On Mon, Apr 16, 2007 at 10:03:30PM -0700, Evan Klitzke wrote:
> <<Working on degree, asks about certs>>
In decreasing order of importance:
1. Experience. Real experience trumps all--but then, you somehow have
to get the chance to get it. However--self-taught *does* make
a difference. If you can point to a live, running website on a
Linux server running Apache, PostgreSQL or MySQL, etc., it does
show both knowledge and the ability to assimilate and apply knowledge.
2. CS degree. This trumps any cert, period. I mean a real degree--one
in which you are trained in data structures, algorithms, etc.; not
just a Microsoft coding course. You will have been exposed to a
broader range of different disciplines than you'll generally be
able to work in once you have to pay the rent, and experience has
shown that it really, really makes a difference.
3. Certs. Only good ones--something that really required study and
validation. I've been working in the field for 30 years, and in
general, in that time I've seen almost all certs--including that
of "Professional Engineer" in Illinois--carried by worthless gits.
The most worthless are vendor certs that are only designed to push
their product. Especially after the .bomb around 2000-2002, there
was a glut of "certified" individuals (people who'd been laid off
and couldn't find work, so filled their time taking certs in areas
in which they had no other expertise.)
I would probably lend credence to, say, Cisco or RH certs. Virtually
none to Microsoft. Others range between those two extremes.
You didn't say what degree you're taking--but if it isn't CS, it isn't
going to matter nearly as much. And if it is a vendor-oriented degree,
ditto. (I don't CARE if you know VB. I care that you understand concepts
and problem solving techniques based on underlying knowledge of basics.)
Cheers,
--
Dave Ihnat
President, DMINET Consulting, Inc.
dihnat@xxxxxxxxxx
773/550.0929
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