InsideTech

I am just curious as to what other people think of obtaining Certifications. Do you believe it was a worth while investment? Or a waste of time? I personally have a handful, but don't feel they did me too much, if any, good.

Upong getting certified, I never noticed an increase in job offers or an increase in pay / benefits. And honestly, I seem to be the only one in my jobs with any certs. In my current position, none of my coworkers nor even the lead of my department has any. So i'm stuck wondering, other than maybe rare ones (Novell) or really high ones (MCSE / MCSA) what good are they, other than bragging rights?

What are your opinions on getting certifications?

I think it's a catch-22. Basically, certs without experience are useless. But if you have the experience, why do you need the cert? It's fine to learn things our of a book or in a classroom, but when you are in a real-world situation and need a real solution, experience is what is really going to matter. Besides, you're more apt to remember something if you use it all the time, rather than just hearing it in a classroom or reading it in a book.

Certifications can play many roles to advance your career in the IT field. Several partner programs that companies have with for example Microsoft, Cisco, Novel, HP/Compaq, Oracle, Lotus and so on demans a certain amount of certified staff belonging to the company for them to even apply for the partner status. For me certifications have payed off big time since the start of my career and in the beginning all I had was a CNA and a MCP. Back then that was more then most had though. Today I can say that the combination of all the certs I have or had combined with my work experience atleast keeps me out of the unemployment problem.

The difference today is that the demands is higher. It is no longer sufficient to hold just an MCP or even an MCSE to get in to the field because pretty much everyone has thoose certifications. So you need more. The MCSE is great to have as a base for networking today but add a CCNP or even a CCIE to that and you will notice more doors open. Its the elite certs you need to go for if you want to get a pay back of your money you have invested.

Even if you have the experience I have found that the certs help with a few things for me. First thing is to set a goal for continuing studies on subjects I need to learn. If the company I work for wants me to learn some new product I always check to see if it has a certification I can take while learning it. It helps me focusing and gives me a messurement on what I learn. Also it can bring in more business to the company since it often means you can take on service work for that product if needed for other companies and that will get you a higher pay check. So I consider them very useful and valuable.

Ohh for thoose of you who might wonder I have taken the following certs and some of them have probably expired by now. MCP+I, MCSE, MCT, CNA, CIP, Compaq ASE on windows 2000-2003 proliant servers, Compaq ASE storage sollutions, CTT+, Network+ and A+

Auggie said:

I am just curious as to what other people think of obtaining Certifications. Do you believe it was a worth while investment? Or a waste of time? I personally have a handful, but don't feel they did me too much, if any, good.

Upong getting certified, I never noticed an increase in job offers or an increase in pay / benefits. And honestly, I seem to be the only one in my jobs with any certs. In my current position, none of my coworkers nor even the lead of my department has any. So i'm stuck wondering, other than maybe rare ones (Novell) or really high ones (MCSE / MCSA) what good are they, other than bragging rights?

What are your opinions on getting certifications?

I have recently obtained several certifications, so far it's helped a great deal with getting me in the door. I recommend it to everyone it could make all the differance when your being compared A to B to another candidate.