[TriLUG] Are Certifications worth it?

[uzoma nwosu]

I think Mark got where I was going with this.  I know that certs can't
hurt you.  But will they really make a difference come hiring time?  I
know the answer for me will be yes but, for issues that I won't even
begin to entertain on this list.  How many of you are working and have
no certifications?  How many of you would even entertain hiring
someone with an LPI over someone with a RHCT?  Where would the CCNA
fit in?  Would it even matter?

I guess I am trying to figure out where I sit in this world.  It's
hard trying to see which direction  one should take and how.  And
entry-level, work your way up the ladder, positions just don't grow on
trees anymore.   What you've all posted is very informative.  I just
need to sit back and chew on it for a moment...

Thanks,

uzoma


On 8/26/05, Mark Freeze <mfreeze at gmail.com> wrote:
> My take on this, and what I think the original post was asking between
> the lines is this:  "Is it easier to get a job with a RHCE or with
> LPI?"  The answer to me is the same as the older question of "Why do I
> need a degree if I have been working in $industry for 10 years?"  If
> someone is going to hire you just because you are a RCHE then they
> must not know what they doing themselves. On the other hand, if you
> have tons of experience but no RCHE I feel you should be interviewed
> honestly, based on your experience. I once knew a personnel manager
> that told me that they wouldn't even consider an applicant that didn't
> have a MCSE.  When I asked them what an MCSE was... Surprise!  They
> had no idea. They told me that it meant that the applicant 'knew a lot
> about computers.'
> 
> Now before I get flamed on this let me explain my point.  I know that
> everyone in this group is VERY technically minded, and some of you are
> in positions to hire people.  But I would almost guarantee you that if
> you gathered all of Raleigh's HR people from non-technical companies
> together only about 2% would have ever heard of a RCHE, and then 1% of
> that 2% might know what it means.
> 
> With that being said I think that the best answer I could give to this
> question is this:  It depends on where you are trying to get a job,
> and who is doing the hiring.  If you are applying to a company that is
> using Red Hat, or has a very technical-based HR department then a RCHE
> with some experience is a huge step up from other applicants.  If you
> are applying at $large_co with a standard HR department you might
> could skip the $3000 course and just tell them you have a ABCD
> certification from the First Internet College of Linuxtry.  They
> probably wouldn't know the difference. The question then changes to
> "What certification will actually help me do my job?"  And we all know
> the answer to that one.
> 
> I know probably 98% less Linux than most of you on this list and
> before I posted this reply I asked myself how many of the people on
> this list who have provided me with dead-on accurate answers to my
> questions and consistently give brilliant advice to others have an
> RCHE or LPI certification.  I could be mistaken but I'd probably guess
> less than 30%.
> 
> Regards,
> Mark.
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