Reply to: to certify or not to certify?

[AlfredJPruffock]

It's making f*** all difference in my search for a new contract, I can tell you!

Sorry to hear that - best advice I can give you then is to , before you apply for the next position is to Chant (to yourself is fine) Hare Krishna - Hare Rama - Hare Hare and your wish for material progress will be granted by the infinite kindness from the Spiritual Sky - I know some may laugh - but this has always worked for me.

From the Spiritual Sky
Such sweet memories have I
From the Spiritual Sky
How I pray - that I wont get lost
Or go astray

As Im Fated for the Material World
Not much giving in the Material World

Hope to get out of this place

By the Lord Sri Krsnas Grace
My salvation from the Material World

[TheFaQQer]

Thanks - got that on me CV now - OCWE (With Hounours)

It's making f*** all difference in my search for a new contract, I can tell you!

[AlfredJPruffock]

This might be true in certain disciplines, but not all.

Some of the Microsoft ones might be worth having (no idea) but I can't imagine that an OCP from Oracle (which I have) will make any difference whatsoever, because most clients don't even know they exist, never mind care whether a contractor has one. That said, my OCWE is on the CV, since it's pretty rare.

Thanks - got that on me CV now - OCWE (With Hounours)

Nice one.

I would add that unless an IT skill is new to the market , and theres little of that around as IT has been more or less stagnant for the past 10 years then perhaps certs would be useful - but it youve got say over five years hands on experience with a skillset then certs are pretty irrelevant .

For some , placing undue emphasis on certs on your CV could be interpreted as a sign of inexperience or personality weakness.

Ditto for degrees unrelated to IT - eg Divinity from Bolton Polytechnic 1979

[Stan.goodvibes]

It's a bit like having a degree - I have one from 1987 and it's relevance now is zero (I remember a lecturer telling that IBM will always be #1 because no-one ever got fired for buying IBM). However jobs in The City, even contracts, always specified a degree.

I'm just doing my Microsoft BI cert courses now, but a) client is paying for it, and b) I'm doing Reporting Services and BI stuff at clientco.

I think its only gonna help, at least just to get my CV off to the client...

[PM-Junkie]

If you are opted in, then there is an obligation on the agency to check it out.

I know....and I'm not.

[TheFaQQer]

I was asked to fax my MBA and PMP certs at one gig a while ago, and the request came in from the agency 2 days after starting. I mentioned it to the client over a coffee later that day - they hadn't requested it and were a little baffled as to why the agency had.

A little surprising on both levels. I guess I just have an honest face...

If you are opted in, then there is an obligation on the agency to check it out.

[PM-Junkie]

I was asked to fax my MBA and PMP certs at one gig a while ago, and the request came in from the agency 2 days after starting. I mentioned it to the client over a coffee later that day - they hadn't requested it and were a little baffled as to why the agency had.

A little surprising on both levels. I guess I just have an honest face...

[TheFaQQer]

The only certificate I've ever been asked to show (including degrees) is my Prince2 Practitioner (once) and that's easily verified online making it mostly pointless.

I was asked by one agent to prove all the qualifications that were mentioned on my CV, as part of my opting into the agency regulations. That's the only time anyone has mentioned them.

[pmeswani]

Guys,

I'm new here but am writing because I'm considering contracting at some point in the near future.

My question relates to that of certifications. I have a number of years experience in global bank but have no certifications in my chosen dicipline - how much do you feel this would detract from my potential employability? Furthermore, are most of you certified in your chosen diciplines?

Thanks

No brainer. Do you want to be more employable? Most companies would go for experiene alone... but some demand certifications. If you are going for these roles, then you would be better off with the certifications. I would suggest looking at various job boards and determine whether the majority of roles require it, or if the roles that require it pays you more money.

[ratewhore]

It's not really optional, you must have certs. For a start agents will run your CV through a keyword search, so if you don't have the required certs you will be straight out of probably 90% of job applications.

Thats what white on white text is for...

[TykeMerc]

The only certificate I've ever been asked to show (including degrees) is my Prince2 Practitioner (once) and that's easily verified online making it mostly pointless.

[minestrone]

I have quite a few Java certs including the highly regarded J2EE architect one which I have held for just about my entire contracting career ( 5 years ).

No agent has ever mentioned them, no client has ever mentioned them and I have seen less job adverts asking for the J2EE architect certification than there are exams to sit to get it.

[FSM with Cheddar]

I wonder what would be good certs for a .Net developer (C# and VB). Might be a good idea if they aren't too expensive. (But I've had a couple of contracts in the last couple of years doing largely .Net, and again nobody asked about certs even for that.)

IMHO The MS .Net certs are a waste of time. They are completely pointless and don't reflect real world experience.

The only time I would recommend MS certs is if you need to prove yourself and you have no experience.

[TheFaQQer]

It's not really optional, you must have certs.

This might be true in certain disciplines, but not all.

Some of the Microsoft ones might be worth having (no idea) but I can't imagine that an OCP from Oracle (which I have) will make any difference whatsoever, because most clients don't even know they exist, never mind care whether a contractor has one. That said, my OCWE is on the CV, since it's pretty rare.

[Lockhouse]

As others have said Certs help with agency searches and if you can put a M$ or comparable logo on your CV it helps get your CV noticed. Doesn't help at the actual interview at all, just a marketing tool.