Certing in technologies you don't use

DatabaseHead

How did that work out for you?

Just curious...... I've done it a couple of times and I never reaped any return. Only when I am already working with the technology did it complement my resume and help me secure another position.

Just curious on other peoples life experience with this.....

PCTechLinc

Most of my certs were required for my degrees, mainly CCNA and CEH are the ones that stand out the most that I don't use. To renew CCNA R&S, I took CCNA Security because I was getting laid off from my previous company, and my boss had them pay for the voucher before I left. To renew those, I am taking CCNP R&S. That has nothing to do with my current job at all. For me, it is entirely based on wanting to know more about the technology. I would love to be an instructor again, and having higher level education would help immensely for teaching. However, I do not look at the financial gain at all... just a love for education.

DatabaseHead

Good stuff! Most of my employable interest don't have a certification track, there are some that overlap, but very few 1 - 1 matches.

I like learning by working on personal projects at home. Kind of like a mad scientist, with data instead of chemicals lol.

PC509

Some of my certs were personal goals, not employment goals. My Cisco certs were that way. I learned a lot about networking, but a lot of it was Cisco specific (we use Extreme at work, and it's outsourced management). My Microsoft certs were personal goals... They do apply to work, too, but it was mostly due to just personal goals. Vista, 7, Server 2000, 2003.

Just expanding my knowledge and having fun. I'm sure they'll help in my work roles, but it's not a 1:1 thing. I do them for me first. Employment needs come second. I'm just having a great time learning.

Ashenwelt

I prefer to focus on things in areas I work. It gets hard to do things completely unrelated to what you do. Is it doable? Yes. Just be aware its a stretch activity. I have done it. Be prepared is all.

Jon_Cisco

In my situation my Certs were all secondary to work.
I plan to transition to a full time career in IT someday so I expect they will help on the future. Currently my employer does not know what certs I have or what there value would be.

LordQarlyn

I've never done that, all the tech certs I obtained I was working on the tech at the time.

NetworkNewb

DatabaseHead wrote: »

I never reaped any return. Only when I am already working with the technology did it complement my resume and help me secure another position.

This... Big waste of time going for other ones from my experience.

Tekn0logy

Sounds like a recipe for disaster. Get called out at an interview and blacklisted by headhunters. But honestly, there are too many resources available online to bolster your experience so that you can back up the cert.

dave330i

Knowledge is knowledge. Always found use for things I've studied. Never had a company not hire me because I knew "X" technology.

LordQarlyn

dave330i wrote: »

Knowledge is knowledge. Always found use for things I've studied. Never had a company not hire me because I knew "X" technology.

Fair point. But I never heard a company not hiring someone because they know basket weaving or making fire with flint, but that doesn't mean I should divert time and resources learning those skills. Knowledge is knowledge is fine but unless you're independently wealthy, or, you are doing it as a hobby or passionate interest, pursuing knowledge should yield returns on time and resources invested.

dave330i

LordQarlyn wrote: »

Fair point. But I never heard a company not hiring someone because they know basket weaving or making fire with flint, but that doesn't mean I should divert time and resources learning those skills. Knowledge is knowledge is fine but unless you're independently wealthy, or, you are doing it as a hobby or passionate interest, pursuing knowledge should yield returns on time and resources invested.

Life is more than ROI.

Jon_Cisco

There really should be a reason for why you pursue a specific certification. For many people it is to gain employment and for that purpose I think you would want to be very specific with your choices.

I personally enjoyed studying for CCNA and I think I might be interested in a career in networking. However during my study I constantly felt like I didn't understand the Microsoft systems that I would be connecting. Since I had very limited experience with Microsoft and most job listings ask for Active Directory experience I decided to pursue MSCA Server 2016.

So for me the purpose of the certifications was to give me some exposure to the material to help me decide if that is a direction I want to go with my career. Next year I will renew my CCNA and from there hopefully start to become more focused on a specific career goal.

tedjames

PCTechLinc wrote: »

However, I do not look at the financial gain at all... just a love for education.

Yes! I love that attitude.

My last agency spent over $3000 to put me through project management training at the University of Texas. They said they wanted to make me an IT project manager within our security office. I finished the course and made an A. It was one of the hardest A grades in my life. When I finished, they said, "Great! Now get back to work." As much as I tried to get them to let me start leading projects, they wouldn't let me. It was a big waste of the state's money, though I am grateful to have those skills, and I am using them in my current job.

tedjames

NetworkNewb wrote: »

This... Big waste of time going for other ones from my experience.

I took A+ training, but not because I wanted to work in help desk. I just wanted to learn to work on my own computers. Didn't take the tests; just wanted the knowledge.

Ismaeljrp

dave330i wrote: »

Life is more than ROI.

It's always about ROI. Define R.

Returns don't always have to be money. Entertainment can be a type of ROI when subscribing to a Netflix account. Safety can be a type of ROI when investing in an alarm system.

Returns = reasons

MitM

I can see both sides.

For me, it's about learning about what interests you. When I was in desktop support years ago, I was building my own MS Exchange lab at home because I was interested in learning/mastering exchange. I didn't try but it probably would not have landed my an Exchange Admin role at a different company, but what I learned allowed me to make suggestions to my employer, which led to my promotion to server admin.

I think the problem some people (not all or most) make is they want to work in certain area, so they'll get that certification and think that'll automatically land them that job. A lot of times they'll be disappointed because it doesn't always work that way.

I still say learn what you want to learn

DatabaseHead

MitM wrote: »

I can see both sides.

For me, it's about learning about what interests you. When I was in desktop support years ago, I was building my own MS Exchange lab at home because I was interested in learning/mastering exchange. I didn't try but it probably would not have landed my an Exchange Admin role at a different company, but what I learned allowed me to make suggestions to my employer, which led to my promotion to server admin.

I think the problem some people (not all or most) make is they want to work in certain area, so they'll get that certification and think that'll automatically land them that job. A lot of times they'll be disappointed because it doesn't always work that way.

I still say learn what you want to learn

Thoughtful post.

I'm not telling anyone to do anything, but..... from my experiences and objectives (making more money and getting more exciting roles also sprinkle in WFH).

I found that certifications in my current roles help me to transition. To your point and you made a good one, it wasn't a one for one, but it did help you get server side, big win. One of the hardest to overcome from client side folks.

I tried to get into WINTEL for years and working with the server side, no dice it never materialized. However..... I did take a BA position (IMO most certainly better than helpdesk or deskside) and it got me a lot of exposure to databases, web servers, 4GL programming languages, it was hard but it worked out. From there I was able to certify on SQL server etc... and that helped me get a senior role eventually into a quasi developer role.....

To each their own, glad it worked out for you. Oh yeah and one last thing.... I always liked databases so when I got into them while I sucked bad the grit was there and I eventually figured out a lot and continue to grow.

DatabaseHead

So get this. I'll be eating crow at the end don't you worry.

Current state I am in BI data modeling, coding, requirements, data warehousing etc.....

Former life ~7 years ago I was in service management, ITIL ISO etc....

Well found a job, no kidding looking for someone to architect KPI and SLA's for ITIL ISO (LOL) in a data warehouse..... Full remote contract 1 year with a possibility of another year extension.....

Eating a large plate of crow, these service management certifications helped in this potential opportunity. Just applied.