Author Topic: Beyond the required, are industry certifications really worth getting?  (Read 1467 times)

panda

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« Last Edit: January 22, 2020, 08:46:18 AM by panda »

PlainsWalker

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Re: Beyond the required, are industry certifications really worth getting?
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2019, 01:03:26 PM »
In general I don't think most certifications are worth the paper they are printed on.

That being said I've used preparing for certifications as a goal for directing study into an area that I'm interested in. For example: I was constantly being skunked by DBAs who claimed the application I supported was at fault and their data tier was operating at peak efficiency and I should stop bothering them about long running queries.

Since I didn't know enough about databases to have an intelligent conversation with them one way or the other I ended up not being particularly effective at resolving issues that involved the data tier. I wanted to learn more about databases but saying I was going to study and learn more in my free time didn't work well. Other things came up and crowded out the free time I had intended to spend learning about databases. When I decided to get serious about digging in I picked a certification. Figured out what I needed to learn to earn it. Estimated how long that would take to learn the information. Set aside a dedicated time block each day to study and play with labs. Registered for the exam and took it on the planned day. Having that structure and goal and a bit of skin in the game since I had already paid for the exam worked well for me.

As a followup the next time there was a problem in the data tier I was able to present detailed analysis with data, charts, execution plans, and recommendations for resolution. The DBA was still surly and wanted me to stop bugging them. But they grudgingly agreed to adhere to the organization's stated data retention policy and purge old records we shouldn't have had in the tables. Along with adding a few carefully crafted indexes that had been identified based on production loads to be beneficial. And on the application side some of the queries were re-written play more nicely with the database. The application sang after those few simple changes and I didn't have to chase intermittent customer complaints on things being slow.

The moral of the story is to hire a DBA that does their job and isn't so ineffective that others learn how to do it for them. Failing that find some way out of the rat race.

I've generally found that folks who like to learn and challenge themselves on the regular are knowledgeable and capable co-workers. Folks that have a whole string of letters after their name and pursue certifications so they can have a few more letters behind their name are generally not knowledgeable or capable. And in both cases you can't tell from someone having the certifications whether or not they actually can solve difficult problems well.

Certifications do work well to get your foot into the door. And some job descriptions are written with a requirement for xyz cert and if the HR screen doesn't see that in your CV it gets filed in the circular filing cabinet under their desk.

So... maybe. If you're interested in the subject material and can use earning the certification as a tool to direct and measure your exploration of the topic go for it.

Solomon960

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Re: Beyond the required, are industry certifications really worth getting?
« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2020, 06:08:27 AM »
With the lapse in thread activity, let's re-direct the certifications conversation with the following:

Like many folks in industry, the number of certifications have EXPLODED in recent years. Depending on one's goals, adding identifiers like Sec+, CHTM, CETa, CPA, PMP, 6σ, etc. at the end of one's name might enhance one's earning capacity, but given my senior level status, money doesn't motivate me nor do I perceive my skill level to be in any danger of eroding through retirement because I am personally passionate about what I do and do not sign my name onto any document to which I am not convinced the effort I have placed isn't "better than most." Understandably, I view third-party certifications that expire every two to four years, mandate CEUs hours, and impose large renewal fees as nothing more than a cash-grab.

My question is this: Are there ANY certifications which objectively are cost-effective to earn as an everyday professional?

I looked into becoming a Notary Public - as its purpose is to offer one meaningful legal service to anyone and requires only basic organization (and paper managing) skills - but I was surprised to learn that the rules to become a Notary Public vary from state to state and, predictably, being commissioned as a Notary Public must be renewed every few years. While I can empathize with one's commission being rescinded upon changing states, I absolutely refuse to pay re-occurring application fees for a piece a paper that makes me no less competent in the performance of my job than someone without it.

Thank you.

Sibley

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Re: Beyond the required, are industry certifications really worth getting?
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2020, 08:25:05 AM »
Highly depends on your industry and career goals. I have a CPA. There are other certs I could get, but I already have the gold standard, so don't see a point.

Solomon960

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Thank you, Sibley and spartana, for your recent contributions to this thread. I've reflected further on this topic and, predictably, I just cannot fathom there to be any real value to the practice of shelling out $$ to take a test for the privilege of forking over more $$ for CEUs each year so a third-party "professional accreditation agency" will update my precious piece of paper every three years with a new date (after paying the necessary "renewal fee," of course). It seems to me that these Agencies hold no purpose beyond collecting unearned income from well-intentioned, dedicated, and enthusiastic professionals of an industry. While I can appreciate fees being charged for an initial certification (administering a test does involve supplying materials and paying the examiner's salary), CEUs and renewal fees just scream as the modern day version of a mob shakedown just without using physical threats and being legal.

Imma

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Thank you, Sibley and spartana, for your recent contributions to this thread. I've reflected further on this topic and, predictably, I just cannot fathom there to be any real value to the practice of shelling out $$ to take a test for the privilege of forking over more $$ for CEUs each year so a third-party "professional accreditation agency" will update my precious piece of paper every three years with a new date (after paying the necessary "renewal fee," of course). It seems to me that these Agencies hold no purpose beyond collecting unearned income from well-intentioned, dedicated, and enthusiastic professionals of an industry. While I can appreciate fees being charged for an initial certification (administering a test does involve supplying materials and paying the examiner's salary), CEUs and renewal fees just scream as the modern day version of a mob shakedown just without using physical threats and being legal.

Yes and no. Of course it's a cash cow. But there are also tons of people who don't keep up with the recent developments in the field and these professional accreditation organisations were started for that particular reason.

I work in the tax field and I have an industry certification that's a big deal in my country. My boss is willing to pay me a lot more because I'm Imma ABC and I do 20 hours of registrered permanent education every year. I do way more than required but plenty of people don't. I see so many idiots in my field who don't keep up with the changing tax laws at all, there is certainly a need for a professional certification.

The exorbitant costs aren't my concern, because I'm an employee and my boss pays them + I get a higher base salary than someone who is not registered. Contractors pay out of pocket but with a valid certification they can charge a much higher rate. Refusing to get the certification would certainly harm my career.

DadJokes

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I have a CPA as well. It's highly beneficial in the accounting profession and opens many doors. In my current company, you can't advance to a management role without a CPA. It was also worth a nice pay raise when I got it.

In my current role, there are a few other certifications I could get, but they aren't going to advance my career.

Michael in ABQ

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I completed all but the final capstone requirement for an appraisal certification, MAI. In the commercial appraisal industry that's the gold standard. Many leases and contracts even have clauses requiring an "MAI appraisal". It's probably just a few percent of appraisers that have that certification. Had I earned it I would have gone from a 40% to a 45% commission split and received the title of Vice President.

However, I found another job that paid more with less stress and decided not to finish that certification. Even though I had invested a couple thousand dollars in classes and tests plus dozens of hours of classes and study (albeit much of that paid for by my employer). I would have spent another few thousand dollars in opportunity costs alone but it still would have paid for itself in the first 12-18 months. But since I wasn't going to continue in that field it no longer had any value. It might have helped me get my foot in the door in another non-appraisal job in the commercial real estate industry. I knew that it would be the same sort of work environment anywhere else in that industry so I'm happy I made the change.