Which IT Certifications for Specific IT Jobs?

outlander78 asks: "There have been several questions posted recently (Landing a job, College or Career? to list a few) discussing education and job searching. I have just completed a BSc Computer Science, and have 2 years of co-op experience. This is apparently not enough, as I have yet to get a single interview, despite many carefully written letters and resume submissions to job postings. I read here that a degree with certifications was a good combination, so now I need to know - which certifications are best for job seekers? Whether I work as programmer, sys admin or something else isn't an issue, since I need any job at this point, and enjoy most computer-related jobs - please, suggest whatever certifications you are hiring for or were hired because of."

Comments

No Certs, No Degree - doing just fine

[NTS_NachO]

I have considered many times that i should get my some Certs or get a degree, but with my experience I've never needed them. It would only be for self-satisfaction. I work with people that have everything from A+ to a MCSE, CCNE, and MCNE. I make just as much and more in some cases as them.

Why ask /. ?

[Beliskner]

Dude, your first mistake - you've posted to /. which is predominantly IT specialists. /. people think it's all easy, but I bet if they actually went to their boss and asked, "So how many graduate recruits have we taken on this year?" they'll recoil in horror when they realise that there aren't enough jobs for the IT grads this year even if they come from Ivy league such as CMU.

If you look at StandardPoor you'll find that we're at or near the peak of company defaults in the US.... Unfortunately everyone's banking on a rebound and therefore a rebound won't happen. Sorry dude, I think you're gonna join next year's CMU and Berkeley IT grads on welfare. After that maybe it'll get better. The economy hasn't yet crashed enough to allow a strong rebound, but I don't expect a Japanese-style stagnation (they're having it real tough there).

The only cert that can get you a job is accountancy dude. But the rest of the /. people are going to try to make you feel good, and kid themselves that everything's OK. Wall Street does it as well, they're constantly 'talking up' the economy.

The reality of the matter is that even if you can code circles around Linus, as a new grad with < 10 years experience, you're gonna be on welfare for at least 18 months. Good degree, bad timing => plain bad luck. Sorry.