What do you think about certifications?

I have been thinking about getting my Cisico certification but I was wondering if I should bother. To me it seems it's just something to get you in the door with the HR department but not something that the technical community gives a crap about. I am personally not impressed by peices of paper until I know what the person can really do. I guess the bottom line is... Am I going to be able to make more money???!!!!

 

Do you know Cisco equipment?

Are you experienced with it?

If not, it can't hurt to get the certs, but...make sure you know what you are doing. Experience is not taught in books, or proven by a piece of paper.

Me, I'm not bothering with certs, I'm going back to school.

 

It's the HR people who do the hiring (mainly from your CV). The first and most savage cut is done from the CV (and certificates listed) 'coz they usually don't recognize or understand the subleties of your experience like the techos would. They usually operate on the theory "That no-one got fired by buying IBM" so anyone with certificates must be better than someone without them. Sorry but after 40 years of working, this has been my experience. Baz

=====

 

Qualifications to help get the job, experience to help keep it.

 

I went to school for Cisco networking got my CCNA and went to school for CCNP. I did not get my CCNP

Maybe the CCNA does not really matter
but I know many poeple that got hired as Networking techs for having the CCNP

Now if you go ahead and get the CCIE I am almost certain that you could get a serious Job somewhere.


I feel that a person with certifications combined with a college degree stands a better chance at getting a Good job.

But if I had to pick I take the College Degree in a heartbeat

 

If it gets you in the door, it's worth it. Car titles, marriage licenses and contracts are all just pieces of paper too. Take every advantage that comes your way, no matter how small.

 

whats a degree but another piece of paper?
there's no substitute for exp.
all three couldn't hurt

the only thing that is best is to prove yourself
knowledge and experiance are next to godlyness

 

I know people who graduated High School and still can't read. . .
I know people who have a BS and still live with mommy.
Work experiance is what should matter most
you get a guy with fifteen years wok exp. and a guy just out of BSU
lets say they both have the same amount of knowledge only the white coller guy is more theory than practice. . .who gets the job?
in fact
lets make it a guy who spent his whole life in prison
applies for a job
another guy has exp. and a couple certs.
the ten to twenty will get it. . .just because "they" need to meet their quota

all I am saying, xflat, is that covering all bases is the only way to get ahead
go to school and work
get qualified in everything. . don't stop learning

don't "settle" for anything

 

Yeah, and I have employed people with 20 or 30 years experience and they're about as useful as an ejector seat in a submarine!


Depends on the individual qualities - which is only verified by trying them out for a while.

Both theory and practice are always useful. It's the person that may, or may not be useless.

 

A medical degree is a piece of paper. Would you go to a doctor without one?
Tell a woman a marriage license is just a piece of paper and see how long you live after that.
Drive a car without a license. Then you can tell the police it's just a piece of paper, too.
It's not the paper it's printed on. It's the idea it represents. A certification, license, or degree provides one with an independent confirmation of skill or knowledge. Experience is most important, but it is good to have a gauge to help measure with to make a proper decision.

 

I think that the idea of standardized tests have some merit.

If you want to go to law school, you take the LSAT.
For medicine, MCAT, and so on......