Computer Science Certifications

[bertusgeert 1]

I post many random queries on here, because you never know who knows what in this group of sk'divers here. So...

I am taking CS101 right now, and I am learning some valuable things that no one has ever explained to me and I have never learned.
I was looking into a Computer Sciene minor or similar qualifications, and I was wondering which independent certifications are useful if I can't go through the University. I am studying Economics/Finance.

Someone said something about the A+, but this looks quite hard and maybe too much. Am I correct in assuming this?

I also heard that Microsoft issues certifications, and this might be more useful, in terms of programming or Excell. I am not sure.

An advice or criticisms are more than welcome!

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As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

[SpringVark 0]

Bertus

Hoekom bly jy nou ander kant die wereld? If you don't want to get into the whole Microsoft machine of misery, try out the Sun Certified Java Developer certification. Perhaps tough for beginners, but it should get you far.

Blues,
D.

[bertusgeert 1]

Nee, ek kry mos maar nou vir my 'n goeie werk wat vir my baie geld gee sodat ek baie kan skydive - in Suid Afrika!

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As jy dom is moet jy bloei!

[SpringVark 0]

Ah, you have a good plan then. Try get back for the Mafakeng new years boogie ;-)

[AlexCrowley 0]

Really dont bother unless you're heading to large corporation land.

As a hiring manager I consider MS certs negatives. At a junior/entry level I'd prefer to see what you tried doing by yourself. At higher levels I'm only interested in your experience and more importantly your potential and aptitude.

Cisco certs, especially high level ones, are VERY useful.

A+ Certs really just show that you're capable of breathing. If you think it looks too difficult then you may want to stick with development or bowling.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[PhreeZone 20]

A+ is a good one, but honestly all the certs take some work to get. If you are not going to be doing IT its a lot of time invested for little gain.

IT is a fun thing if you are into geeky things.. other wise its probally going to be frustrating as hell.

A SIMPLE cert to get is the Microsoft Office one, it shows a mastery of Microsoft office products so its a good one for business majors to have.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[AlexCrowley 0]

If you intend to work in systems EVER do not admit to a cert in MS Office.

It's like running for president and putting 'starred in porno movies and did a little drug smuggling' on your resume.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[wildblue 7]

In the right environment, an MOUS cert can actually be good. Hell, I wish all the secretaries (sorry, administrative assistants) at least had them. Christ... "oh! that's neat, how did you get that text darker than the rest??"

Speaking of certs... I'm heading towards CCNA land (maybe CCIE one day) and I have a bit of a lab setup and accessible from the outside world. If anyone's interested in access to some routers you can intentionally break/fix - PM me.

it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality

[mailin 0]

Quote

It's like running for president and putting 'starred in porno movies and did a little drug smuggling' on your resume.

Agreed - it worked well for me when I was working as a office admin, but now that I'm working as a programmer it holds zero for me. Certifications do not hold the weight they did in the late 90s. My uncle worked hard to get his A+ and now works as an assistant manager for a McDonalds - it got him nowhere.

Not only are these certifications expensive to get, but they don't hold as much water with employers as they used to. I was planning on getting my sun certification after I graduated from college, but found that .net jobs were much more plentiful than JAVA and I'm enjoying my career as a C# programmer, with no certifications but lots of opportunity.

I can't remember the last time I saw a job description that included the necessity of some kind of certification other than a college degree and years of experience - don't waste your money.


Jen

Arianna Frances

[AlexCrowley 0]

Really the only time you'll see them is in tech ignorant companies. Techies know they're not worth the paper they're printed on. They're merely good excuses for a few days out of the office, they make the manager happy cos he gets to keep some of his expendable budget justified. If you're lucky what you learn might be of use, most of the time you're rehashing anything you've already stumbled across during your normal work duties or might have read in chapter 3 of the relevent OReilly book.

I just rememberd I do have certs: Java, Weblogic, some linux thingy I did for a joke.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[SpringVark 0]

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but found that .net jobs were much more plentiful than JAVA and I'm enjoying my career as a C# programmer

Ah, the .net/java geeks clash heads on DZ.com! ;-) Not so certain that c# outdoes java on the job market outside US borders. But maybe I'm being biased. Agreed that certs, in either of the two camps, won't get you too far these days.

[PhreeZone 20]

I've got some certs that were worth the time and money.. others were'nt. CISSP is, Security+ was'nt. Cisco was, when I get my MCSE+ that one probally won't be.

Certs that require practical experience are better then book only certs. Requiring proof of experience in the field to get the cert went a long ways to solidifing the validity of some certs in my mind.

The MOUS is great for those people that will be doing Spreadsheets and Access Databases, for everyone else its pointless.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[mailin 0]

haha - no, no clash. I actually prefer JAVA and would love to find a job in it, but am not having much luck finding entry level JAVA jobs in this area. C# and VB.net on the other hand, are very plentiful.


Jen

Arianna Frances

[ryoder 1,590]

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If you intend to work in systems EVER do not admit to a cert in MS Office.

It's like running for president and putting 'starred in porno movies and did a little drug smuggling' on your resume.

ROTFLMAO!!! I needed that. Seriously. A lot of depressing stuff happening at work today, and you gave me a bellylaugh. BTW, I agree 100% with everything you have posted in this thread.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Guest]

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Speaking of certs... I'm heading towards CCNA land (maybe CCIE one day)

Get ready for pain. The CCNA is now a very tough (and expensive) exam. I don't even want to discuss the CCIE.

BTW I think of the CCIE as "Captain Overkill", because a lot of companies can't afford to keep somebody on staff who can easily command $300 per hour, or even consult with one for very long.

The CCIE is the ultimate IT hired gun; somebody you call on when all of your techie resources have been exhausted and your problems still won't go away. It'll most likely get fixed by the CCIE, but prepare to pay dearly.

ps - don't tell my Mom I'm a CNE & MCSE; she thinks I play piano in a whorehouse.

mh

.

.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[AlexCrowley 0]

Ok, I thought it had got a little crazy on the CCNA changing.

I remain convinced that CCIEs are there simply for companies who have too much money and time for their IT teams. I am still looking for such a company.

"ps - don't tell my Mom I'm a CNE & MCSE; she thinks I play piano in a whorehouse. LaughCrazyCool" - BHAHAHAHA thats awesome!

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[j0nes 0]

Here's another question then:

How would you suggest an experienced C\C++ programmer go about getting a .Net job without certs?

[AlexCrowley 0]

I really don't know you or your background. I'm not sure I'm qualified to make a statement on C# as I dont know anything about it. :-)

Mostly I look for people that know their shit, and it's pretty easy to spot people that dont. A proven track record of learning new technologies, a hackers natural tendancy for playing with geeky stuff.

I tend to build out networking/systems teams and there's just a certain mentality that I know is going to work out, in general they are people that got off their ass and didnt wait to be spoonfed. Thats something beyond just certs, but having the right attitude to work in or with my team. I dont have a great deal of patience for divas.

As far as development, syntax is just syntax. If you can prove that you're able to think properly the language itself is a short learning curve. I'm usually interested if I can walk away from an interview feeling I had a great conversation with someone who both grasps the technology intuitively and really is passionate about building awesome stuff. I have no real patience for anything less than that.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[AlexCrowley 0]

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I've got some certs that were worth the time and money.. others were'nt. CISSP is, Security+ was'nt. Cisco was, when I get my MCSE+ that one probally won't be.
.

I agree with you on what you said (including the bit i cut), CISSP is targetted at corporate security, so if you want to work in that space its pretty much necessary.

The major vendors do certs as a money making exercise and the larger players certs provide non-techies a way to guage if someones lying when they say they know their stuff. As an entry level differentiator they may be of some use in certain cases. My experience is with hardcore tech companies, development houses and "internet companies" where the bootstrap mentality exists - training consists of hitting a bookstore and reading everything available on google before building the prototype.

I think that even the Cisco certs are losing their value, the same way that the MCSEs are totally worthless now.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.