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?"

Comments

Re:There is no point unless...

[Delphiki]

Each certification decreases strongly your chances of getting hired in my organization.

Each person with that kind of judgemental, elitist, narrow minded attitude makes me more likely to find a better place to work..

Re:Who Cares -- What the little kid would say?

[shokk]

More important, if the guy has certs with work experience to back it up, AND the interviewers can ask decent questions verifying that knowledge and experience, then the system works. Otherwise the con artist and the idiot interviewer are all complicit in giving the job away to a BS artist. I'm afraid there won't be any certifications to verify interviewing skills in those doing the hiring.