Is it possible to have too many certifications?

I was wondering what the members opinions are on this topic.

First of all should your certification reflect your experience / skill sets or does that not mean that much? Example Help desk employee with a MCSE or a Operations Tech with a CCNP.

Do you think that listing to many can look ackward or even strange?

Should your certs paint a picture AKA show a certain path. Rather than have some random cert pattern? (Just wondering I really don't have an opinion at this point).

I ask because at first I had a plan and that was to get several process certifications because that was my interest and that's where I wanted to go. But now I feel I should validate some of my technical ability so I am taking on Net + which I just passed today and security +.

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LTParis

Not really, that is unless you have a very focused career, say Security, and have certifications not really related to your work and a potential employer might think you are not as focused at the job at hand.

But that in itself seems like a very unlikely scenario.

Bl8ckr0uter

LTParis wrote: »

Not really, that is unless you have a very focused career, say Security, and have certifications not really related to your work and a potential employer might think you are not as focused at the job at hand.

But that in itself seems like a very unlikely scenario.

^ No^

I am sorry if I am reading this wrong but from what I am reading, you are saying that it is not possible to have too many certs. Is that correct? IMO the previous posters mentality is one of the 3 problems with the current certification process/system (number 2 being the sheer amount of certs and number 3 is braindumps). IMO every cert you get widens your attack surface (areas that an employer will expect you to be an expert in). If you constantly study all of that knowledge, thats great (I am not going to get into the specialist vs generalist thing). If you don't you would could really get yourself into a world of trouble. IMO keep your certs in areas you work with or want to work with and go from there.

Actually I am going to say that not everyone is a generalist. Some people (i would say a lot of people) are specialized. In small companies it is more likely to have 1-2 people doing everything but with large shops that just isn't scalable.

N2IT wrote: »

Should your certs paint a picture AKA show a certain path. Rather than have some random cert pattern? (Just wondering I really don't have an opinion at this point).

Absolutely. I think this is 100% correct. I think one of the thing I should say is that when you get on a site like this that is so cert driven, it can seem like everyone in IT is the same way. Most of the folks I have worked with (from a 1000 branch of a company to a 70ish user shop) do not have certs at all. My fellow admin has no certs as all and has no plans to get any. I am not saying they don't have her place but don't feel like you have to get every cert. You have to keep your focus.

N2IT

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

^ No^

I am sorry if I am reading this wrong but from what I am reading, you are saying that it is not possible to have too many certs. Is that correct? IMO the previous posters mentality is one of the 3 problems with the current certification process/system (number 2 being the sheer amount of certs and number 3 is braindumps). IMO every cert you get widens your attack surface (areas that an employer will expect you to be an expert in). If you constantly study all of that knowledge, thats great (I am not going to get into the specialist vs generalist thing). If you don't you would could really get yourself into a world of trouble. IMO keep your certs in areas you work with or want to work with and go from there.

Actually I am going to say that not everyone is a generalist. Some people (i would say a lot of people) are specialized. In small companies it is more likely to have 1-2 people doing everything but with large shops that just isn't scalable.

Absolutely. I think this is 100% correct. I think one of the thing I should say is that when you get on a site like this that is so cert driven, it can seem like everyone in IT is the same way. Most of the folks I have worked with (from a 1000 branch of a company to a 70ish user shop) do not have certs at all. My fellow admin has no certs as all and has no plans to get any. I am not saying they don't have her place but don't feel like you have to get every cert. You have to keep your focus.

Router thanks for responding to my post.

I myself personally wants to get into Service Desk operations and maybe even consulting, auditing, or implementation/project management. That's why I certed up in a lot of the process driven certifications. I have a plan, however at the moment I don't feel I have the experience to be taken seriously in one of those position, although I am getting closer. So I decided to grab a certification in Networking, (Network + to be exact). I also want to get Security + for several different reasons, but the main reason is to have a strong understanding since it is becoming ever so critical in all IT environments.

To be honest after that certification there really isn't one out there that I feel I want, need or will give me any kind of return on investment. Maybe down the road their will be but at the moment there isn't

To be honest even security + is a stretch.

Bl8ckr0uter

N2IT wrote: »

Router thanks for responding to my post.

I myself personally wants to get into Service Desk operations and maybe even consulting, auditing, or implementation/project management. That's why I certed up in a lot of the process driven certifications. I have a plan, however at the moment I don't feel I have the experience to be taken seriously in one of those position, although I am getting closer. So I decided to grab a certification in Networking, (Network + to be exact). I also want to get Security + for several different reasons, but the main reason is to have a strong understanding since it is becoming ever so critical in all IT environments.

To be honest after that certification there really isn't one out there that I feel I want, need or will give me any kind of return on investment. Maybe down the road their will be but at the moment there isn't

To be honest even security + is a stretch.

I understand exactly what you mean. I honestly don't even know what service desk operations is lol but what I do know is having a plan is excellent, executing that plan is essential but keeping it flexible is more important than both of them. I put semi hard dates on my near term stuff and just throw my long term stuff out there.

I use to have a formula I was using to calculate ROI but honestly it is getting harder to do it since the certs I want cost much more money. At any rate, I think you are on the right track just don't get lost in the ocean of certs out there.

UnixGuy

It's always best to have certs that backup your experience.

For example, I think it doesn't make sense for someone to have CCNP or CCIE and his career isn't in the networking field.

CCNA or Net+ would mean that you have the networking foundation clear which is really good and important in most cases, but a more specialized cert like CCNP or CCIE wouldn't look right to me.

I think it's always better to keep the certs relevant to the career or at least leading to the career that one wans to pursue.

UnixGuy

N2IT wrote: »

... Example Help desk employee with a MCSE or a Operations Tech with a CCNP.

some people in helpdesk or other jobs work hard to earn the cert so they can get a job, it's a good strategy. but what doesn't make sense is for someone to be in helpdesk and get CCNP, MCSE, MCITP, CCSP, CCDP, and still be in helpdesk.

brianeaglesfan

This is a debate I've long had with myself. I've always tried to maintain certs that align with my professional experience and thus my list is fairly low. It never made sense to me to pursue a high-level cert if I wasn't involved in some type of infrastructure design / implementation role. But that's changed. It seems like they're a requirement these days in order to move into positions of more responsibility, at least with the organizations I want to work with. And thus, I'll be pursuing the MCITP:EA over the next year+. Will there be topics I can't answer questions on based off my experience level? Sure. But having some level of exposure to the topics and being certified on them is better than not having that exposure.

earweed

The question is can you have too many certs...
Depends on how you look at it and how you plan to use them. If you have a lot of certs and are still at the helpdesk level then simply DON'T LIST THEM ALL. There is no rule that you have to list every cert you have. You should strategically list the certs you have tailored to the job your resume is being used for.
Your certs should reflect your experience and MAYBE what you want to become in your career. Should you not aim high just because you're at the helpdesk level? Should you not get a CCNP just because you are at a low level NOC job?
I'm getting my MCITP:EA soon (hopefully) but it's part of my studies to get my BSIT and required. After that I plan to get the CCNA just because I would like to broaden my knowledge and prepare for more and better opportunities.

Turgon

N2IT wrote: »

I was wondering what the members opinions are on this topic.

First of all should your certification reflect your experience / skill sets or does that not mean that much? Example Help desk employee with a MCSE or a Operations Tech with a CCNP.

Do you think that listing to many can look ackward or even strange?

Should your certs paint a picture AKA show a certain path. Rather than have some random cert pattern? (Just wondering I really don't have an opinion at this point).

I ask because at first I had a plan and that was to get several process certifications because that was my interest and that's where I wanted to go. But now I feel I should validate some of my technical ability so I am taking on Net + which I just passed today and security +.

Back in 1999 I went to see a recruitment advisor and asked him the same question. His advise was you can overdo it in terms of qualifications listings on CV's and business cards. Historically some of the most qualified people were doctors, lawyers or civil engineers. If you are not careful the IT cert listings far exceed these people. Back in the late nineties it was trendy to list all of them but eventually it became passe to do so. It was clear that with enough time and money many certifications out there are very doable and some people seemed to collect them like boyscout badges.

Today you are looking at a few key certifications to show some progression but they should surround a solid portfolio of technical accomplishments in the field.

Some certs can help you springboard into your first job. Once there you want to expend your powers on getting into and doing meaningful work in the field whilst picking up the next qualification on the side.

Sabalo

Is it possible to have too many college credits? If you sat a level 400 course in Bolivian Politics back in your college days, should your employer then expect you to be able to draft a proposal that takes into account the nuances of the current Bolivian political climate, regardless of your having taken the course 10, 15 years prior?

Of course not.

Everyone has their own approach to certification. My view is that certifications are the "final" in a self-study course which is, in many ways, just as difficult as a college level course. I don't expect to come out of a certification test a master of the subject matter... I come out expecting to have enough understanding of the subject to do work related to the subject. Expertise only comes with experience.

As far as "too many certs," no. You can choose not to USE all of your certs, you can let the skills you learned atrophy if you do not need them, you can choose not to list the certs that you do not intend to use... but not taking a certification because you are afraid of being made to do every little thing your full certification suite covers?

That's just silly.

I've got consumer level PC experience too... does that mean I have to fix the personal computers of everyone on staff because my background contains consumer level support experience?

Bl8ckr0uter

Sabalo wrote: »

but not taking a certification because you are afraid of being made to do every little thing your full certification suite covers?

That's just silly.

Maybe a little.

I work in a virtual environment. All of our servers are virtual. I really don't do a lot of support of the virtual network but maybe I should just get a VCP. Oh we have windows 2000/2003/2008 servers so I need to get an MCSE on windows 2000/2003 and an MCITP:SA/EA on 2008. We use windows XP so I need my MCDST. Oh so we will use alienvault as our SIEM so let me get the ACSA and ACSE. We use a left hand SAN so let me pick up a few of thoses. Then theres the hipaa certs. Don't forget out our financial software so I need to pick up a CPA. Oh and I think our security system has a certification for it so let me pick that up too.

Obviously that is extreme but my point is you don't need a cert on every little thing. I mean what were people doing before the cert program got so big? How were they validating their skill. Could it be that they were just studying and applying the things they studied. It is possible to know something without being certified in it?

On another note, with each one of these certs, an employer would develop a certain expectation of what this person should know. If the person cannot up to that expectation the person will probably be in danger of losing their job. However if a person has less certs and is hired but they know significantly more than what's on their CV, the employer would be pleased. Being more than what your resume would say is always better than being less than your resume IMO. I mean according to my cert list, I shouldn't know about web servers or asp.net but I am working on learning that for my employer (and no I won't pick up a .net cert).

Oh and that wasn't a shot at you or anything but I am just making a point.

brianeaglesfan

earweed wrote: »

There is no rule that you have to list every cert you have. You should strategically list the certs you have tailored to the job your resume is being used for.

Amen to this. I've actually done this with my master's degree. Being on the job market, when I'd submit a resume with it listed I wouldn't get a call back, removed it and have gotten a lot of interest, for both temp and perm positions. It will probably make its first appearance when I go to apply for advanced positions within the company I obtain permanent employment with.

JDMurray

Realize that there are three questions here:

Is it possible to have too many certs on your resume?
Is it possible to have too many certs on your curriculum vitae?
Is it possible to have too many certs period?

The short answer to each is "yes," "no," and "no."

You resume is constructed to target a specific job market or even a specific job position. You only want to include your certifications that are relevant to the position that you are applying for (and this is not always an easy thing to determine).

Your curriculum vitae (CV) is the register of your life's work and accomplishments. It is the accounting of why you are an expert at everything you claim to be, and all certs you get are a part of that. Certain situations will require you to abridge your CV, which may have you omitting certs that are fields you are not an expert in. But you should always strive tell the absolute truth in your CV and never overstate your expertise and accomplishments.

Never avoid testing for a cert because you feel that you don't want to appear on your resume or CV. Omitting an IT certification you have is not an ethical sin. If you feel that you are just too professional to put that A+ cert on your CV then don't. Then get the A+ anyway and have fun doing it--just don't tell your professional colleagues about it.

Sabalo

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

Obviously that is extreme but my point is you don't need a cert on every little thing. I mean what were people doing before the cert program got so big? How were they validating their skill. Could it be that they were just studying and applying the things they studied. It is possible to know something without being certified in it?

Sure, you can know something without being certified in it. A certification (IMO) is a way to validate that what I -think- I know maps to what I -actually- know. I could do the same thing by having a random competent person design a test for me to take on a subject, map out what I'd need to know to be considered good enough to operate... but then, that's what certs do (in theory.) You could make the same argument about just about anything... doctors, lawyers, pilots, hamburger design professionals... you could, in theory, learn any of those professions without the aid of professional instruction, but having a structured way to validate your skills helps you assess the reality versus the perception.

I cert to validate what I think I know versus what people who have come before believe I should know. That's a fair use of a cert, right? I also do it because... heck... it is interesting. That people will pay me to cert is great, but that's only a bonus.

eMeS

JDMurray wrote: »

Realize that there are three questions here:
Is it possible to have too many certs on your resume?

Is it possible to have too many certs on your curriculum vitae?

Is it possible to have too many certs period?

The short answer to each is "yes," "no," and "no."

You resume is constructed to target a specific job market or even a specific job position. You only want to include your certifications that are relevant to the position that you are applying for (and this is not always an easy thing to determine).

Your curriculum vitae (CV) is the register of your life's work and accomplishments. It is the accounting of why you are an expert at everything you claim to be, and all certs you get are a part of that. Certain situations will require you to abridge your CV, which may have you omitting certs that are fields you are not an expert in. But you should always strive tell the absolute truth in your CV and never overstate your expertise and accomplishments.

Never avoid testing for a cert because you feel that you don't want to appear on your resume or CV. Omitting an IT certification you have is not an ethical sin. If you feel that you are just too professional to put that A+ cert on your CV then don't. Then get the A+ anyway and have fun doing it--just don't tell your professional colleagues about it. .

I couldn't agree more with these statements.

Certifications are one measure of knowledge at a specific point in time. Knowledge, if not used, degrades, and when used it changes over time.

Resumes should always be targeted. Trust me, I don't list my Novell CNE from the early 90's on mine anymore.

MS

SteveO86

It has been interesting reading everyone's responses, because I was wondering this same thing.

After I got my CCNA a few years ago, I stopped studying for any certs.. I felt I was king of the world back then. (I was fairly naive back then to lol).. I just focused on my job working on this and that doing whatever they needed of me. I then got a little bored took a few practice test and saw how simple the questions were so I went ahead dedicated a little more time to some video training reading a few books and slowly started picking up a few more certs.

I think it all depends on the environment you work in, where I am it's only my boss and I provided support for anything network/server related, and we've got equipment spread over 8 sites. It's nothing over the top but when you factor in the routers/switches/APs/MS Servers/VM's/etc's my knowledge base has to be pretty wide spread that just how I gotta be. And of course they are willing to pay for training/books as needed.

(Granted my social life has taken a major hit recently)

But if anyone is applying for a job, by all means you should definitely take the time to custom tailor it to fit the job description, it's nice that you might know product A, B, C, and D but if the employer is only looking for someone knowledgeable of product A and C focus on that.

cabrillo24

Yes it's possible to have too many certifications.

If you have certifications that do not apply to your specific work experience or field then you may appear to be a paper chase, and people may question if you're a good test taker or if you legitimately know your stuff.

I'm actually letting a few certifications expire this year, that are not applicable to what I've done over the last 5 years. They were certifications that I grandfathered into. No need to continue paying the yearly fees for them, as they aren't certifications in demand, nor are they required for my line of work. For that matter, people aren't familiar with what they are when I tell them what I have.

earweed

This has actually turned into an intersting discussion. There are a lot ofways to look at this topic and I've seen a lot of different opinions here. Just remember that every technology you have experience with you don't need a cert for, you can just list that experience on your resume. If you want to cert up on every technology you are exposed to then that is your choice as a lot of people do this and likewise you can even cert up on technologies you aren't exposed to in your work environment just because you're interested in that technology or you hope to work with it later.
Getting certs is just a plus and having them listed is mostly a means to get the HR goons to notice your resume. Another plus to being certed is that if you work for a partner (MS, Cisco, Juniper, or whoever) they will require you to be certed in the technologies you will work with.
I'm presently looking at this employment opportunity with something called onforce and a big plus I see with them is that I can get free Dell certs(usually $100 a pop) and will utilize that if I get accepted. Will I list those on my resume? If applying to Dell or if the company I'm applying to says in their posting that Dell certs are a plus.

SteveO86

cabrillo24 wrote: »

Yes it's possible to have too many certifications.

If you have certifications that do not apply to your specific work experience or field then you may appear to be a paper chase, and people may question if you're a good test taker or if you legitimately know your stuff.

Since you put it that way, it makes sense..

But the first thought that comes to my mind.. Why would anyone get a cert that did not apply to them? To me it seems like wasted effort.

cabrillo24

SteveO86 wrote: »

Since you put it that way, it makes sense..

But the first thought that comes to my mind.. Why would anyone get a cert that did not apply to them? To me it seems like wasted effort.

Well 5 years ago it was related more to what I was doing, and I was able to grandfather into those certifications with a several of my CompTIA certifications. At the time I felt it was a good investment. In hindsight, it's just been a waste of money.

Fast forward to 2010, I'm doing something completely different from what I was doing 5 years ago, so no need to hang on to these.

JDMurray

SteveO86 wrote: »

But the first thought that comes to my mind.. Why would anyone get a cert that did not apply to them? To me it seems like wasted effort.

You are attempting to make a new career path for yourself.
Your workplace will be using some new technology (e.g., VMware, wireless networking) and you need to train yourself.
Because you are interested in some area of learning that you do not yet have experience in.
You are in a heated competition with your friends/co-workers to see who can get a cert first (esp. CEH).
You are a chronic licensing/certification collector.
...

SteveO86

cabrillo24 wrote: »

Well 5 years ago it was related more to what I was doing, and I was able to grandfather into those certifications with a several of my CompTIA certifications. At the time I felt it was a good investment. In hindsight, it's just been a waste of money.

Fast forward to 2010, I'm doing something completely different from what I was doing 5 years ago, so no need to hang on to these.

I guess the same could be said with my A+ and old MCP certs, when I started in IT years ago as a computer tech they were relevant, now that I'm a network analyst they aren't relevant at all to my current position.

Back then I considered it a good investment, but nowadays it's useless. Of course depending on where I am another 5+ years from now, even more of my certs might be useless. So it's a rolling principle.

JDMurray wrote: »

You are attempting to make a new career path for yourself.

Your workplace will be using some new technology (e.g., VMware, wireless networking) and you need to train yourself.

Because you are interested in some area of learning that you do not yet have experience in.

You are in a heated competition with your friends/co-workers to see who can get a cert first (esp. CEH).

You are a chronic licensing/certification collector.

...

Understood, I just wasn't clear enough in my post (sorry about that). I ment it more towards this reason.

JDMurray wrote: »

You are a chronic licensing/certification collector.

If someone is trying to get a better job then by all means I consider it applicable. (After all I was still an IT Tech while I was studying and got my CCNA to get my Network position, so I've been there)

cabrillo24

SteveO86 wrote: »

I guess the same could be said with my A+ and old MCP certs, when I started in IT years ago as a computer tech they were relevant, now that I'm a network analyst they aren't relevant at all to my current position.

Back then I considered it a good investment, but nowadays it's useless. Of course depending on where I am another 5+ years from now, even more of my certs might be useless. So it's a rolling principle.

Yeah, but CompTIA and MS certification are life time certifications and require no maintenance (at least for now anyway).

I had to pay yearly dues for 3 certifications I had (the ones that are irrelevant), which were $85 a year each, not to mention continuing education requirements.

earweed

SteveO86 wrote: »

But the first thought that comes to my mind.. Why would anyone get a cert that did not apply to them? To me it seems like wasted effort.

Learning new things is one of the reasons many people pursue a cert. Wasted effort??? You never know where the technology may go tomorrow and a lot of people just get certed to show that they are staying current. A person with an MCSE NT may know how to do stuff in Server 2008 but he may wish to have proof that he is capable and a cert is a measure of proof that you have knowledge.
I'm planning to get the CCNA after I complete my present MS track. Not because I plan to jettison myself into a network job but mostly to gain networking knowledge and to understand what the network guys are doing. Will I list my CCNA on the resume...maybe not but I'm going the 2 test route and if I don't list the CCNA I will list the CCENT just to show my level of networking knowledge.

networker050184

This is the way I go about certifications and believe you can't go wrong with it.

1. Acquire experience with technology
2. Master technology
3. Get certified on technology

I'm not a big believer in the "get certified to learn something" approach. The way I see it you should already know the stuff if you are even thinking about getting certified with it. Of course at times there will be some details or an objective or two you aren't familiar with and will need to learn to get certified. But if you don't already know the bulk of the material why even look into a certification?

Entry level certifications don't really apply though. If a certification is aimed at someone with no experience level then I think its fine to learn as you go.

N2IT

Lot's of interesting comments!

Me personally I want to grow into a implementation manager, change manager, or even a supervisor or service desk manager.

But honestly who really knows. I have 3 jobs that are close to coming to conclusion and to be honest all 3 are all very different. I would enjoy doing all 3 of them to be honest, but who knows where they will take me.

I'm tired of certs and I'm ready for action. I am employed Thank God with a good company, but it's time for a change. I am looking for responsibility and the certifications are no longer filling that void.

N2IT

networker050184 wrote: »

This is the way I go about certifications and believe you can't go wrong with it.

1. Acquire experience with technology
2. Master technology
3. Get certified on technology

I'm not a big believer in the "get certified to learn something" approach. The way I see it you should already know the stuff if you are even thinking about getting certified with it. Of course at times there will be some details or an objective or two you aren't familiar with and will need to learn to get certified. But if you don't already know the bulk of the material why even look into a certification?

Entry level certifications don't really apply though. If a certification is aimed at someone with no experience level then I think its fine to learn as you go.

+1

I agree with those however I have always abided by this.

Example 1. I do network support NOC 1.5 if had to put a tier level on it. I do have basic principles of networking, however the big picture wasn't coming together. Basic ISP terms I had to look up and I got tired of it. So I decided to get Network + certified. Honest it was probably the best cert I have gotten. ITIL and the OSA is another that I use day to day and have at least intermediate knowledge on. So that would fall under your criteria

However Example 2. ISO 20000, 27002, MOF I don't really use. I know they are recognizable and hopefully will get me into a consultant role, but honestly I am no experts in those certifications, however I did study my arse off on ISO 20000 and they are "foundational" level certifications so they are clearly not claiming to be a master.

My office ones are just that certifications what acknowledge that I am pretty good at those office applications. I can take Excel into some higher level functions. I can IF statements and create pivot tables so I decided to justify that with those certifications.

However I won't do another one again.

Daniel333

You can never have too many certs. Considering every year or two a few them expire anyway I don't see how someone could over too many up anyway. Many certs often stack too. you stop listing your MCSA once you have your MCSE. You wouldn't list CCNA:Sec if you had your CCNP:Sec. Right?

BUT! Consider this. There is no such thing as a generic resume. EVERY resume must be catered to a job posting. If you are applying for a help desk job (and desperate enough to need it), I wouldn't list your CCNP. Conversely if you are going for a high level CCNP level networking job listing your A+ is sorta silly, and might type cast you into a desktop guy in their eyes.

Make sure your resume looks good, caters to the job posting AND to the interviewer and you can't go wrong.

Sabalo

But if you don't already know the bulk of the material why even look into a certification?

That's why you build labs study, troubleshoot issues, deploy technology to your poor unsuspecting test users, and gain hands on without having to find that rare company willing to take the time to train you on their own dime.

Along the same lines, why even look into college if you don't already know the bulk of what will be on the final exams? Answer: Because you are interested in the material leading up to that final exam. A certification is a final exam, of sorts. There's nothing wrong with saying "I want to know that stuff", learning that "stuff," and certifying on that stuff.

earweed

I'm getting my MCITP:EA as part of my degree program at WGU. The certs ARE the final exams for IT courses at WGU so they are a measure of what I am learning while getting my degree. Unfortunately I'm not presently IT employed. Am I going to use the MCITP to try to leverage myself straight into a sysadmin job? NO, as I wouldn't be prepared,IMO, to do sysadmin work yet. Am I even going to list the MCITP? no, but I will list the tests leading up to show that I have some server knowledge.