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

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

#261

Post by jrumbut »

scubbo wrote: post #138
weinzierl wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not. Fit trumps quantity and quality any time. I'm not OP, but I also have quite a bouquet of certifications. Why? Mostly because I love to learn and I also love to work towards goals. Also most certifications[1] are not that hard once you've figured out how to deal with scenario based multiple choice questions. It's a low effort way to focus my learning. When it comes to hiring - and as someone who sat at both…

> When it comes to hiring [...] any certificate outside of what is expected in your industry does more harm than good Huh - this is surprising to hear. I would have thought that random extra certifications would act as indicators that a) you're a naturally focused and capable person (rather than just cosplaying one for salary), and b) you have interests outside of work (so will be a more well-rounded and pleasant per…

I agree with you and would be excited to see a resume like what some of these cert masters could present.

However, I understand that some people shut down when they see a lot of extraneous detail. Think of it like reading a news article. You'd get confused if you started reading "Ferry sinks, injuring 11" and halfway through it starts talking about cricket, then a fire, then congress, then...

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

#263

Post by mvid »

shkkmo wrote: post #249
leeoniya wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i have an open water cert and dive 4-6 times a year. it's fine for just myself, but if you have a higher level cert like rescue, then you may be asked or expected to assist others in emergencies. thankfully, most places are very careful not to take cert cards from unfamiliar faces at face value.

I thank that is a crappy attitude. If I am on a dive and there is a lost diver or some other incident in the area, I want to have the skills to be able to help. I would note that "asked or expected" is different than "required", so there really is no downside to doing a rescue diver class or a divemaster program. In fact, I highly recommend it and it was a lot of fun.

There is a negative, though, and I have experienced it diving. Diving is often a razor thin or no margin business, and selling cert courses can be easy money. Few scuba schools will fail students who are not up to snuff, because they might have to issue a refund or endure bad reviews. Some of these certifications will give incompetent divers a false sense of ability, and in an emergency situation, rather than staying out of the way, they create another problem.

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

#264

Post by Tabular-Iceberg »

Does anyone here have any of the CITA certs from IASA?

I've been thinking of getting one of them to get taken more seriously as a software architect, but I'm concerned that it will be all about creating complexity for the sake of complexity.

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

#265

Post by technimad »

In my career I got quite some technical certifications. Any cert shows you are taking your job seriously and you are willing to learn.

The following three certs helped to show I know my field really well and these separated me from others that just say they know it. Cisco CCNA/CCNP, Linux institute LPI and Agile Alliance certified Scrum master.

Later on I used certifications to quickly pivot into a niche, sometimes when already practicing the role. Architecture (togaf) and product management.

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

#266

Post by t_mann »

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…

CFA and CPA are not really comparable (even though they're both 'finance'). A CPA charter is closer to a JD degree / bar exam in that it is the necessary entry requirement for a legally defined profession (with quite steady demand). A CFA is more like a Master's in that it can help you get an interview for financial analyst jobs, but it is neither necessary nor sufficient to work as one. But it can help a great deal, that's true, especially when you're transitioning.

Also, those are some pretty serious things to do as a hobby.

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

#268

Post by happytiger »

robcohen wrote: post #172
booleandilemma wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah a CPA isn’t just something you can go out and get like a Microsoft cert.

Actually you can, you just need to experience to get the charter. You can go pass the exam so long as you have the educational background.

Here are the requirements: https://www.calcpa.org/cpa-career-center/cpa-requirements

The test is administered by aicpa, but this is a helpful starting point.

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

#269

Post by ghaff »

leeoniya wrote: post #166
NoOneNew wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

to add to this, if you dont actually use your SCUBA or first responder or pilot skills on a regular basis, those certs are worthless at best, and dangerous at worst.

I don't have wilderness first responder but I do have wilderness first aid and keep it more or less up to date.

I wouldn't try something complicated like a traction splint unless there was really no other option and possibly even then--not sure they even teach it in WFA any longer. But, for the most part having a weekend class to refresh a lot of first aid isn't a bad thing even if you don't practice it all the time, may have forgotten some of the details, and maybe your splints aren't the world's greatest. But so long as you're cognizant of your limitations having some even somewhat stale first aid training is probably better than having none.

[Of course, if you act like your 10 year old WFR or W-EMT cert means you're qualified to charge in and take over because you're "certified" that of course can be an issue.]

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