Ask HN: Any certification that is worth it? Legitimately helped your career?

I collect a lot of certs for fun, but most have not been helpful. I still like to collect them anyway.

I think OSCP was the most legitimately useful in tech https://www.offensive-security.com/pwk-oscp/

PMP has been useful to take on Project Manager roles, but really PrM roles aren't all that exciting to begin with. Still helps when you want to run your own projects.

I'm currently studying to be a certified parliamentarian from the National Association of Parliamentarians. I'm interested in corporate governance and learning Roberts Rules of Order definitely helps.

I'm also a certified farmer (yeah its a thing), I have 5 sailing certs, 3 scuba certs, Wilderness Emergency Medical Responder cert, working on my pilots license, getting my real estate sales license, ham radio operator general class, almost done with my CDL, there's lots more I'd have to check my notes on.

I do want to get a Kubernetes cert done this year. Long term I want to knock out my CPA/CFA exams, but those are a huge commitment so we will see if it pans out.

Most of this response hasn't answered your question at all, because certs really are mostly useless. Still fun to collect.

I'd imagine financial certs would be the most useful (CFA in particular).

If anyone knows any other fun certs let me know.

Any specific certs you have in mind?

I don't have a single cert of any type and have never needed them. My last role was at the Senior Staff level and I'm currently interviewing for a Principal position. I've found certs are mostly asked for by either very unusual jobs or bottom of the barrel employers that don't trust their own people. I'm not really looking for either of those things so I find I don't need certs.

Certifications provide a structured roadmap of self studying a technology. As a hiring manager, I give them very little consideration because passing an exam doesn't mean the person actually understands the concepts.

As CTO I respect a lot Cisco, PMP and UX certifications by NNGroup.