintain Their Skills

Wed, 6 Jun 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The majority of respondents (86%) to a Web-based survey launched in IT Professional Access said they choose the training they need based on their own career plan. Five percent choose based on their employer?s requirements or recommendations, while tw

Tommy Akin Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 2 May 2007 05:00:00 GMT

A broken promise led to the start of Tommy Akin?s IT career. Akin was working in the auto business as a Fleet and Lease manager for a nation-wide auto dealer?s auction when he purchased a PC-XT from a local computer store for about $3,000.

Security Knowledge Important for Your Career

Wed, 2 May 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Looking for a leg up at work? Take a cue from management and brush up on your security skills. The Annual CompTIA Security research report, "Information Security: A CompTIA Analysis of IT Security and the Workforce," shows that managers are very co

David Weig Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 05:00:00 GMT

One man's junk is another man's treasure? or in David Weig?s case, one car dealer?s old computer is another man?s new career. When the dealership David Weig worked for upgraded their system, he decided to save one of the old PCs from the junk pile.

IT Professionals Feel Upgrading Business Skills is Important

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 05:00:00 GMT

IT professionals feel that employers want them to not only be able to do their jobs, but to be personable while they are performing their duties as well. When presented with a list of six different major skills, IT professionals believe that employer

Creating Futures Launches Pilot Program in Jacksonville, Fla.

Wed, 4 Apr 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Transitioning military personnel are being given an opportunity to receive valuable training that will help in their careers. CompTIA?s Creating Futures program has launched a pilot training program in Jacksonville, Fla. The program has been develope

Tom Pintaric Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 7 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Tom Pintaric lives in Calgary, AB Canada and works for an engineering/consulting company that hosts contractors on a full-time basis and deals with a variety of projects out in the field. His current job role is that of an IT Server-desktop-network t

RFID Center for Excellence Trains and Applies Technology

Wed, 7 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT

As RFID technology is growing more popular, it is important to keep up with this growing technology. The RFID Center of Excellence at Pennsylvania State University, Erie, has created an educational program that has already trained over 550 industry p

Linux Training Important to IT Industry

Wed, 7 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The majority of respondents to a recent CompTIA survey feel that it is important for a person supporting Linux to complete training. Nearly three-quarters (72%) believe a vendor-neutral Linux certification is valuable to them/their organization.

Starting Your Own Business

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT
Starting your own small business is a dream many people have. Who wouldn't want to call the shots, be their own boss? But the fear of losing stability is often a roadblock to getting started.

But there are things you can do give you the b

Could You Work From Home?

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT
Telecommuting is a growing alternative for professionals across all industries, including Information Technology. According to The Telework Advisory Group for WorldatWork, an interna

David Hardy Shares His IT Experiences

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT
David Hardy had worked in the textile industry for about six years when he decided he wanted a career change. He took computer classes at a technical college and now holds his CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certifications.

David now wor

Tim Dami Shares His Experiences as an IT Professional

Wed, 3 Jan 2007 05:00:00 GMT
Tim Dami never thought he would be traveling by canoe to fix a computer.

Working in the United States as a mid-level manager in the service industry, Tim already had communication skills; he simply wanted to learn how to work with technol

Job Prospects Bright for IT Professionals in 2007

Wed, 3 Jan 2007 05:00:00 GMT
The coming year looks prosperous for those working in the IT industry. The Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report states that increased IT hiring is expected for the first quarter of 2007. The report polled CIOs, 16 percent of whom

A Career in Computer Forensics

Wed, 6 Dec 2006 05:00:00 GMT
IT professionals with an investigative side can put their talent to work. Computer forensic expert was recently listed as one of the top careers for 2007 by Careerbuilder.com. Computer forensics is defined as the application of the scientific met

Going Out on Your Own ? Tips for Becoming an Independent IT Consultant

Wed, 6 Dec 2006 05:00:00 GMT
Many people who work in IT are called upon to help fix their families and friends computers. You might be known as Mr. or Ms. Fix-it to all these people. If you enjoy these personal consults, you might be thinking ? how can I branch out on my own a

Justin Durrant Shares His Experiences as an IT Professional

Wed, 6 Dec 2006 05:00:00 GMT
In five years, Justin Durrant was able to advance from a level-one help-desk technician to a Windows Systems Engineer at Fair Isaac in Arden Hills, Minn.

Durrant was able to break into the IT field after obtaining his CompTIA A+ certi

Writing the Perfect Resume; Acing the Interview

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT
Your resume is your first impression. Employers look to resumes to provide a quick and concise summary of a candidate?s experience; and decide from the resume if the candidate is worth interviewing. In order to make the most of your job search, you

Eric Kilgore Shares his IT Experiences

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT
Eric Kilgore's interest in computer's developed when he was fairly young. He had fun with BASIC programming in junior high and has been a hobbyist computer builder since the 1990s.

Kilgore holds CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certificat

Training Important for Wireless Technology Support Staff

Wed, 1 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT
The most popular wireless technologies currently supported by respondents include Wireless t 802.11 Wireless LANs (95%), 802.15 Bluetooth/Ultra-Wide Band Personal Wireless (31%) and FireWire (18%). The results come from a Web based survey distribut

Hiring managers say project management training is an asset

Wed, 4 Oct 2006 05:00:00 GMT
An overwhelming 98 percent of respondents to a recent survey say that whether their staff has adequate skills or not, they could use additional project management training. The Web-based survey was sent to CompTIA members, CompTIA research providers

Following a balanced study diet

Wed, 4 Oct 2006 05:00:00 GMT
Following a balanced study diet will help give you the complete knowledge to pass the test. The balanced diet is comprised of three rules:

1. Look at the exam topic from several perspectives. Combine different study methods while prepari

Eric Logan shares his experiences as an IT professional

Wed, 4 Oct 2006 05:00:00 GMT
While working for a major automobile manufacturer and working on a degree in management, Eric Logan was intrigued by an introductory ?computer concepts? class that was a requirement for the degree.

?During the class, I started investigatin

What skills should you have to get hired? CompTIA member companies respond

Wed, 6 Sep 2006 08:00:00 GMT
Good news for IT professionals - more than one-half (54%) of respondents to a recent Web-base survey indicate needing new tech support/customer service hires in the next 12 months in order to achieve business goals. Customer service and tech support

Certification test taking tips

Wed, 6 Sep 2006 07:00:00 GMT
Taking an exam can be stressful, but following these simple test tips can help ease your anxiety:
Slow down and carefully read the question. If you don?t understand it, reread it. Don?t rush through and guess, sometimes it may just take a

Julia Olson shares her experiences as an IT professional

Wed, 6 Sep 2006 06:00:00 GMT
Julia Olson feels like a hero every day. Self-employed as a home technology expert, Julia provides on-site PC repair and network configuration to home users.

She discovered her knack for working with computers after earning a B.S. in Itali

The importance of an IT internship

Wed, 2 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT
IT careers are "hands-on," and gaining real-world experience gives you an advantage over other entry-level IT professionals. One of the best ways to gain experience is through an internship. Randall Palm, Chief Technology and IS Director at CompTI

IT Pros comfortable with distance learning

Wed, 2 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT
Results from a survey of more than 600 IT Professionals show that they are very interested in distance learning. Sixty-nine percent have already taken a distance learning class in the past five years, and 92 percent would consider taking distance l

Learn about other IT professionals in the industry.

Wed, 2 Aug 2006 05:00:00 GMT
This issue features Ken Jennings, a system administrator and telephone technician.

Most important skills for IT Professionals

Wed, 5 Jul 2006 05:00:00 GMT
A recent CompTIA Web poll showed that the most important skill for someone looking to start or advance their career is networking technologies, with 44 percent of respondents choosing that as their top answer. Other top skills include problem solving

Time management tips for a productive workday

Wed, 7 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT
Learning how to manage your time wisely is one of the most important skills you can obtain. Time management skills give you the ability to effectively complete projects, solve problems and keep your stress level down.

Savvy IT Pros can reap benefits of technology dependency

Wed, 7 Jun 2006 05:00:00 GMT
Many people are addicted to their favorite technology. For some, laptops are lifelines. If given the choice to use only one technology per day, the greatest number of respondents to a recent CompTIA Web poll said they would limit themselves to using

Want to keep your job? Be well-rounded

Wed, 3 May 2006 05:00:00 GMT
The majority of jobs that are outsourced to independent contractors or third-party providers are technical ones, a report from the Society for Information Management said. The report also showed that business skills and capabilities represent five of

Top jobs are in IT

Wed, 5 Apr 2006 05:00:00 GMT
You can stop worrying about the IT employment shortage of years past. The IT industry is now a very secure place to be. Case in point - five of the top ten best jobs are in IT. According to a recent article published by Careerbuilder, software engine

Training and Certification is the way to prove you know security

Wed, 5 Apr 2006 05:00:00 GMT
CompTIA?s fourth annual security study, "Committing to Security- Fourth Annual Benchmark Study: A CompTIA Analysis of IT Security and the Workforce," focused on areas and issues surrounding security training and certification, including IT security b

IT professionals work hard to keep skills current

Wed, 1 Mar 2006 05:00:00 GMT
Many IT professionals do not think their employers understand the requirements involved in maintaining IT skills or the elements of IT career development. A CompTIA survey shows that a majority (85 percent) of IT workers themselves are actively invol

CompTIA TechCareer Compass maps your goals

Wed, 1 Mar 2006 05:00:00 GMT
The CompTIA TechCareer Compass helped IT Pro member Rick Melone take his career to a new level. When his employer announced that the company would be relocating out of state, Mr. Melone embraced the change as an opportunity to stay in his hometown an