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Geek Culture / Recognised Certifications?

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Interplanetary Funk
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Joined: 19th Apr 2010
Location: Ipswich, United Kingdom
Posted: 30th May 2011 19:27
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So I've been thinking of getting some certifications to do with compu-science and was wondering if you guys know any that are widely recognised by employers and even universities (and possibly free)?

I know of the MS ones, but they're way out of my depth atm. I've been looking at free ones from the NCSA and e-learning center but I don't know if they'd be worth the time.


Also, while (roughly) on the subject, does anyone know of any universities that would see practical working experience in the industry as a bonus point for getting on the course? It's too late for me to apply to unis now and I'd like to actually do it part time whilst working so I can actually afford to survive.


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That Guy John
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Posted: 30th May 2011 19:39
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Check your local comunity colleges for certificate classes. Many of them are 3 day workshops and sponsored by MS, HP, or even your local cable company. You may also be able to find some networking worksops that are around 2-3 weeks long that provide certificates.
Some of them are minor certificates, but looks great if you have a stack of them in your "I Love Me" book.

And Here Is A Penguin:
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Interplanetary Funk
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Posted: 30th May 2011 21:10
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I'll have a look, the only places near me that MIGHT do something like this are suffolk new college and university campus suffolk, neither of which do anything related to computer science, well there's IT full time at the college (can't do full time) or a full time games design course at the UCS.

I'll have a look if there's anywhere else though


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JoelJ
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Posted: 1st Jun 2011 05:33
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Quote: "I know of the MS ones, but they're way out of my depth atm."

Those are the ones worth getting though. (Not the MS ones, but the hard ones.) I would look into the MS certs, Oracle/Sun Java certs, or others certs like that. They made be hard, but that sets you apart that much more from the average Joe programmer.

Your mother has been erased by a mod because it's larger than 600x120
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crispex
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Posted: 1st Jun 2011 05:41
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I got certified in a wide array of Microsoft products, expensive, but employers like them.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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Fallout
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Location: Basingstoke, England
Posted: 1st Jun 2011 09:27
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Quote: "I got certified in a wide array of Microsoft products, expensive, but employers like them."


Did you pay for them out of your own pocket though, or did ya boss dig deep as part of the training fund?!

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crispex
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Posted: 2nd Jun 2011 06:09
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Pocket. Well, half-way. Each one is roughly $200 - $250, I went halves while the training institution paid the other half. Not the worst use of money, actually one of the better things I invested in.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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Interplanetary Funk
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Posted: 2nd Jun 2011 12:04
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I know the MS ones make you highly employable, but if that's how much the cost, I doubt I'll be able to afford one to do one for a while.


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Phaelax
DBPro Master
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Posted: 3rd Jun 2011 06:13
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I know A+ went in the toilet if you ask me ever since MS got their hands in it. It's now a two part exam which for the most part resolves around customer support more than actually fixing anything. Oh, and I believe any A+ (possibly others) issued as of 2010, have to be continuously renewed. No more A+ for life unless you got it before then.

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Fatal Berserker
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Posted: 3rd Jun 2011 14:13 Edited at: 3rd Jun 2011 14:13
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Quote: "Oh, and I believe any A+ (possibly others) issued as of 2010, have to be continuously renewed. No more A+ for life unless you got it before then."

thank fu-

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David R
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Posted: 3rd Jun 2011 14:47 Edited at: 3rd Jun 2011 14:47
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I would not get too hung up on certifications unless they are really specific / actually required for a certain sector

Whilst I don't think employers frown upon them as such, based on my experience interviewing for internship positions etc. I think employers realise that a lot of certifications don't really mean much. That's not to say don't get them - they could certainly be an extra thing to push if you're evenly matched with another candidate for a job or something. But it just seemed to me that they're something that impress HR departments, and not necessarily the more technical people who will probably interview or assess you.

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Phaelax
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Posted: 3rd Jun 2011 17:46
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I think most are useless too, especially the MS certified ones. But I've known some employers that pay extra for each cert you have. My friend's brother has about 12 certifications last time I saw him because his employer gave him like an extra $1k a year. $1k/yr may not sound like much at first, but multiply that by 12 and well, you see.

On the other hand, while I've met plenty of A+ certified people who weren't actually qualified to even program my VCR, I have yet to meet an equally dumb person with CCNA/CCNP. Those guys tend to know their stuff.

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xplosys
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Posted: 3rd Jun 2011 17:56 Edited at: 3rd Jun 2011 17:58
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Wrong thread...

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crispex
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Posted: 4th Jun 2011 02:30
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Quote: "I think employers realise that a lot of certifications don't really mean much. "


I have to disagree, and no, not because I have them. The job market is getting very competitive, and when it comes down between you who might have no certifications, and someone who does, they're going to go with the person who does.

I just now realized I've had a typo in my signature for the past 3 years.
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David R
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Posted: 4th Jun 2011 12:58 Edited at: 4th Jun 2011 13:01
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Quote: "The job market is getting very competitive, and when it comes down between you who might have no certifications, and someone who does, they're going to go with the person who does"


Although I did mention that in my post, I reckon experience is likely to be the differentiator between two candidates, not certificates (and employers will probably take experience over a certificate, unless they are a company that is specifically a 'Microsoft partner' etc. or some other entity that is for some reason valuing certificates)

Again, don't me wrong - they're probably still useful to get you noticed when you send your initial details etc. in your CV (and are presumably good to have in your CV in place of experience if you don't have much) but beyond the HR dept. and companies that are somehow dependent on certificates, you need to weigh up whether they're worthwhile

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Interplanetary Funk
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Posted: 4th Jun 2011 14:07
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Yeah, but getting the interview is often the hardest part. Well I find it is at least.


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