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cruizer » Certification.Value = worthIt?
   
Certification.Value = worthIt?
I recently took the Microsoft 70-315 (C# Web Applications) exam and luckily, with the combination of prayers, efforts, work experience and downloadable reviewers and braindumps, I was able to pass it. I'm now an MCP! Not bad for a Linux/open source fanboy, huh?

For many years I did not dare take any form of certification (probably due to my aversion to exams, having gone through so many during my student years, or maybe I just didn't want to spend my hard-earned money on it), until an eye-opener of an interview changed my mind.

What's your take on this? Do you think certification is worth it? I sure hope so, because I spent almost 3k Philippine Pesos on it Smile [:)] thanks to the 40% discount promo of DB Wizards.
Posted 03-06-2006 9:44 PM by cruizer

Comments

cvega wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-06-2006 10:13 PM
For me, it is not. Companies are paying "experts" for what they know rather than for what "cert" they earned.
keithrull wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-06-2006 10:44 PM
certifications are great! although i dont have one yet.. i do have a birth certificate though! :P just kidding!

i think certifications give people competitive edge on the market.. but i think experience is still the number 1 clincher when it comes to getting a job...
CryptoKnight wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-06-2006 11:04 PM
i completely agree!
cruizer wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-06-2006 11:22 PM
well I'm just glad I finally passed it. the pressure's been lifted from my shoulders...I mean I couldn't imagine how it would have felt like for me to flunk the test and have my money go down the drain... my wife would probably beat me up Stick out tongue [:P]
CryptoKnight wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-06-2006 11:33 PM
congrats! any plan on pursuing the MCAD or MCSD track?  MS is currently offering a second shot promo.
bonskijr wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-06-2006 11:34 PM
congrats... certification is your cherry on top of your sundae heheh metaphorically speaking... tuloy tuloy mo na yan..
cruizer wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-06-2006 11:39 PM
i do plan on taking the 70-320 exam next...then 70-340...
TuldokLambat wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-07-2006 1:14 AM
This reminds me of the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz (from the story, the scarecrow is seeking the wizard to give him a brain).  The wizard gave the scarecrow a certificate as it is the wizard said "a recognition of one's intellectual ability" and right there and then the scarecrow became intelligent.  But that's stupid of course, you have to read between the lines here and discern the parable and know that the scarecrow was smart all along, he just needs a 'label' to go with it. =)
cruizer wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-07-2006 1:36 AM
so you mean certification is just "yabang points" and nothing else?

in my opinion, certification means something to my employer, but it really doesn't mean much to me (other than a feeling of accomplishment)
TuldokLambat wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-07-2006 6:16 PM
No, not "yabang" points but a "label" so that others may know.  It's like putting a mark in your forehead that says "I'm certified!" that's all, and you're doing that so that, like I said, *others may know*.
TuldokLambat wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-07-2006 7:08 PM
And for yourself also, like the scarecrow, to gain confidence and validate that what you have inside your head translates to something concrete.
cvega wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-07-2006 8:27 PM
Quoting from "Art of war": True great people never show sign of their greatness.

I was thinking, is it really necessary to "show" these things in order to get recognition? I'm not saying this before I'm not certified or something, in fact I do have number of certificates already, but I don't feel any different with ot without.

By the way, I have never informed my current employer about my certs, and none of my officemates know thatI'm certified, but I received the same treatment.
cruizer wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-07-2006 9:12 PM
well ako i'd choose to have my certs known to my employer, but not to my fellow employees (unless they ask).
keithrull wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-07-2006 10:50 PM
i did the same thing as what cruizer did... i dont tell people about any accomplishments i made in my career... the only people who knows about it are the people who interview me for jobs... i dont have any certs thou... i did review on it but finally gave up after falling asleep a couple of times while reading my reviewers.. i still have the the 315 and the 320 books :) but have not read them since 1 year ago
Orange wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-08-2006 1:02 AM
May the force be with you.
Orange wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-08-2006 1:16 AM
Would't it be better if you have them both. Certs and Experience, they do a same job.

I do have a friend who have a lot of experience but don't have the performance. Experience is nothing without a good performance. And having cert is like driving in a fast lane.
Anyways, congrats!!! Wala bang "Why should Cruizer should treat us a beer?" hehe.
cruizer wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-08-2006 1:58 AM
actually i plan on taking another exam, 70-320 (C# XML web services). but based on what i've been hearing about developers' opinions on certification...i probably don't have to. i'll just work on the "experience" part Smile [:)]

beer? pag nanganak na lang (ulit) misis ko! Stick out tongue [:P]
cvega wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-08-2006 2:17 AM
Hi cruizer, I think this is something called people marketing. I've read this from an old psychology book.

1. "When a person seek for a job, and has nothing to present, that person won't have any luck getting the job."

2. "When a person seek for a job, without any experience about the job, that person would consider asking for outside recognition to get the job."
(outside recognition = cert)

3. "When a person seek for a job, with enough experience, that person will most likely get the job."

4. "When a person seek for a job, with enough experience and outside recognition, that person will most likely get the job."

From the above quotes, 3 and 4 ended the same.
cruizer wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-08-2006 2:48 AM
psych major ka ba chris? :) i vaguely remember you saying in one of your posts that you're not an eng/computersci major. yeah i guess what you said is true...certification can only add spice to your resume. certification alone (without the requisite experience) won't cut it.
keithrull wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-08-2006 4:32 PM
experience is really important. i know people in school who are really good at written exams... but fail on actual coding exercises. some people are good in memorizing books... thats the same reason why employers nowadays look for people who are well-versed and have the experience on the technology rather than someone who has tons of certificates but hasnt really done any field work :)

having a cert is not bad. but having the right experience is better!
cvega wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-08-2006 5:28 PM
@cruizer,
I'm a psychologist, but working in the field of software development.
cruizer wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 03-08-2006 5:50 PM
i wonder when we can progress to a point wherein certification exams are real hands-on exams and not multiple-choice stuff? that'll be interesting...maybe when that time comes, many people's opinions about IT certification will change.
lamia wrote re: Certification.Value = worthIt?
on 07-17-2006 7:59 AM
I think getting certified is a good thing. I don't have much exposure yet but I planned to be SCJP this July... Unfortunately, I don't have the money for it. I think certs really increase your value as a developer. Having the technical know-how isn't enough. Your years of experience and those papers will really help you secure yourself when it comes to finding a job. I know of some people though who had more than 3 years of experience, yet they seem to have learned nothing about Software Development. I also know of some who are certified, but doesn't even know how to construct proper HTML tables. And guess what, they even get higher pay than those who are knowledeable. I'm speaking based on experience, and I think you did the good thing of getting certified. How much would it cost without the discount BTW? I'm not in the mood to do any math right now... I disagree to make the exam hands-on. Why? Because not every problem is effectively solved in front of the computer. Ok, so those are online exams... Still, I think it's better be left that way... You know... The multiple choice stuff... :)
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