Thread: Those Pesky Certifications

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Those Pesky Certifications

    Has anyone bothered with obtaining certifications when moving to a new area of skills without experience? I've never bothered as the language/framework ones seemed way too unnecessary (surely we software folks can always pick them up, so testing for the fundamentals is more important), and the other certs I knew of were more for hands on IT work like for network infrastructure and fixing computers.

    I recently finished my master's (in health informatics: I was bored and decided looking into health would be fun) and ended up in a slight career switch to data engineer though, and in the process of re-entering the workforce it looked like companies were insistent on some pretty technology specfic stuff, especially from the AWS stack. On one hand, I've already secured the job so it shouldn't be useful for job applications in the near future, but on the other hand (especially no thanks to ads on social media) it feels like I should "keep up with the Joneses" and obtain say, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate cert followed by the AWS Certified Big Data - Specialty cert.

    There's the practical aspect of the knowledge acquired to obtain them that I'd concede is useful even if I never list the certs on a CV, but it probably requires me to go more in depth than I need, and despite the tech stack being in demand it seems so... vendor specific. So, useful or waste of money?
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    TEIAM - problem solved
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    I think that it really depends on your workplace or the workplace that you wish to work for.

    I have a Bachelors degree in Engineering (electronics) and I am now the default guy who writes programmes at my workplace.


    Where qualifications do matter is when you are applying for a new job and you want your CV to stand out (or linkedIn profile)
    Fact - Beethoven wrote his first symphony in C

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    TEIAM - problem solved
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    After saying that, I am now looking into getting certified for C programming on Linux - Haha!
    Fact - Beethoven wrote his first symphony in C

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    My master's research supervisor told me this: "A colleague of mine (having a Phd and all) was trying to get a job; in her interviews, they mostly looked at the CPDs and her diplomas from seminars etc"

    Imo, it would not hurt to justify your high demands with certs!

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    Registered User catacombs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Click_here View Post
    After saying that, I am now looking into getting certified for C programming on Linux - Haha!
    Does having 20,000 posts on this forum count?

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    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by catacombs View Post
    Does having 20,000 posts on this forum count?
    Who's that?!
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

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    Registered User catacombs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by laserlight View Post
    Who's that?!
    YOU!

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