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CompTIA Adds Linux+ Certification
11 platter hard driv writes: "CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association), the people who made the A+ and I-NET+ certifications, have made a Linux certification. I just received an e-mail a day or two ago that the test is out of beta. This seems pretty important seeing how CompTIA is non-vendor specific." Legions of PHBs and Kinko's nationwide look forward to the resulting resume changes.
What should an employer put some faith in then? How do you chose to hire someone?
I agree.. you shouldn't hire based on certification alone... especially for serious jobs... but that's why experience usually always wins over education... so don't worry.
A Masters degree in CS doesn't necessarily have anything at all to do with normal IT work.
A+, N+, CCNA, CNA, MCP.. are all 'entry level' certifications. All they should tell you is that the person is familiar with the material covered. by no means an expert. If you say you have a switch, they sort of know what that is.....
The problem is that some treat certifications as the 'end of the road' for learning.. not the beginning of the journey, as it should be.
Let me compare it to.. a diving certification.
You go out and get your PADI Open-Water Diver certification. This qualifies you to dive in normal conditions down to about.. I forget.. 60 feet max, in open water. Now.. just because you are certified, does NOT make you an expert diver.. it just means that some professionals have decided you know enough to dive safely under those conditions.
After hundreds of dives.. and more study.. you may someday be a Divemaster.... many certifications later... which means you've done hundreds of dives, and are an expert diver, so much that you can take responsibility for helping others out on a dive.. etc.
A+, CNA, etc... are like the Open Water certification... they are a beginning.
Aside from the CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert) certifications... I can't think of any certifications that actually test experts. CCIE definately does (unless it's changed.. I know they split it into three different exams now... but each field has grown as well.. so...). Unless you are some kind of prodigy, you don't study for a weekend and pass CCIE.. you have to know a LOT about a LOT to pass it.
Other than that.. certifications.. don't worry about it! Work experience is everything. If you get the chance to go for liek a weekend firewall course or something... on the company, to get 'certified' on something.. go for it, won't hurt..
but nobody will be questioning a few years experience wondering 'but you don't have an A+!'
If you have experience, and a company really wants all their techs a+ certified.. they'll send you to the course themselves.