Reply to: Thoughts on the Value of Certifications for Contractors...

[Billy Pilgrim]

I never have really bothered (Java Developer only) but wish that I had taken the time out to do more when I was using various technologies on a day to day basis......

Could have passed (and had paid for) a load of Oracle, Java, .Net certificates without that much extra effort....would now look good on the CV of a person who is required for all-round IT ability (I'm never going to get the nod for an Oracle gig over an experienced Oracle person these days - but good all round experience may tip the balance in close calls when applying for some roles)

[kookachoo]

And that should be the ultimate question - will I see a return on my investment?

I took my ISO/IEC 20000 Consultant and Auditor exams and have got precisely 0 contracts off the back of them.

Just hoping this will pick up as the ITIL stuff did 5 years ago...

I've done ISO/IEC 20000 also, it was a bloody good course, and although I haven't got any gigs of the back of it, it made me much more comfortable in the knowledge that I was already implementing ITIL to a darn good standard anyway

I view courses as an achievement in practical experience rather than a textbook way of learning.

[the_duderama]

Quite important form the infrastructure/network side of things - although I also have never been asked to provide proof, other than a technical interveiw or tests. They normally use it to filter people out, also getting the certs without the expereince is much harder.

[BrowneIssue]

I on the other hand have no qualifications above a cycling proficiency, and I've never once been asked to provide that. (Though I do have it framed at home)

Quite right too. In this day and age that's a rare qualification indeed and one that few young folk could even aspire to.

[Ilu]

I find that knowing foreign languages opens a whole new side to contracting than certification, especially if you know Eastern European languages. I'm lucky and know 6 of them fluently and ready for the nod to head over to Poland or Ukraine.

Really? How is the Czech market? I am fluent in the language.

[NickNick]

I on the other hand have no qualifications above a cycling proficiency, and I've never once been asked to provide that. (Though I do have it framed at home)

[BrowneIssue]

Blag-tastic. I've just awarded myself a PhD, ITIL managers cert, and a CCIE (whatever that stands for.)

"Nah, sorry mate. You wasn't short-listed. They said they wanted Microsoft Sea and Prince too."



I take my CV to interviews and two or three times have had to hand it over so they could interview me from that rather than the rubbish the agent gave them.

On one occasion they passed their agent's copy back to me: it was absolutely shambolic. The memorable line was under Programming Languages and it actually said:

Microsoft Sea

Why had they changed that from 'C'?


Anyway, original question:certifications get you short-listed. In what must be over 30 interviews I cannot recall ever being asked for any.

However, my wife, a professional Librarian, would always be asked to provide a copy of her degree certificate to prove she was qualified, even when she was temping.

We're obviously just more trustworthy!

[Tensai]

None.

In 18 years as a contractor I've only had to show copies of certificates to two institutions the DVA and APM, no employer (perm or contract) or agent has ever asked to see any of my certificates since I left Uni.

Blag-tastic. I've just awarded myself a PhD, ITIL managers cert, and a CCIE (whatever that stands for.)

[Pogle]

Never needed them, the ones in my field aren't ever advertised for anyway.

Ditto

[Moscow Mule]

Never needed them, the ones in my field aren't ever advertised for anyway.

[denver2k]

Agreed, I view certificates as door openers and nothing else.

Agreed ++

Indeed they are door openers and seem quite attractive to pimps....

[TykeMerc]

Slightly off topic, but how many clients/pimps have demanded to see the certificates listed on your CV?

I've had pimps looking for copies of academic degree certs, but never the technical ones, even back when I was doing techie stuff. I always did well on the techie interview questions so maybe they didn;t see the point?

None.

In 18 years as a contractor I've only had to show copies of certificates to two institutions the DVA and APM, no employer (perm or contract) or agent has ever asked to see any of my certificates since I left Uni.

[uky kozak]

I find that knowing foreign languages opens a whole new side to contracting than certification, especially if you know Eastern European languages. I'm lucky and know 6 of them fluently and ready for the nod to head over to Poland or Ukraine.

[Tensai]

Slightly off topic, but how many clients/pimps have demanded to see the certificates listed on your CV?

I've had pimps looking for copies of academic degree certs, but never the technical ones, even back when I was doing techie stuff. I always did well on the techie interview questions so maybe they didn;t see the point?

[minestrone]

Some certs are better than others.

Sun Certified Java Programmer is quite good, though bits of it expect you to be a human compiler (why?). Very useful for dealing with anal techie interviewers who try and trip you up (eg "what does 'finalize' mean?"). Expensive now at £300, so don't bother with future upgrades.

Sun Certified Java Web Developer is mostly a complete load of bollocks that requires you to memorise certain XML schemas and learn pointless things like taglibs. Only thing this is good for is helping you really understand Servlet life cycle. Avoid unless you're a permie and it's free and you can study during office hours.

Sun Certified Java Business Component Developer. Utterly pointless waste of time studying the now extinct EJBs. Only study if you're in prison and you need to pass it to get out.

The architect one is seriously hard work, I passed it 5 years ago and there was 3 parts to it, the project section was very testing.