Certifications can be useful for getting your foot in the door when you may not have the experience yet. Granted, most certifications say you should have X amount of time doing Y type of work, but I had very little experience with the subject matter when I passed the A+ and Network+ certifications. When I go after a certification, it's because I'm looking to get a handle on the basics for jobs related to it, and because it's something to point to when I talk to HR about my qualifications. Additionally, certifications SUGGEST that you have a certain level of knowledge about a set of topics. I can spend six months doing network support work and never learn a thing about fiber if I'm at a small business, but a Network+ certification SUGGESTS that I at least know the difference between SC and MTRJ connectors, as well as single-mode and multimode fiber. To put it in fewer words, certifications are good for covering the basics of a subject, and might get you an interview, but it's the actual experience that'll probably land you the job. On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 2:17 PM, Bryan O'Neal wrote: > I too do not believe certifications are worth much. With the exception of a > selling point to customers who don't know better or to help lower your > insurance premiums. That said they CAN be a good path to focus your > learning and gain knowledge however that knowledge is not usually worth more > then a few months of intensive on the job training. > > On a side note I am mojor pet peve, in that I hate companies that requier > certain certifications for emplyment... If I were to colect ever cert I have > seen "requierd" for job I was otherwise well qualified for I would have to > spend about two years and about $100K to obtain them. At which point I could > get a few years of use and then have to repeat the process ;) > > If you want your people to have a prticuler cert you higher the person and > make continued employment contengent on getting the cert. > > On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 6:49 AM, Lisa Kachold wrote: > >> >> >> On Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 10:33 PM, Steve Phariss wrote: >> >>> Question to the group. >>> >>> I know that certificates in and of themselves are not a good indicator of >>> skill. But are they a worthwhile goal for knowlege sake? In particular, I >>> have been faced with a couple jobs that required Vertualization skills. I >>> have very little enterprise experience with vertulization so was concidering >>> taking a bootcamp course that concludes with a vertulization cert (Certified >>> Virtualization Expert™ -CVE™) >>> >>> Does anyone have any experience with the CVE or Bootcamp classes in >>> general? >>> >>> >>> Steve >>> >> In the old days, we had what were considered "academics". These were the >> people who could stand around and spout a million useless details about >> technology, but in the actual trenches, had no if/then/therefore logical >> skills. They were like autistics, in that they could memorize rote, but it >> often seemed as if the people who actually could excel at the times when >> someone had to pull raw intelligence and creativity out of a hat, they >> failed horribly. >> >> The people who actually had to work in the fields often found the >> certifications to be far from what was required to actually master a subject >> - epic fail for those selling technology or selling management that >> certifications were actually a good gauge of mastery. >> >> So, what started to happen was people who actually were deeply immersed in >> technology started to attend bootcamps which were given often during a >> convention, where a full immersal of the student into the subject matter's >> pure "academics" would occur, whereupon all the useless facts that are never >> used when implementing and maintaining the technology get retained just long >> enough to pass the certification. In this way, everyone could give a Class >> A subnet answer (even in the days when everyone only used Class C >> subnetting) for instance for a Cisco CCNA (which I obtained in 1999). >> >> I certified in IBM High Speed Networking Technology in the 1980's at >> USBank, and it was a complete exercise in rote memorization. I certified >> on Websphere V in 2006, and nothing had really changed; little on the test >> actually translated to being able to manage application servers in any real >> world shop. >> >> I doubt very much this has changed with regard to Virtualization quizzes - >> except that Linux certifications are generally excellent (especially the >> RHCE - which is a complete PRACTICAL test, no reference materials are >> allowed, and the student must master the subject on a virtual slice or real >> machine during the test). A RHCE is sold to businesses as a way to get a >> cheaper rate on their RHEL licenses. I was hired in a contract gig to build >> new application servers (8 Prod/Dev + 1 database all Dell 1950's 2850's) and >> clean up Apache security and little Linux issues while they sent their >> Microsoft staff to RHCE Fast Track school (Choicehotels.com): >> >> >> http://www.supershareware.com/info/whizlabs-rhce--red-hat-linux-certification--exam-simulator.html >> >> http://www.scribd.com/doc/16314048/RHCE-Red-Hat-Certified-Engineer-Linux-100-Success-Secrets-on-RHCE-Linux-Test-Preparation-Study-Guides-Practice-Exams-Braindumps-Certification-Exa >> >> https://www.redhat.com/certification/rhce/?s_kwcid=TC|3636|rhce||S|p|3282576651 >> www.linuxlearningcentre.com/content/prep*guide*.pdf >> >> The RHCE fast track (5 day type of bootcamp) is the best way to certify as >> well because Linux people generally don't require a 3 month class, and >> simply get in and do things quickly to grasp a course: >> >> https://www.redhat.com/courses/rh300_rhce_rapid_track_course_and_rhce_exam/ >> >> Certifications have been critisized for being "marketing manipulation" >> rather than actual gauges of skill. For instance, a company will sell >> certifications when a product is big, and require certifications for cheaper >> rates. >> >> But if you don't already have a good history with certifications and your >> goal is simply to get a grasp of the technology, a certification is suspect, >> as a solution. >> >> Currently virtualization providers are fighting it out over a "new hot >> market". And the technology is relatively young (unless you are IBM). So, >> Microsoft, XEN and Vmware --- you get the idea from the "Products of the >> Year 2008": >> >> >> *GOLD AWARD:* VMware ESXi 3.5 U2 >> VMware's free ESXi leads the virtualization platform market by continuing >> to offer the greatest functionality and highest value of all hypervisors >> available on today's market. >> READ MORE >> >> *SILVER AWARD:* Microsoft Hyper-V 1.0 >> "Microsoft's standalone Hyper-V is a great option for a free hypervisor," >> one judge wrote. "I give Microsoft a lot of credit for such a strong new >> showing." >> READ MORE >> >> *BRONZE AWARD:* Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 >> If Linux is your bag, then the Xen-based virtualization bundled with Red >> Hat's enterprise offering is a high-performance virtualization option and >> excellent value, judges reported. >> READ MORE >> >> I would get a general linux certification before I would get a >> virtualization certification. >> >> And since you are asking, I would point you to the RHCE. >> >> (503)754-4452 wiki.obnosis.com >> scientology.obnosis.com >> >> >> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >