Worthwhile/cheap certifications

[tdhgeek007]

I too take issue with being expected to pay £3000 for a forced course in order to sit exams for £150 which I could pass with my eyes closed due to many years experience. So I don't do them and get hired anyway.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, what a stupid and idiotic comment to make! 1) If you can "pass with your eyes closed", then WTF are you going on about paying for a course then?
You don't HAVE to take the courses you know, you could learn off your own bat, and then take the exams?

Seems to demonstate a very narrow-minded POV?

[ShandyDrinker]

I'd not go for any IT certs now unless it would something high-end like the CCIE or OCM (Oracle Certified Master), for example.

There are plenty of other more generic (and probably better) alternatives available through the likes of Coursera (good for all round learning) and Pluralsight (IT oriented). There are undoubtedly others I haven't mentioned.

I've found Coursera good for general background, see the Financial Engineering and Risk Management as an example of a course for background on things like Derivatives and Options).

[DaveB]

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, what a stupid and idiotic comment to make! 1) If you can "pass with your eyes closed", then WTF are you going on about paying for a course then?
You don't HAVE to take the courses you know, you could learn off your own bat, and then take the exams?

Seems to demonstate a very narrow-minded POV?

I think you are misunderstanding him.

Many industry certs dont allow you to just rock up and take the exam. They insist you pay for and complete the training course first.

[SlipTheJab]

I think you are misunderstanding him.

Many industry certs dont allow you to just rock up and take the exam. They insist you pay for and complete the training course first.

+1. Its all a swizz.

[northernladuk]

Any certificate that's cheap isn't worthwhile as it can be gained by any idiot.

HTH.

This.... And if you can't demonstrate the use of these and the are not core to the work you are doing you are wasting your time and money.

It's probably more use to get a speed typing cert to prove you can type faster than some of the one fingered plonkers we have around here.

[LucidDementia]

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, what a stupid and idiotic comment to make! 1) If you can "pass with your eyes closed", then WTF are you going on about paying for a course then?
You don't HAVE to take the courses you know, you could learn off your own bat, and then take the exams?

Seems to demonstate a very narrow-minded POV?

Unfortunately you're mistaken. A number of certs require course attendance. That's what I am talking about.
In 2001 when I did my MCSE "learn off your own bat, and then take the exams" is precisely what I did.

[MrMarkyMark]

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, what a stupid and idiotic comment to make! 1) If you can "pass with your eyes closed", then WTF are you going on about paying for a course then?
You don't HAVE to take the courses you know, you could learn off your own bat, and then take the exams?

Seems to demonstate a very narrow-minded POV?

Time of the month

[psychocandy]

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, what a stupid and idiotic comment to make! 1) If you can "pass with your eyes closed", then WTF are you going on about paying for a course then?
You don't HAVE to take the courses you know, you could learn off your own bat, and then take the exams?

Seems to demonstate a very narrow-minded POV?

Umm I think you will find a lot of companies will now not let you take the exam unless you can prove you've attended the official course as well. e.g. oracle, vmware.

So you end up having to pay £1000s to go on a course you may not need just to be eligible for the exam.

[gables]

This.... And if you can't demonstrate the use of these and the are not core to the work you are doing you are wasting your time and money.

It's probably more use to get a speed typing cert to prove you can type faster than some of the one fingered plonkers we have around here.

I've quite fancied learning touch typing, always thought my ex was flash, when typing when reading the document without looking at the keyboard and looking up to answer a question whilst still typing.

[LucidDementia]

This.... And if you can't demonstrate the use of these and the are not core to the work you are doing you are wasting your time and money.

It's probably more use to get a speed typing cert to prove you can type faster than some of the one fingered plonkers we have around here.

Sadly I am a one fingered plonker. I can type fast enough to get up folks' noses at least.