The real "Market Value" of certifications?

Bulldog1875 · February 2005

I'd like your opinion on the "market value" of certifications, CCNA/NP/IE in particular, but also others such as CompTIA, MS, etc. I've been in the business for a while. Having been through a nasty layoff, I'm trying to increase my market value. I am (finally) prepping for CCNA in April and plan to begin working on CCNP immediately after.

Today a manager in my engineering department told me that he didn't put too much weight in certs as they don't often reflect real understanding and skills. I know folks "test-cram" and stuff, and that has to have some impact.

What's it really like out there from your perspective. Is all the work worth it in the real world? Are some certs more devalued and more lightweigth than others?

Thanks for your replies.

strauchr · February 2005

Hmmmm, I think this is really a tough one to answer as it seems to vary from person to person and manager to manager.

I certainly don't think certs such as CCNA or MCSE hold as much wieght as they used to mainly because every man and his dog is getting them, and often without any real world experience.

Certs are now usually entry level standards into most IT jobs but I think coupled with experience give you a very well rounded edge to your resume.

In most of the major technical functions of my job I like to educate myself beyond my experience and theres nothing better than preparing for an exam to force that knowledge you want into you.

As far as marketability is concerned I think you really need the certs to get the good jobs out there otherwise how do you distinguish yourself from the 200 other people with your experience. Any Cisco or MS certs are worth their value. Its hard to come across a network not running some sort of MS or Cisco product.

fusebox · February 2005

Im currently looking for employment in the IT/networking field, most employment ads do ask for either a CCNA/CCNP/MCSE related certification, but 99% of the ads that ive seen all ask for accompanying experience.

Hopefully I will be able to find some sort of entry level position and work my way up.

Ten9t6 · February 2005

I think this depends on the cert and the experience to back them up. But, I can also tell you that I have talked to people that say that certs do not mean a thing and that they will not get them.....Some of these individuals, over a period of time, I have translated their comments to :"I am scared to take an exam or too lazy and full of crap".. The fact of the matter is...some places require certs and they are willing to pay the money for them.

I would tell you to take the tests and build your experience.....That way when you have the experience some of these guys have, you will actually be ahead of them because you are certified. just my thoughts..

KMAN24 · February 2005

If you don't have hands on experience (on the job) certs can be valuable in landing that first entry level job. They show your employer that you are serious about this career path, and you are willing to work hard at gaining technical knowledge. In my case, I have the most certs and the least experience at my job, and I am the youngest. The guys I work around, the senior level Network Admins etc have helped me more than anything in my understanding of the current technologies. Although they don't have the certs, they don't really need them since they have been in the business for 15 + years and have grown up around all this technology.
So the bottom line is if you have a ton of experience and a good resume that shows you have mangaged x number of systems and projects etc then certs are not so important. However for any newbie, certs are the stepping stone to put you in a position around higher level admins where you can really become valuable in time with on the job experience.

Anyways Just my Opinion........

Striker314 · February 2005

I am hoping that with the certs I plan on getting, along with my degree plus the grades I have held I wont have a hard time getting a job when I graduate this spring.
My wife hopes the same thing

Webmaster · February 2005

The *real* market value of certifications depends on so many things (experience, location, job title/role/level, previous education, whether HR or IT people read your resume, etc. etc. ), but for the most common IT jobs (i.e. sys/net admin) certifications are usually listed as a requirement. That's doesn't mean it isn't possible to get the job without those certs though, but you probably won't be the only one applying for that job, meaning your fellow-techies became competitors and having those certs will give you an edge.

In addition to looking good on a resume, becoming certified for the things I already did on the job made my salary increase each year, without necessarily changing jobs or even getting new tasks.

However, I think the real market value from certifications is not a direct results from being certified, but rather comes from the knowledge you gain from studying for the exam. Unfortunately nowadays being MCSE certified for example, doesn't always mean one actually has the knowledge and skills you should expect from an MCSE. But from a personal perspective that doesn't matter 'that' much. The certification usually provides a very good guideline of topics you are likely to encounter on the job, and regardless of how experience you have, you will always pick up new things or get a better understanding certain topics. And the skills you have to learn but probably won't use on 'your' job, will still benifit you by making it more easy to pick up new similar and different skills in the future as that is something you will have to do for as long as you're working in the IT industry.

Are some certs more devalued and more lightweigth than others?

Yeah, but Cisco certs, especially after CCNA, less than MS and CompTIA certs.

Bulldog1875 · February 2005

Thanks all, for some well-rounded responses. I'll echo that within an existing job, it may or many not help much, particularly if you've been in the field for a while. But I can say that going through the preparaton thus far has refreshed and refined my knowledge; and that can't hurt.

Sounds like it would help to have my CNNA, and especially my CCNP if I'm on the hunt again, just so I can get on the radar screen of potential employers.

These days, the market being what it is, that is half the battle.

Cheers!

lazyart · February 2005

I still say you are better off having certs than not. When certs severly outpace your experience then I would say they are detrimental.

If you are A+, Net+, MCSE and CCNA and have never worked in the field you are likely to be discarded. Looking to get your food in the door? Post your entry level certs only.

rossonieri#1 · February 2005

afaik, any reseller/partner program need to have some certified people to be approved by the vendors

sonagccna · February 2005

its been about a month I passed CCNA and trying for network engineer job, as i was previously working as a software engineer not into networking field i was

Hoping to find some entry level netw job..

rossonieri#1 · February 2005

dont give up sonaqccna,
if you want to get a job in specific networking field especially WAN, learn more about advanced routing EIGRP, OSPF, BGP etc, redisitribute-list, learn to setup PRI, channelized T1/E1, or the emerging voice.
hope you success

keatron · February 2005

My best friend (he's not technical at all) is a VP for CDW, which is based here in Chicago. He told me that Microsoft requires them to have a certain number of MCSE's on staff to be a Gold Certified Partner (i think that's the designation he named) and Cisco required them to have at least 10 CCNA's and 3 CCIE's to have similar status. He is constantly offering me various jobs there from Specialist to Engineer. In this case, the fact that I have 10 years experience means absolutely nothing. So in this particular instance, I could get at least 10 different positions inside a fortune 500 company based soley on my Certs. One of the previous post nailed it on the head; location and positions that need to be filled play a key part. As far as experience, it plays it's most important role in making sure you KEEP the job!!! But do be advised, that I know several technicians and engineers that have been in this field longer than I, however they've been doing things "wrong" for that many years.

A lady who use to own a computer repair shop is the "IT person" at a company down the block from us. I was recently called in to evaluate the infrastructure and give them/her guidance in an effort to create a long term plan. Well, they asked about rolling out a disclaimer/legal agreement to anyone logging on to the computers, her suggestion was to go to each computer and via the registry set this up (it should be noted that this place has 130 workstations). When I said "just use group policy" I got that familiar blank stare, you know the one I'm talking about the "what the hell is group policy" look. Yes, her solution would've have worked but would have taken way to much time, not to mention if they wanted to change the message to say something else next year. My point? If she had been an MCSE or even ever prepared for exam 70-218 or 70-217 or 70-216, group policy probably would've have been the first thing that popped up in her mind when the question was posed. While I agree, certifications give you an edge just because you're certified, it also gives you another edge in that at the very least, you're exposed to concepts and practices that can make a world of difference in deployment, design, and troubleshooting of a network, OS, or PC.

Cherper · February 2005

Certifications help you get in the door, but knowledge is what keeps you there, and the point made about the "IT person" who knew nothing aout group policy is so common that it makes me angry

The company I work for is great, I am considered the "go-to-guy", but it hasn't helped me with my boss who is a clueless nitwit. Everyone in the building knows that, but the upper management won't do anything about it, because he is friends with the assistant director. I go out of my way to make sure I am always learning, and keeping up with technology, but I am stuck with a guy who takes credit for my work (though even the management knows the truth).

I think that the advantage of certifications, is that when you are applying for other jobs, they sort of jump off the page. More and more HR departments are begining to recognize them, so when they show up on a resume, they take notice.

Now if I could just stay focused on my studying.... arghhhh!!!!

keatron · February 2005

Yes Cherper I do truely understand your frustrations. Sometimes the person in charge is the one who is better at being a two way communication device between upper management and the engineers/technicians. Not defending your boss because obviously all situations are somewhat different. However, I have a staff of 14 in my department and I am the manager. Two of my guys can design active directory and troubleshoot infrastructure in their sleep, others practically talk in C++ or Java, one of my guys can configure a secure windows or linux box so tight that it'd take an M1 tank to break through it, but at the same time, the network guys are'nt very good at writing code or understanding it, and the programmers would struggle designing AD or troubleshooting connectivity issues across our the domain. I on the other hand have held several jobs where my position/responsibilty have varied. This has given me solid foundation in many areas (which is why I'm the director). So don't let it bother you too much, just keep studying, learning and doing your job; your time will come. And good luck to ya.

Cherper · February 2005

I am not saying that he is a bad guy, I ran the department for 4 months without him here, but he was brought in when he was fired for incompetence from his last job. It isn't what you know but who you know. The guy is very unpopular, and can't explain his way out of a paper bag. I am just glad that I am leaving soon, and then it will all come apart for them and the big boss will realize that avoiding confrontations to ensure the best people in the right place isn't the way to run a business.

keatron · February 2005

Glad you're gettin outta there then if it's that bad.

corndog · March 2005

oh man i know how you feel. there are about 4 people earning six figures at my work who could be easily done away with and not replaced. there is one thing you can do to let your bosses boss know how much you actually do, send him weekly status reports. state at the start of each week what you plan to accomplish and what you accomplished the week before. then when your boss tries to take credit for things youve done, his boss will eventually notice some serious discrepancies. dont forget that there is always atleast one jerk in every company who will directly effect you. its easy to get caught up in the things that are annoying at work but when i take a step back, i see how good i really have it. is it worth going someplace else for a 10% pay increase or to trade one jerk for another? i dunno. but when it gets me down, i just watch office space and im back on my A game.

The *real* "Market Value" of certifications?

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The real "Market Value" of certifications?