Certifications (Microsoft/Sun/etc): helps you get contracts?

[theroyale]

I have 5 years of working experience and will finish my first contract role later this year. Looking ahead to further contracts I am wondering if any of you has had the experience of a Microsoft (or Sun/Cisco etc) certification helping you along on your job search? Does it help to have these on your CV? (I figure that even if it helps your CV get noticed by an agent at that crucial moment, it won't hurt to take a couple of these exams - put it down as a business expense).

[rsingh]

It helps get your cv noticed as the people who check them are often box tickers. So agents like them. Also some comopanies need to have a certain number of certified people to maintain their partner status, so again its a help.

They certainly won't do you any harm, however its easy to spot a paper cert at an interview compared to somebody who knows their stuff. In short, experience and a cert is always going to look good.

[nomadd]

It helps get your cv noticed as the people who check them are often box tickers. So agents like them. Also some comopanies need to have a certain number of certified people to maintain their partner status, so again its a help.

They certainly won't do you any harm, however its easy to spot a paper cert at an interview compared to somebody who knows their stuff. In short, experience and a cert is always going to look good.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

I've just landed a very decent role in a investment bank. The hiring guy pointed out some Oracle qualifications I did about 10 years ago on my cv. I immediately informed him of how out-of-date they were, and that they in no way related to the Oracle products being used on his project. His reply: "Well, your Oracle qualified, that's good enough for me", and hey presto, I started the following Monday.

[northernladuk]

I think it depends on what the rest of your CV looks like so use them to suit. If you have a strong CV with spot on roles/responsibilities in large blue chip clients then not so important. If you are struggling to demostrate the skills required then essential BUT....

.... only list the ones relavant to the role you are applying for! IMO there is nothing worse than seeing a list of Cert's the length of your arm that are just not relavant. You can be over qualified and under experienced and have to wonder why you have so many courses at £X per course raising the possibility you are not being totally honest.

They certainly add to a CV and could be the differentiator should you come up against a similar guy without it but won't really dull your chances if you have a good strong CV

[theroyale]

Fantastic - thanks all for responding. Will get cracking on these then.