Anticlue: Certifications in the Industry

January 22, 2004

Certifications in the Industry

One of my thoughts on certifications versus education is that it isn't a versus. My impression is that it needs to be a combined item.

A good solid education brings a thinking pattern, and more importantly an analysis thought process, that is essential to problem solving. Formalized collegiate educated reiterates the basics(datastructures), and then expands the concepts (algorithms). However, that is not all one learns, basically and hopefully while you are either spending your parents money or going massively into debt, you learn how to work with a group, how to attack a problem, and appreciate different thoughts - on the educational side of things. ;)

My thoughts on certification is that it shows an expertise in a software package. That expertise allows one to manipulate the software package to find a good solution. In my opinion, it is better to get a vendor based certification than a brainbench certification. For example, a while back, I took and passed the brain bench access test. I took the exam for simple curiosity to see where I stood. I have never taken the microsoft access certification, but in my opinion it is better to have the vendor statement. The issue with any certification is that in a couple of years, you will probably need to take another one. That is just the way technology is. However, education gives one a good solid foundation that help to understand and manipulate new items.

Why am I writing on this? The other day I came across a father and son in my favorite bookstore. The son was trying to say why waste the money on a college education, when people are looking for a certification that is under 300. (books and testing). The father, looking exasperated, asked me my opinion. The one above is what I gave him.

Posted by Elyse at January 22, 2004 6:06 AM | TrackBack

Comments

One cannot discount education. Going to college for college's sake will give you squat. I've done more with my degree than many that graduated my art school. It all depends on what you do in college as well as with what you've learned in college.

Additionally, bigger companies care little about you, and more about what degress + certs you have. Smaller companies are the opposite; having both is great, but you can't lose with college; no one can take a degree away from you, but knowing Flash 5 means shite in another year. The problem is with atttitude; expecting to recoup a hundred thousand dollar investment into business school simply because you went is becoming more and more preposperous; one has to take initiative to utilize what you gained from school and not expect the degree to just magically get you a high paying job and skills.

Posted by: JesterXL at January 22, 2004 9:09 AM