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 Are certification programs a scam? - Interesting article
 
 1/10/2007 12:01:15 PM
Dave Baldwin
72 posts


Are certification programs a scam? - Interesting article

What do you think?
Has your certificate helped you?

Here is the Article - http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9007627
'It's one thing to have a nice little piece of paper to hang on the wall, but it's another to have the experience.' says one analyst.


Dave Baldwin
 1/10/2007 3:31:23 PM
zman
14 posts


Re: Are certification programs a scam? - Interesting article

I think certs are great for showing that you have a basic understanding of a product/concept, but you need real world experience for real knowledge of a product/concept.  I personally would hire experience over a cert anyday.

 


Scott Zischerk (Zman)
I think, therefore I get a headache
 1/10/2007 6:02:24 PM
Dave Baldwin
72 posts


Re: Are certification programs a scam? - Interesting article

I have to agree. Although I do not think the certs are scams. I do think it is naive to think as soon as you finish your cert you will automatically get a great paying job. The way I look at certificates is, it is a way to finish out your knowledge of a technology.

But I guess to each his own. Whatever works for your style of learning.

 - Dave B


Dave Baldwin
 1/10/2007 6:41:11 PM
Dave_Redding
14 posts


Re: Are certification programs a scam? - Interesting article

If two candidates had equal experience, who would you pick? the one With the MCAD or the one without?  I'd personally pick the cert'ed one.  To me it shows perserverence and dedication just to have one.  I might even pick a cert over experience, because that cert tells me that while this person may not have the exp, they may have the mentatility that can take them further than the expereienced guy. 

That does'nt work in every situation, most times I'd imagine an expereienced guy is just as agressive and dedicated... but eh, my two cents :)

 2/19/2007 2:39:40 PM
evarlast
9 posts


Re: Are certification programs a scam? - Interesting article
I actually feel the oposite.  When I am reviewing resumes, I always give negative points to those which have certifications of any kind.  In my experience certified people tend to be less capable than those who have real world experience.  Now of course this varies greatly, and it isn't the only thing on which I base a decision.

One thing that helped me solidify this opinion is knowing why certifications exist.  Certifications are a program tied directly to vendor support channels.  In order for a VAR to resell Cisco hardware at a certain level they must have N number of certified cisco people on staff.  The same goes for Microsoft Certified resellers and the various Microsoft certified programs.  Ever wonder why there aren't anything but the most basic Java certifications?  It is because vendors aren't interested in it.  IBM wants people to know the WebSphere stack.  Bea wants the same for their stack.  JBoss... the same, and so on.  I'd much rather have a programmer that understands all the concept on which these libraries are based and can read a manual and be up and running quickly in any of these technologies.
  Discussions  General  Are certificati...