More companies apply ITIL best practices than any other IT service management process framework, so for IT professionals, it just makes sense that getting one's ITIL v3 certification will considerably enhance your career opportunities. But, it really is more than that.
Prior ITIL releases taught businesses and their staff how to manage IT operations and "align" those with business processes. Certification in those early versions unquestionably made you a accomplished employee as you learned how to manage your obligations effectively. ITIL version 3 takes the next step by showing organizations and businesses how to manage IT effectively and enhance business performance. For the IT professional, passing the ITIL v3 Foundation examination permits you entry position into the ITIL management arena where you are acknowledged as being serious about service management. It also opens your choices to work up the new framework - towards the advanced qualifications possibly all the way to ITIL Expert and a job in senior management, making strategic IT decisions that produce competitive advantage for the business.
In the role of an IT staff member, your job is at risk every day from rivals in the latest low wage outsourcing hot spot. Americans lost work to Japanese people, who lost jobs to Russians, who lost jobs to Asians, who are now losing their jobs to Africans. Who knows where it will end, but you can anticipate it won't result in superior wages for anybody. IT senior managers, on the other hand, are in demand all over, and earning ITIL v3 certification qualifies you for those positions.
So let us go back to the initial step. The good news is that you do not have to be familiar with everything about ITIL best practices to pass the ITIL v3 Foundation Exam. One is only required to attain a grade of 65% to pass! Nevertheless, to ensure that you do not risk your application fee, a bit of groundwork will help out.
Several ITIL v3 exam prep courses of varying quality are accessible on the web, and if you want somebody to hold your hand, they can provide decent value. However, with a bit of self-discipline and basic groundwork, you can pass the examination without paying for a high-priced trainer - simply read the text books. You could purchase the entire ITIL v3 set - they provide a thorough collection of resources and for $498 members price so they should. You can though, consider reading something more concise to get you on the right path, one of those available is "ITIL V3 Explained" by Angela Whittaker. It is an exceptional reference and should impart all the information you need. Then, plan to be successful on test day.
The ITIL v3 certification exam has a time limit, hence you must be mentally alert and focused when the clock begins ticking. Get a lot of rest the night before and eat a light meal a couple of hours before the examination. I also recommend that you look at the material once more right before test time. I summarized the important concepts on a set of index cards and read through them in the parking lot right before the examination. Furthermore, others have cited unfamiliarity with the different types of questions asked as the number one reason for their failing grade. You ought to take advantage of the many practice tests available to be familiar with how they word questions and the logic behind accepted answers. Follow these guidelines, and do your homework, and scoring a sixty five ought to be straightforward.
Author Resource:
Angela Whittaker is an IT Manager with 12 years experience. Angela can be contacted via http://www.itilsecrets.com or visit http://itilv3explained.com.