Cert Bug is gone

N2IT

Another thread got me thinking and I wanted to follow up with some of the senior guys and gals on here.

I'm not sure if I am a slug or what, but since I finished my MBA back in 2013 I have had 0 motivation to cert up. Now I must admit I did sit for an MS SQL exam earlier this year and failed, but to be honest I didn't give it my all.

Anyone else run into this? I still learn, I joined SQL Pass and participate in some database forums to increase my knowledge.

I'd like to get back into and get an MCSE in SQL but it's just hard to get the old motor fired up, with kids, a new dog, new house, relatively new job and other extra activities such as running and fishing.

Sorry for the rant just curious if anyone out there has experienced this or is currently experiencing this.

MrAgent

I feel the exact same way right now. I should be working towards CISSP, but I have had 0 motivation since finishing my masters in May.

Shdwmage

I've missed out on some pay raises at work because I haven't had a lot of drive to finish my required certs for work. They keep putting off the data center, so I haven't been in a rush.

nelson8403

I'm kind of like that as well, I was pushing for ITIL Expert, COBIT, CCIE etc.. but I just don't see what it'll give me short term, so right now I'm planning on getting my doctorate in Information Assurance and trying to pursue a more senior level role in security (plus I'll have about 4-5 years experience in security once I'm done)

kohr-ah

Yeah I am partially burnt out. I still strive for 1 - 2 a year but honestly with what I have so far seems to be getting me really good results.

Most the places I have interviewed ask me about knowledge background, etc and as above I really wanted to do ITIL, CCIE, etc then I realized that I am pretty happy financially where I am at and am still getting offered more to make a move all the time. So slowly the itch has faded.

I still lab a lot for fun and read the books on the train home to gain knowledge. I just dont hard core certify anymore.

Mow

It's almost like a second job in some ways. I stress so much that I am not where I want to be, then I start studying, then I second guess my topic of choice, so I stress, and start over. I want to get certified in things, though, so after 14ish years of chasing certifications, I still have the hunger. Right now the topic of choice is to finish my CCNP R/S. Then I need CCNP Collaboration conversion for my current position. Then I would like to finish up VCP 5.5, then who knows? Expert level? A different track? Programming? Nursing? I guess I'll see where life takes me.

BlackBeret

Quitters! All of you are quitters!

I'm just kidding. I go through that cycle, but it's more on a weekly basis now which is easier to manage. I have a busy few months coming up since work has the funding right now. I'm cramming as much information as I can and I hope it sticks. After the end of this year I'm hoping to have all of the prereq's for GSE done as well as OSCP. Then next year will be slow. My only plans are GSE and OSCE. After that, I'll be done with everything except my MS. No more certs that I can foresee wanting or needing.

Essendon

Pat, it also might be you need a high/top level cert to have any significance to your salary and job prospects at the current stage of your career. Now this top level cert is obviously going to take a ton of effort which does put people off the cert wagon. In addition, one doesn't need any more certs to propel them further once they are at a certain point. Maybe both these ideas apply to you (and me).

RoyalRaven

I'm also in this ring. A lot has to do with family, home ownership, wanting to just relax when not at work, etc. I didn't have these items as to-dos back when I was going crazy with certing and studying. Time was more freely available or my interest in the subject was so high at work that I enjoying doing it as a hobby on my off-time.

I think two factors played heavily into why I'm in a long-term break. The first is that I completed my primary educational objectives (Masters and primary certs). The second is that I don't currently have peers or classmates pushing towards the cert goals in my current situation. When you have others raising the bar and checking in on your progress you really step up your game.

I'll get back to working on it at some point...I've paid my dues to this point and my feet are not being held to the fire. I'm not seeing many jobs that require MORE certs. It's about experience (always working on that!).

I always try to have a goal, but it doesn't have to always be about certs.

networker050184

I've been in maintenance mode for a couple years now. Too many other interests that aren't really certifiable right now (scripting, emerging overlay technologies, etc.). Might take that stab at the CCIE/JNCIE eventually, but no really need for it currently. My boss keeps asking what training I want to go to so maybe a boot camp in the near future.

si20

I have no motivation right now either. I did FJSE (FireEye Junior Sys Eng) about 2-3 months ago and after that I was just done. I had absolutely nothing left to give. My workplace sent me on an ITIL v3 Foundation course in the past week - just waiting on results. Soon as I hear back with results, i'll do ACE (AccessData Certified Examiner) and then start a 2.5 years MSc in Digital Security/Forensics. Once i've done that, i'll look at getting EnCE and then I *think* i'll be done with certs.

ande0255

I have zero motivation as well, as the next cert I aspire to obtain will be CCNP R/S which will probably take an entire year of studying, and I just got done with a year finishing Voice / VCP (minus that damn class) / Security.

I just play Chris Bryant CCNA R/S videos in an ear bud while at work, so I can kind of brainwash myself with refreshers, and pause at any parts of the videos that I feel I need to focus on. After work for the next couple months it will be relaxing, PS4, and not doing anything certification related

I love learning new things, but when going for certs you really need to have the follow through to finish, and I feel like a half hearted attempt would be more detrimental to my mentality of studying going forward than taking a break entirely for awhile and starting fresh when I'm ready.

f0rgiv3n

Glad to see I'm not alone in this... I've been pretty much status quo for a while now and I don't know if it'll change for me honestly. I got my certs that I wanted really bad and after that, I haven't really been motivated to keep going. I honestly might even try opening other doors in the near future, like possibly going into ecology. LOL! Who knows.

It's also probably normal honestly, we have ups and downs with motivation. For me, if I don't have a real purpose for learning something new, or getting that next cert, I find it impossible to find the motivation.

N2IT

@ Ess good to see you

Yeah you are probably right about a high level cert, which I don't have.

I'll keep my eyes open, trust me if it helps me go from N to Z then I am all over it. But my two requirements are as follows

1. It doesn't cost me over a 1,000
2. This is it, no more in fact I want to just list this heavy hitter down when/IF the time comes.

Danielm7

I'm in a semi similar situation now. I've had all kinds of training to do at work. I have a SANS on demand course I'm trying to work through but work didn't want to spring for the cert exam at the end. I'm currently in a whole week training for a new SIEM we're bringing in, plus a few other things. Between all that I have zero extra time or desire to also study on top of it. At the end of most of the days lately I either just go to the gym or disconnect with a book and hang out with the family.

UnixGuy

<== Just realised that all my certs have expired.

Essendon

All of them? Or is there sarcasm I didn't pick up?!

N2IT

@ Unix but you still have your engineering degree!

@ Ess - Joking, I would keep the ITIL stuff even though I think it stinks. I would get rid of my CAPM and Prince 2 foundation. Going for a senior BA role or better yet solutions role with foundations is not going to get it done. I might as well omit it.

If I was to somehow get an MCSE data or CBAP I would list it exclusively unless the position required ITIL, MS Project etc.

Polynomial

You know, its okay to have a real life.

There's a balance to be had between professional development / work and life balance that I think gets lost in the forum a lot of the time.

Khaos1911

I'm done with certs. Just going to maintain what I have. I really think CEH, GSEC, and GCIA all in a 7 month span burnt me out last year. My icing on the cake was CISSP back in April and now I'm gonna focus on completing a Masters program and just gaining more years of Infosec experience.

UnixGuy

Essendon wrote: »

All of them? Or is there sarcasm I didn't pick up?!

All of them. RHCE (Red Hat 5), CCNA (took the exam 2007). Technically Solaris 10 certs don't expire, but Solaris 11 is in the market now. I couldn't be bother checking if Security+/Server+ expire or not. Same for SNIA. Not sure about ITIL v3

It doesn't really matter. RHCE expired but my knowledge didn't.

@N2IT: True, my engineering degree, training courses, efforts put in certs, and years of experience won't expire.

N2IT

You're good with ITIL that doesn't expire. I would also leave Solaris, my friend from AT&T, network / systems engineer leaves it on and believe it or not helps him move up through his company, according to him.

Just saying...

UnixGuy

@N2IT: absolutely! I don't leave out certs. Solaris (Unix) is an invaluable skill to have.

Mike-Mike

I'm the opposite, I finished my MSISA in April, and I'm ready to hit the certs again. Last cert I got was CHFI, and I didn't care about that one, just got it for the degree.

The combo of changing jobs/careers, has me ready to blow through the certs

N2IT

@ Mike-Mike I am more into the material and deep diving into the actual skills, not the certifications.

I find I learn more and become more valuable when I complete work related projects, not to mention I get a big bonus and large salary increases.

With that said, I agree with Unix and Ess, one big whale is nice to have. A bunch of little certs IMO really don't mean much once you get to a certain level.

twodogs62

I have slowed done on certs also. My drive to get certs is draining....
i am so busy at work it was difficult for me to renew one of my certs last year.
i still view certs as showing professional growth.
you could either do that by taking class or obtaining for cert IMO whether your employer purchases them or not.
i also feel if you are not pushing yourself you can quickly become obsolete in our field, you have to keep learning. So, that said, the increasing skills becomes more important than a cert.
so, to do both, I feel you have to slow down the certs and find a balance. Increasing your skills but, also increasing your education and value to your resume by doing both.

my next cert is CAPM, since I am in a position where project manager skills are getting more important. But, I am not trying to do in several weeks or months. Not rushing it, since I don't want to be only working and studying.....

N2IT

CAPM isn't to bad at all twodogs.

JoJoCal19

As always N2IT with a very timely and much needed thread/conversation. I actually have been feeling the same way, even if it doesn't appear that way to those around me since I'm always studying. Except I'm not missing the want and the motivation, I'm just missing the drive. I've been feeling more and more this way about certs, but have been pushing myself through them, even if just for the learning and knowledge aspect. I've been feeling this way since graduating with my bachelors in 2013, and our family expanding. But I've made changes and only study before and during work hours and occasionally at night. But the problem is I still seem to have no time for fun, or reading things that I really want to read. Also since a family member was diagnosed with terminal cancer, my drive to spend time on certs rather than spending my time (time not spent with the wife and kids) doing things I want to do, has taken a serious hit. And tonight after spending time with that family member as they start their journey home, it just hit me that I really don't want to do it anymore. Time is too precious, and tomorrow is not promised. Then I log on to TE after getting home and find this thread, with quite a few others feeling the same way. And I feel much better that I'm not alone.

TLeTourneau

Great topic Pat, I don't know if I qualify as high level or not but I'll take a stab at it. I've had a major lack of motivation for certifications over the last few years. Between the job and life I just haven't had the energy to pursue much of anything. I should, given my current career track, really look at Server 2012 and System Center certs but I just haven't had the motivation.

I'm also considering a masters degree and do not have a lot o motivation for that right now either but that's for another topic.

snunez889

At the moment I'm finishing up two cert, but already have that feeling. I still enjoy reading and learning, but the desire to get a ton of certs is gone.
Once I finish with my MCSA and LPIC cert I think I will take a good break from trying to obtain certs.
I much rather continue growing as a professional than what paper I hold.

TechGuru80

Pretty standard with certifications I would imagine. In general when you first start, there are many paths one could take (systems/networks etc.) and as you progress in your career nobody wants to completely start over, also you generally are changing interests down different paths throughout.

Frankly if you can get 1-3 per year (depending on the level of difficulty of course), I would think you are doing pretty well. Obviously if you are early in your career you need to try for the higher end.