The Value of Tech Certs
No, that’s not candy.
Though, I have to admit, sometimes the industry treats them like candy!
No, I’m talking about technical certifications, which are, I think, the bane of the IT industry now. Folks over at TechRepublic are talking about tech certs and their relative value. Personally, I don’t think they are that valuable any more. Oh, back in the day, I think they were and, to a degree, they solve certain problems for hiring managers, but, I don’t think they matter as much any more. Of course, maybe that has something to do with where I am in the industry and job market, too. I am, frighteningly enough, a seasoned professional. So, my work history and experience count for a lot more than the handful of certifications I have. (For the record, I’ve been Novell certified since 1994 and Linux certified since 2003.)
As far as I’m concerned, the only thing my certs are good for any more are getting past a Human Resources person acting as a firewall to the hiring manager. Usually, if I’ve done all my homework like I should before even applying for a job, once I get to the hiring manager, I’m pretty much in. And, honestly, they don’t normally care about my certs. They care about my ability to execute.
So, what do you think? Are professional certifications like this worth the paper they’re printed on any more?
