Google IT Support Professional Certificate Worth It? | Grow With Google
A Professional Google Certification Course Review
Is the Google IT Support Professional Certificate worth it? Here is another Information Technology topic for discussion and a professional Google certification course review.
Earlier this year, I decided it was time to continue growing my technical skills. I decided to finally say goodbye to working in the medical admin sector, follow my digital passion and completely tap-into the digital world. I use Google products, so why not Grow with Google right!? I successfully received my Google IT Support Professional Certificate this year, so here is my personal review of the professional certification, what to expect plus my overall rating of the program at the end of this article.
Remote Learning | Online Course — Education
What is GISPC
- Google I.T. Support Professional Certificate
- An educational course developed and offered by Google
- The courses are hosted by Coursera
- Course Objective — providing individuals with job ready skills to start or advance an IT career
How Do You Become a Google Certified Professional?
You must successfully complete a total of 5 certificates with a grade average of 80%-100% for each certificate.
Here are the 5 professional certifications you must complete and receive:
- Technical Support Fundamentals
- The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
- Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User
- System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services
- IT Security: Defense Against the Digital Dark Arts
*You must complete ALL 5 Certificates in order to receive the title ‘Google IT Support Professional’
How Long is the Google IT Support Professional Program?
- 8 months
- Online — offered by Coursera
- Self-paced
Here is a pro-tip to complete the program in less than 8 months. This tip is for those who already have some prior knowledge/technical skills within the information technology world.
- 5 certificates need to be completed
- Each certificate is broken down into approx 6–8wks
PRO TIP: If you have more time than usual on your hands, treat this program like your job. Dedicate 8–10hours toward each lesson every day and you can complete the program in half the time.
*REMINDER: if you are a complete newbie to the information technology field, the pro-tip mentioned is not recommended. Stick to the recommended schedule mentioned within each lesson hosted by Coursera.
How Much Is The Google IT Support Professional Certificate?
Google IT Support Professional Certificate Cost -Approx. $49/month (US)
- Why is the cost so attractive?
- Micro courses and their benefits
- College/universities involve a lot of textbook reading and not enough case studies/hands on experience
- Qwiklabs have managed to create a virtual hands on experience that will leave you feeling like you completed an assignment IRL.
- Perfect example — building a computer from scratch
- For someone who loves tech, I have always been interested in anything to do with code as well multimedia, but learning a skill such as building a computer from scratch was actually pretty cool.
Does the Google IT Support Professional Certificate Offer Financial Aid?
- Yes. They provide financial aid as well
- If you need financial aid, you must answer a series of questions for Coursera to determine your eligibility
- 2 week waiting period for response
- 95% approval rate — please do not abuse this service
- Link to financial aid application → https://bit.ly/3nhXu7U
Can I Get a Job With The Google IT Support Professional Certificate?
Before I give a final answer to this question (later on in this section), let’s start with the pros and cons first
Pros
- Real life experience case studies
- Hands-on experience via virtual projects
- Costs
- Cheaper than college/university
- Due to monthly cost, overall cost can be further reduced if completed in less than 8 months
- Self-paced — learn at your own pace
- all 5 certificates can be obtained in less than 8 months; this is in reference to individuals who already have prior tech knowledge;
- Ex — individuals who are self taught but want a valid certification
- Ex — individuals who have other tech certification and want a refresher program/course or want to add another certification to their digital tool box and resume
- Online deliverability
- Resume Builder — resume builder that provide tips/outline/template/resources and perks
- Presented content is both educational and valuable — meaning the information and resources you receive will actually be utilized IRL no matter which company you are employed with or decide to become a freelancer
Cons
- If you don’t have any previous experience/credentials, the job search can seem very daunting and frustrating due to the lack of physical experience even as an entry level 1 IT support; this is where utilizing and leveraging your skills as a freelancer comes in.
So, Rene…..can I get a job with the Google IT Support Professional Certificate?’ the short answer is Yes. The long answer really depends on how much time, effort and energy you are willing to put into the job search and how much rejection you can really handle. Not every job or employer will want you, it’s a simple fact, but it also depends on what you do in the meantime. During your job search, leverage any previous skills you already have + any new skills you have learned and are confident in offering as a service. Leverage your digital skills and freelance. With that being said, here are a few tips that you can utilize during your job search.
Tips for utilizing skills and freelancing during your job search. Create your own reality by creating opportunities for yourself!
- Advertise your services on Kijiji/Craigslist/clarity.fm
- Start a blog, youtube channel, podcast and share what you have learned.
- you are still providing useful tips to someone; meaning a potential employer could come across your content and offer you employment
- Create a website/portfolio — work on projects and share them
- Coursera also offers projects that you can work on; They are typically cheaper than the certified programs/courses, however this is a great opportunity to find a specific area of interest in which you can utilize to demonstrate a specific set of skills and create valuable content that can be added to your portfolio
How Much Can I Make as a Google IT Support Professional? Salary Expectations.
While the average salary for a Canadian IT Support Specialist is around $55K (according to Glass Door), the average for a Canadian Google IT Support Professional is still yet to be determined. As for the United States, the average is approximately $47K as per Glass Door.
Google IT Support Professional Certificate Jobs
Many companies such as Google, Home Depot, Sprint Walmart and more provide opportunities for those who complete the certificate. Here is a detailed article from Coursera that outlines the career opportunities with the Google IT Support Professional Certificate → https://bit.ly/3qVZVPK
Where Can Find a Remote Job As a Google IT Support Professional?
We live in a digital world and personally, I prefer remote work which is why I have made it my mission to share all of my digital tips and resources.
Here are my top 3 trusted sites for remote work:
- Flexjobs.com (paid) — https://bit.ly/3mjTdiG
- indeed.ca (indeed.com if you from the US) — https://indeedhi.re/34bBYdv
- Remote.co — https://bit.ly/349bUPS
Google IT Support Professional Certificate — Overall Rating
I give the Google IT Support Professional Certificate course a 5 star rating for the following reasons;
- Deliverability
- online classes
- course layout
- Provides hands on experience in a virtual setting
- Accessibility
- beginner friendly (61% of learners do not have a 4 year degree)
- Coursera app available
- Anyone can take this course from beginner to advanced
- Cost
- Resume builder
- LinkedIn setup
- CompTIA + Google It Support Professional Certificate — This major opportunity allows you to double up on your IT credentials — More info here → https://bit.ly/2KrdCoJ
For the latest reviews and job search progress from other individuals who have also taken the Google IT Support Professional Certificate course, follow this reddit thread | click here→ https://bit.ly/3mdFrOK
If you liked this topic/review and would like to see more articles like this from my personal digital tool box, please do not hesitate to connect with me and share your thoughts!
Read my previous article on Digital Surveillance and How your Employer Could be Spying on you → https://bit.ly/3gyMdxf
If you prefer to watch the video on Digital Surveillance, you can watch it here → https://bit.ly/3gw7EPD
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xoxo
Rene Eliz
