To Cert or Not to Cert …
August 17, 2007 by Kevin Landreth, Technology in Tech Stuff
Certifications have been an industry standard for years as a barometer to gauge an individual’s depth of technical expertise. I would disagree that a certification can serve as a barometer of technical expertise. After working in this industry for more than four years and obtaining only one certification, I’d have to say my perspective has changed from certifications being a de facto standard to more of a gauging utility on a resume.
For example, if I were to say that I designed three separate automation processes for deploying Linux and third-party software, then one would wonder if I really had accomplished such a task. I mean, Al Gore did invent the Internet, right? But, if you saw I had an RHCE[i] and a Java enterprise architect certificate[ii] then my certifications may lead you to believe that it’s possible that I did accomplish such a task.
Now if I had designed a completely scalable N+1 tier mirroring repository service without any certifications, then this may prove that certifications offer nothing more than an industry recognition that I know how to do my job. But, in designing the repository service, I’ve already proven my value to the company based on the solutions I’ve delivered.
Here’s where I’m torn:
Should I get more certifications? And if so, which ones?
The company thinks I’m valuable already — I’m blogging! — so I’m not gunning for more money here. What I am looking for is more industry recognition, but does that come through networking with peers and vendor relationships or does that come more from light networking but having a nice slew of certifications to say that I know what I’m talking about here. This has been frustrating me to some degree as I am well-rounded[iii] in the industry and the corresponding technologies, but I don’t know if the cost/benefit ratio is right for either approach.
I guess the next question that always follows is did I finish school, and the answer is “no.” I probably should have, and maybe one day I will. I guess if technology degrees weren’t so vendor-specific I would have finished. I did switch to logistics but then I got serious about my career and didn’t go back.
Of course, 50+ hour weeks and 16 credit hours can do that to a person.
Oh well. Such is life. The question remains: to cert or not to cert. I welcome your thoughts and feedback.
- Kevin Landreth, RHCE, Sr. Systems Architect @ The Planet
[i] RHCE # 804007071224202
[ii] Do they even have these? Either way I don’t have one….
[iii] While I have gained weight since working here, that’s not what I’m talking about!
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August 17th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Certifications are useful if applying to a highly sought after position. If you think a position has a lot of applicants, certs are an easy way for an employer to triage the applications. However, in my experience hiring people, all a cert means is that someone passed an exam. Also, many of the topics required to pass an RHCE or Linux+ have little bearing on supporting a Plesk, Cpanel or Ensim server. How often do you need to fix samba or X?
When we hire people and and get to a certain stage, I often stop the general chit-chat and move to asking very specific technical questions. If the person has the experience they save they have, the answers will will be immediate. If I have to clarify the questions, I don’t care what XYZ cert you have.
August 19th, 2007 at 6:52 am
I further agree with you on your topic of certifications being unnecessary, unless noted I stand firm with the learning by doing method. Who is to say that working for X Systems Inc. for Y amount of years doesn’t have much more advantages then the one class/certification place on a resume.
“What I am looking for is more industry recognition”
My response would be for you to just concentrate on your job and keep blogging about your training and technical job experiences.
P.S.
I wish my entries were this long!
-Eddie
August 20th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Hello Kevin.
Certifications and cert programs (like MCSE, SCEA, CCNE, etc…) are vendor-specific by design. They crank up your knowledge on certain products, and your awareness of a specific subject.
College degrees take longer and are more diverse in terms of subject matter. You’ll pay more for a degree than a cert program, but its worth it over the long term. And your career is a long-term thing.
My experience is this: I had a bachelors degree in marketing and found that I was being excluded from the programming jobs I wanted. No experience or degree = no job. So I went back in school [while married, 2 kids, full-time job] and got a masters degree in software engineering. Yes, it was difficult. But it paid for itself before I graduated! I found a new job and got a raise that was worth more than I paid for my entire degree. And life has gotten better ever since.
Basically an employer thinks long term and will reward you for having done the same.
Hope this help.
Chris
September 1st, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Degrees and Certifications
It seems that when companies are hiring, they do use certifications and degrees to narrow down the list of applicants. The odds of getting a qualified applicant are increased with certs and degrees. That is not to say that if a person has no certs and/or degrees that they are not competent or capable of learning - far from it. Kevin Landreth is obviously an example.
The company that hires certified and/or certifies it’s employees can advertise the fact to prospective clients. Clients then gain a sense that the company is well staffed.
Bennie Gravitt
A+, CNA, MCP, Associate Applied Science CompSci
September 6th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Thanks for the feedback. I see that there is more than one way to get to what I want and it seems to have worked for different people.
I’ve got my one little cert (RHCE) but I want more after reading this. I guess the next question is. How many? I’m thinking more than five and I’d be stretching myself too thin.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Quit yer yappin’ and get certified. It helps more than it hurts. Let The Planet pay for it and it’ll be sweeter. Then you can leverage the cert(s) for a raise, bonus, or both.