If there are any IT management professionals watching this thread, I would be interested in their feelings about IT certification. I've been in IT for about 10 years now and I currently hold CompTIA Security+ certification, LPI certification, and Microsoft's MCSE and MCSA. I'm a senior technology specialist at a large university and modestly consider myself an expert in the field
Anyway, I only really started working towards certifications over the last five years or so, mainly because of my position. I do a lot of R&D, and systems administration, but being in a senior position, I'm in a role where I need to lead by example, and train our junior level staff. When I started out I felt like the certifications were very worthwhile, but at this point I feel like certifications are of little importance to me. I've taken more exams than I can remember (probably 20+), and I no longer see the benefits from continuing on with certifications. My time is much better spent doing my own R&D, solving problems, reading documentation, etc. Even with the certifications that claim to be "advanced", I find that they still provide only a slight indication of a persons ability in any one particular area. Anyone can read a book, take a certification workshop, get a brain dump, etc... and pass a certification. Yes, even the hands on certifications are passable with this kind of preparation. I can't tell you how many questions I have seen on exams about a particular command, or command options. Who cares?! Everyone has heard of man pages or command --help or command /? . Why do I care that someone passed a certification test because they learned some commands? Why do I want to waste my time learning a dozen switches for a command and ten ways to the something when I know the way that works for me and I know how to get information on a command when I want to use it?
The number of certified professionals that I see, that I would consider relatively incompetent, is very high, and the number of skilled people without any certification is pretty high. I'm not saying that the certifications are worthless, but there is way too much emphasis placed on certification. Like any sane person, I take certifications for what they are and for me a certification is like any other factor you consider in hiring someone. It's a very small part of the big picture. If a person said to me that they had 10 certifications and because of that they were qualified for the job, or they should get a higher salary, I would know immediately that they weren't right for the job. If someone asked me why I didn't have xyz certification I would say because I spend my time doing real work and I've demonstrated with all my previous accomplishments and certifications that I can learn anything I want and leverage any technology as I need to.
I think certifications are helpful for those starting out in the field, but even those people really need to keep them in perspective. Don't think that what you learned studying for a certification exam will be even a significant portion of what you need to know to be successful in IT. I would rank certifications in line with a single college course, even those requiring mutiple exams. They may help you get to the next level, you may draw a few things from them that help you in your daily work, but they aren't going to be the things that by themselves determine how successful you are in your career. You need to keep learning every day and you need to be able to learn on your own. When I hire, all the factors most important to me in evaluating candidates, have nothing to do with certification or education. I definitely consider those things, and if someone can truly demonstrate to me how those things have benefitted them and how they have leveraged them, they will hold more weight, but seeing them on a resume means almost nothing to me, and the more someone focuses on those things, the more likely I am to assume that they are lacking in more important areas.
Companies will continue to try to make certifications more difficult, more confusing, more costly, etc., but for those who are serious about a career in IT, always keep in mind what value you are truly going to get from it. If you are in consulting where you often deal with customers who will pay more for certified professionals (even though they have no idea what those certifications really mean), then it almost definitely is worth any amount you can spend on certs., but if you are working in any other area, don't succomb to the marketing and believe that certification will get you a raise, or a high salary, that it will give you the skills to succeed, that it will indicate to employers that you are better than another candidate, etc. Look at how certifications may compliment your overall resume, what you might learn while studying for them, what impact they will truly have on your ability to do your job, and so on. I think it's always good to have at least one just to be able to say that you've done it and can do it. I have no problem with someone who has only a 10 year old cert, and can explain to me what they have done and learned in the last 10 years and who is willing and able to acquire a new certification if for some reason it was required. On the other hand, when someone who has little experience and has never taken a test, says that certifications are useless and they see no need for them, I'm a lot more skeptical. Certification is just one of those things that if you have it, you better be able to explain how it is of benefit to you and your employer, and not expect a whole lot in return, and if you don't have it, you better have a good case for explaining why you don't and clearly demonstrating your knowledge and skills. The employers and the certification bodies are the ones who always win. Employers typically just downplay it if you have it (so they don't have to pay you more), and overemphasize it if you don't..
For me personally certification was good in that it allowed me to better evaluate job candidates, it confirmed for me that my level of knowledge was where I thought it was, and it did give people who aren't as familiar with IT, more confidence in my skills (i.e. customers that don't have tech backgrounds). At this point in my career though, I would say that I can be much more effective learning what I need to be successful at my job, rather than being locked in to learning what I need to know to pass an exam.
Vern Wilkins
Senior Technology Specialist
Indiana University Libraries