Slashdot Mirror
What's the Point of IT Certifications?
erica_ann asks: "Fact: You can have the knowledge without having to pay to be Certified when it
comes to computers. Another fact: Just because you have the certification does not mean you actually
know the material as well as someone who is not certified. You might just be good at taking tests.
So what is the point of getting IT Certifications? To have a piece of paper?"
"I have had this conversation with many friends and co workers. One thing I like
out of all the conversations is getting more than just one point of view. I know
my standpoint on it. I
rambled on it for quite a while. But, what I would like to ask of everyone on Slashdot, is what is your opinion? Do you have certifications? Was it worth getting certified? How do employers, employees and management feel about them? Do you pay for them? Does the company pay for them? Is it worth being certified if you do not get a pay raise for it? What certifications bring more
than others? Are specialized more employable than general certifications?
I think many people would benefit from hearing more than one side of the controversy. Maybe it will encourage more employers to reward for certifications. Maybe it will help the next person attain the career he or she wants. Is there such thing as being TOO certified for a job?
Or is the whole idea of getting alphabet soup behind your name just certifiably insane?"
I think many people would benefit from hearing more than one side of the controversy. Maybe it will encourage more employers to reward for certifications. Maybe it will help the next person attain the career he or she wants. Is there such thing as being TOO certified for a job?
Or is the whole idea of getting alphabet soup behind your name just certifiably insane?"
Do not try to understand the point -- that's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth.
What truth?
There is no point.
--
You didn't know.
What truth?
There are FOUR lights
Because he is insecure and has a little penis. Why else?
Not funny, too true.
I've worked in places where I didn't get to vet the resumes or write the classified ad. The most HR would let me do was reject the subset of resumes they deemed worthy and ask them to set up interviews with those that remained. It's quite interesting when they post ads asking for experts in 'Windows 97' or 'Novel Netwear'.
I recall a job interview I attended in 1999. The job itself was a pseudo-network-engineer position with heavy client interaction; I would have worked out of a co-location facility and managed equipment for a tiny list of clients. The position was quite junior. This particular job required an MCSE, which I possessed.
My interview was multi-stage, including a technical process. The questions they asked were laughable; "What is TCP/IP" and "What is DNS" and so forth. I pointed out that I was, in fact, an MCSE. They replied "We know - that's why we're asking."
I don't think I would want to work for a company which makes such sweeping generalizations.
I throw my certifications on a one-liner under my education and training. You know, something like:
exactly.
HR: do you have MCP?
me: I have MCSE on my resume.
HR: yes, but do you also have MCP?
me: *click*
so... you are in a hiring posotion... Hey, buddy, i'm looking for a job, great news too, I don't have any certs. Hell, I don't even have a degree, I figure, why do I need one? I'm sure by this point, I'm pretty much a sure bet for getting this job, but if you want to actually do an interview as a free write off lunch or something, I would understand. We'll be in touch, nice doing buisness with you. ass
Don't Blame me if I seem bitter, I'm at work, and the TV only plays soap operas.
might be that pin ball was their religion ....
``They think: "this guy doesn't even know X, how can he be an MSCE?''
Well...why would one need to know X to be a MSCE?
You don't expect an RHCE to know Solitaire, either, right?
Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
\i{ To get past the HR Trolls!}
After you're past them, does saying "Fee Fie Foe Foo" get your money back?
General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
Why do you list the MCSE on the second AND third lines?
I took option B -- switching to a job where I didn't have to hire people. On other words, I exchanged one set of frustrations with another, but at least now when I refer to one of my co-workers as a flaming moron, I can do so with a clean conscience knowing I wasn't the one that hired him :)
Think it's hard getting dev's to write documentation, try getting them to write cert test questions
Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
No, and typing 'xyzzy' doesn't make them disappear in a puff of greasy smoke, either.
resigned