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Ask HN: Did certifications ever help you get a better job?

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Re: Ask HN: Did certifications ever help you get a better job?

#3
Certifications that require lab work tend to be more valued because they show applied knowledge, unlike multiple choice exams where you could cram for the test without applying any of that knowledge. As for requirements the only thing that comes to mind is DoD requirements in the US, a job I worked required me to get Sec+ before they'd give me network access

https://public.cyber.mil/cw/cwmp/dod-approved-8570-baseline-...

Re: Ask HN: Did certifications ever help you get a better job?

#4
20+ years as a software engineer. No certs, but I also have no problem getting a job. I am now thinking of getting AWS certs, as I think those are worth it. The SEC+ is worth it if you want admin privs as a DoD consultant. I've been told the CISCO certs are also definitely worth it, but I was also told they are hard.

Re: Ask HN: Did certifications ever help you get a better job?

#5
HN isn't the place to ask this, as the community is suspicious of credentials, be it PMP, CSM, Microsoft MVP, Salesforce Solution Architect, or what have you.

You are much more likely to be told horror stories of when they had to work with an under-prepared person that happened to have one of those certs, and why that means all certs are equally lacking in value.

Re: Ask HN: Did certifications ever help you get a better job?

#6
No certs have helped me get a job, but the general rule of certs is the same ol' supply demand. The more people that have a particular cert, the less valuable it will be, because it'll mean that it's that much easier to obtain.

And companies want more people certified in their tech so over time, they do ease up on requirements like applied knowledge and experience, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Did certifications ever help you get a better job?

#7
No. The only time I was sent off to get certs was when customers demanded that {x} percentage of staff have one. Even then my certs were never questioned in interviews nor did any hiring managers ask about them in later positions. They were more interested in experience and knowledge.

Re: Ask HN: Did certifications ever help you get a better job?

#9
What do you classify as a certification? Degree? Vendor certification? Government license?

Obviously a plumber’s or electricians license will make you big money here in Australia. My law degree and lawyers certification does not (over supply of lawyers). I did a masters but that was more to learn. No one asked to see grades ever.

Re: Ask HN: Did certifications ever help you get a better job?

#10

20+ years as a software engineer. No certs, but I also have no problem getting a job. I am now thinking of getting AWS certs, as I think those are worth it. The SEC+ is worth it if you want admin privs as a DoD consultant. I've been told the CISCO certs are also definitely worth it, but I was also told they are hard.

I completed CCNA years ago. It wasn't very hard but my one is long out of date.
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