Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

101–110 of 434 posts

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

#101

Post by ncpa-cpl »

mdaverde wrote: post #63
robcohen wrote: post #11

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 parliament…

Why do you think cert collecting is fun? I can see this being the case just for the fact that certs are usually paired a structured curriculum for learning a new skill. This takes a huge mental burden off and decreases time wasted in deadend exploration.

> Why do you think cert collecting is fun?

My work requires me to take certifications and keep them renewed.

What I appreciate from certifications is actually taking a well-made test. (Instead of a carelessly made normal school or university test.)

For well made certification tests, the question writing process is interesting and a whole specialization by itself. Each question is beta tested. And metrics are collected as to how a question is correlated or predicts that someone will pass the test. Tests should avoid mixing question pairs that hint the answer of another question. And writing multiple choice answers in which the answer is not possible to guess. Also writing questions so they are well written and easily understood. So that the question measures knowing or not knowing the topic, rather than affecting the test taker due to unclear wording.

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

#102

Post by tylermenezes »

landemva wrote: post #73
robcohen wrote: post #11

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 parliament…

Commercial driver and pilot could maybe be better described as licenses. Those have recurring medical requirements, and CDL holders can be picked for drug testing at any time. Strangely most of the flight docs are ignoring the FAA disqualification item of taking a medicine within two years of it being released. At this point, most commercial and military pilots should be grounded for taking the new virus shots. The t…

> At this point, most commercial and military pilots should be grounded for taking the new virus shots.

FAA explicitly allows after 48hr observation, see https://www.faa.gov/coronavirus/guidance_resources#useOfVacc...

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

#103

Post by mark_l_watson »

I interview lots of people for my current and previous employers. I primarily look at public git repos, carefully reading their code. Bonus points for continuous education (Coursera, eDx, etc.). Ultimately though success is also strongly driven by being good at getting along with people, having a habit of carefully reading coworker’s emails and documents, and writing skills. Work is a mixed bag.

I would definitely list online classes and certifications on your resume, right below where you list your public git repos.

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

#104

Post by Larrikin »

pcmoney wrote: post #75

Imagine choosing between someone with a CS degree vs someone without a CS degree and think which you would prefer to do SWE work for you all else equal. CS degree every time right? Now imagine both candidates had the exact same career trajectory. Say 6 YOE, couple years at a FAANG recently, but the non-CS candidate was promoted there etc. which do you prefer now? Probably the non-CS degree holder. They have proven th…

I've never heard of a CS degree being a negative in any situation outside of someone with a chip on their shoulder about college degrees in general. The person in your example with the degree would still win out in most situations.

The person with experience versus a new graduate degree holder is the actual head to head where the non degree holder has a much better chance.

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

#105

Post by NoOneNew »

robcohen wrote: post #11

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 parliament…

Past CDL holder here.

Fyi, you are then a "professional driver" even in a normal car driving to the grocery. If you get a ticket, many states will instantly double the fine because as a pro, "you know better". Plus there's the medical aspect and other bullshit.

Unless you're going to actually use it, dont get it. Learn to drive an 18 speed with air brakes etc, sure. Just dont get the actual cdl.

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

#106

Post by Hellbanevil »

robcohen wrote: post #11

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 parliament…

If you had a four year degree you used to be able to sit for the Realestate Broker's Exam. That ended a few years ago with yearly lobbing by brokers.

Now the easiest white collar profession (8 courses that are easy) require we work for a broker for years. Usually a broker who got their licence without becoming a salesperson first.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill because he wanted competition.

Gov. Brown eventually signed it.

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

#107

Post by inglor »

first aid certification totally worth it. The fact I know how to provide CPR and first aid opened some surprising opportunities (e.g. attending C level company tours that opened doors) and provided me with experiences when volunteering in an ambulance which is also a surprisingly good network.

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

#108

Post by pmoriarty »

The bigger and more bureaucratic a company is, the more certs tend to matter.

Lack of experience and achievements also make certs stand out more, because you've got not much else to show for yourself.

Sometimes certs can be a red flag.. depending on the cert. For example, someone with a whole bunch of Windows certs applying for a job dealing only with Linux? That's a bit of a red flag. Doesn't mean they won't get the job, though.. it's just one factor in the hiring decision.

Sometimes for really laid back companies, any kind of formal signaling like this could be a turn-off. It's like coming in to a company wearing a suit when everyone else is wearing shorts.

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

#110

Post by prepend »

Waterluvian wrote: post #28

Fair or not, if someone has flooded their email signature with certs, my expectations lower.

I worked with someone who was a certified yoga instructor and uninronically had it on her business cards and email signature.

She was a tech consultant. After I looked up “CYT” I think that made me not think positively of her. I mean it’s good that someone is proud of their accomplishment, but such a weird thing to announce to the world.

Post reply on HN