Google IT – What You Must Know About Google IT Support Professional Certificate

Posted on by

Google IT – What You Must Know About Google IT Support Professional Certificate

Discover how the Google IT Support certificate will help you in your IT career.

The Google IT Support Professional Certificate can be used to start a career in IT. Google’s certificate program, which is available through Coursera, requires no prior experience or IT knowledge. It is intended to provide learners with the abilities required for an entry-level IT position. The certificate course provides skills such as computer construction and installation, system administration and security, networking, and troubleshooting.

Team Development in Programming Working technologies for website design and coding in a software firm office

The program is part of Google’s Grow with Google effort, which aims to increase career training options. Since its inception in 2018, the program has attracted over 400,000 participants worldwide. The Google IT Support Professional Certificate, which has no experience or academic requirements and a modest monthly subscription cost, can serve as a bridge into the IT profession.

Who Should Get the Google IT Support Professional Certificate and Why?

IT assistance is a lucrative and rapidly growing industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage in 2019 was around $55,000, compared to a median annual wage of around $40,000 for all workers.

“Within six months, the Google IT Support Professional Certificate qualifies learners for an entry-level IT support career,” says Betty Vandenbosch, Coursera’s chief content officer. The course, which is intended to be a “launchpad to an IT profession,” includes essential IT skills such as troubleshooting, networking, operating systems, and system management. It also helps students prepare for the CompTIA A+ examinations, which are the industry standard for IT certification, according to her. By completing both, you can achieve dual certification.

Since its inception in 2018, the certificate program has assisted traditionally underrepresented groups in technology in preparing for entry-level IT support employment, according to Vandenbosch. Fifty-eight percent of students in the United States identify as Black, Latino, female, or a veteran; more than 60% do not have a college degree, and 45% earn less than $30,000 per year.

“The IT support certificate is a stackable credential,” Vandenbosch explains, “which means it is recognized by some degree programs, such as the University of London Bachelor of computer science, a fully online program on Coursera.” “Learners can complete the Google IT program, obtain a steady jobs, and then seek a degree, which frequently helps them move up in their field,” she says, emphasizing the benefits of this path for students.

“Once someone finishes the program, Google also enables introductions with a number of organizations who recognize the credential,” explains Leroy Ware, co-founder and CTO of Knack.io, a personalized employment board for engineers.

He refers to the certificate as a stepping stone, and he recommends that you obtain more credentials to advance your career. “Someone who takes the IT support course, for example, may begin working in IT support while also enrolling in one of the Google Cloud certification programs,” Ware explains.

Material for the Google IT Support Professional Certificate

The Google IT Support Professional Certificate program is delivered entirely online and consists of five courses that include video lectures, quizzes, and hands-on labs. It is also accessible at over 100 community colleges around the United States.

“Learners can access course materials via PC or mobile at any moment,” Vandenbosch explains. “In reality, about half of all learners accessed Coursera via mobile in the previous year.” After a seven-day free trial, the Google IT Support Professional Certificate on Coursera costs $49 per month. The Google IT Support Professional Certificate costs around $294 if you finish the five courses in six months.

Financial help is available to the course by course via the link on the course webpage. If you are accepted, you will be notified through email and automatically enrolled in the course.

Course 1: Fundamentals of Technical Support

You’ll get an overview of the curriculum in the first course of the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. The course introduces students to the field of information technology and its different aspects, such as computer hardware and software, the internet, troubleshooting, and customer service.

After finishing, you’ll be able to comprehend the inner workings of the internet, the binary system, and how to build a computer from the ground up, including how to select and install an operating system. You will learn about apps and how computers develop and use them, as well as typical problem-solving techniques used by IT professionals.

It is intended to take 21 hours to finish over the course of six weeks and consists of 99 videos, 23 readings, and 22 tests.

Course 2: Computer Networking Bits and Bytes

This course provides students with an overview of computer networking, covering everything from modern networking basics and protocols to the cloud and its applications. You’ll learn about computer networks’ five-layer concept, standard protocols for transmission control protocol/internet protocol communications, various network services, and network troubleshooting tools and techniques. You’ll also learn about cloud computing and storage.

The course is intended to take six weeks to finish, with five to six hours of learning per week for a total of 34 hours of learning time. It consists of 96 movies, 22 readings, and 34 quizzes.

Course 3: You and Your Operating System: Becoming a Power User

The third course in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program delves further into operating systems and the key functions that IT professionals do on them, such as software management and hardware configuration.

You’ll discover how system processes function and how to manage them. After finishing the course, you’ll be able to create users, groups, and permissions, as well as configure disk partitions and file systems. You will troubleshoot common IT issues using system logs and remote connection technologies. You’ll also learn how to explore Windows and Linux file systems using a graphical user interface and command-line interpreter, as well as how to install, configure and remove applications from these operating systems.

The course is intended to take six weeks to complete, with four to seven hours of study per week for a total of 35 hours of learning time. There are 112 videos, 51 readings, 26 quizzes, and hands-on practice.

Course 4: System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services

Through system management, this course teaches students how to work on several computers rather than just one. It describes the multiuser environment and infrastructure services used by both large and small enterprises. Learners gain a deeper understanding of the cloud, from cloud infrastructure setup to cloud resource management.

You will be able to manage and configure servers, as well as manage PCs, user information, and productivity using industry tools, by the end of the course.

You’ll even learn how to rebuild an organization’s IT infrastructure after a disaster.

The course is scheduled to last six weeks, with 31 hours of classroom instruction and a 14-minute final assignment. It contains 90 videos, 36 readings, 35 tests, and the final project.

Course 5: IT Security: Countering Digital Dark Arts

The final course in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program covers various computer system dangers and how to protect against them.

It gives an overview of encryption algorithms and how they can protect data. You’ll also learn about the “three A’s of information security: authentication, authorization, and accounting,” as well as different network security solutions such as firewalls and Wi-Fi encryption. Finally, attendees will understand how each component fits into tiered, in-depth security architecture.

By the end of the course, you will be able to distinguish authentication from authorization and recognize distinct authentication systems and types. You’ll also grasp how encryption methods and techniques function, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. You’ll be able to assess and recommend solutions to mitigate potential risks. You’ll also be able to assist others in better understanding and protecting themselves from security threats.

The course is intended to take six weeks to complete, with three to seven hours of learning per week for a total of 29 hours of learning time. It consists of 74 movies, 37 readings, and 29 tests.

Google IT Support Professional Certificate Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Get Ready for the Certificate Program?

There are no prerequisites or prior experience requirements for the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. “The curriculum is designed for learners with no prior experience or a degree to progress from novice to job-ready in six months,” Vandenbosch explains.

How Long Will It Take to Receive the Certificate?

The course is designed to be finished in three to six months if you devote approximately five hours each week to learning. According to Vandenbosch, how much time students devote to the course materials determines how quickly they complete the course.

According to a 2020 Coursera research of online learners, those who spend more time watching and evaluating videos rather than skimming through the content complete the course more quickly. According to the report, the majority of learners who finished their course did so in 40- to 60-minute learning blocks in one to five learning sessions per week, while daily learning sessions were also beneficial toward completion.

“With that in mind,” Vandenbosch says, “we encourage learners to take advantage of the variable pace of a fully online curriculum to ensure they comprehend core topics before going on.”

Is it worthwhile to obtain the Google IT Support Professional Certificate?

If you want to use the credential to gain a job in IT services, it can be a good investment. The curriculum provides employment support, which enables certificate holders to exchange their information with firms looking for entry-level IT talents, such as Hulu, Infosys, Intel, and Walmart. The Google IT Support Professional Certificate may also be beneficial for students who are not quite ready to begin their jobs. “Because the program is (American Council on Education) accredited, students can earn 12 college credits or the equivalent of four associate degree-level courses,” Vandenbosch explains.

Ware emphasizes that the Google IT Support Professional Certificate is only a starting point. Certificate holders should add cloud-based credentials as soon as possible, such as a Google Associate Cloud Engineer certificate, which needs six months of cloud work experience and can be followed by higher-level Google certifications. You should also look into Amazon Web Services certifications. According to him, obtaining more certificates will boost your earning capacity and the variety of career alternatives available to you.

In order to recognize IT assistance as a career path rather than merely a job, Google developed a follow-up program for the IT support certificate, dubbed the Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate, in January 2020, to provide beginner-level Python training. The company also launched a new suite of credentials in project management, data analytics, and user experience design in early 2020.

Are IT Support Skills in High Demand, and What Is the Future Outlook?

For the past decade, there has been an increase in the demand for technical talents. According to a 2017 Brookings Institution analysis, employment in high-level digital content more than tripled from 2002 to 2016. According to the think tank’s analysis, digitization has also spawned hundreds of new jobs, such as solution architect, cloud services professional, and app developer. According to the research, nearly one in every three new professions established since 2010 requires advanced digital abilities.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these trends are projected to continue at an increasing rate, as firms report increased digital adoption, producing a stronger demand for IT support capabilities. According to industry group CompTIA, over 40% of companies require people with security abilities, and 38% require database/information management skills. 36% want staff with PC support knowledge, 33% want storage and backup skills, and 31% want workers with networking understanding.

All of this points to a bright future for IT support professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer support specialist jobs will grow at a pace of 8% over the next decade, which is double the average growth rate for all occupations.

It anticipates that 67,300 new computer support specialist jobs will be generated between 2019 and 2029.

Will This Certificate Aid My Job Search?

“When asked,” Vandenbosch says, “80% of learners think it helped them advance their job search or career within six months.” This is due, in part, to the Google hiring consortium, which matches certificate holders with firms offering entry-level IT positions.

More than 50 national organizations have committed to hiring Google IT certificate holders for entry-level IT positions as part of the partnership. Walmart, T-Mobile, the Cleveland Clinic, Hulu, and, of course, Google is among the partners. However, while the consortium might connect you with possible businesses, you are not assured a job. Those who have finished the program advise applying elsewhere as well.

“When hiring in the technical sector, employers definitely look at certifications,” Ware says. “A newly acquired certification (one earned in the last year or two) for engineers is a sign that the person is committed to remaining informed of their profession and engaged in continuing education (and) training.”

According to Ware, “a handful of certifications can carry as much impact as a bachelor’s degree because traditional degrees tend to focus on theoretical topics and don’t usually produce skills that can immediately translate to workforce productivity,” depending on the hiring manager and job requirements.

A bachelor’s degree, of course, is still required. Many hiring managers will insert words like “B.S. in computer science or equivalent experience” in their job descriptions.

“For employers who value work experience as a type of education, certs like (the) Google IT support cert, particularly some of the higher cloud-focused ones, can provide a candidate an advantage,” Ware says. He adds that the most well-known certifications are undoubtedly those from Google and Amazon Web Services, or AWS.

Ware advises certificate holders to optimize their resumes by including certain Google-related keywords and services throughout their resumes in order to attract hiring managers and transform their resumes into marketing tools. For example, throughout your CV, you may use phrases like “Google Cloud Platform,” “Google IT help,” and “IT support.”

“More crucial than anything else for job seekers is that they take an inbound strategy to career development that turns their resume into a lead generation tool, rather than spending time searching for and applying for employment,” Ware adds.