Has Cert helped in your career?

[Jeff Bosch]

Hi, all -
I would like to hear from people about how your certification changed your position with your company -- if it did -- or whether you were able to use the cert to get your foot in the door with a new company.
I started pursuing the certs partially because a coworker, who had not had a single bite on his resume for over two years, had a new job within two weeks of attaining his SCJP. Less than a month later, about five weeks ago, I also passed SCJP, but my luck hasn't been the same (though I'm staying optimistic) nor has my employer acknowledged the cert though I've requested reimbursement of the test fee.
Next up, SCJD. Maybe *that* will make a difference!?
Anyone care to share?
Thanks!

[Mark Spritzler]

Well, my point will be that you can't rely on a Certification to get you a job.
But I can guarantee that it won't hurt either. The learning experience alone should be the goal of certification takers. The learning you get is so concentrated in important areas, that you can show an aptitude for your learning and for your ability through attaining a certification.
No matter what you still have to go looking for the job and you still have to interview well, no matter what papers you have.
You can also search the Jobs Discussions forum on the plethora of threads on this same subject.
Many opinions all around.
Mark

[Jeff Bosch]

Thanks, Mark, but I'm not really looking for "it may" or "it may not" opinions. There are plenty of those in the ranch already.
I'm hoping to hear from people who can actually say "yes, it resulted in XXX" or "no, my boss didn't care".

[Mani Ram]

I got SCJP in 1999. By the same time, our company got a prestigious project in Java. I was asked to work on that project ONLY because I had a certificate (there were lot other people who knew Java, but the company decided to play safe, since it was the first big project in such technology).
so YES.
But my SCWCD hasn't helped yet.

[Pradeep Chopra]

Dear Jeff,
Your question is very important, relevant and timely.
YES, as shared by others Java certification like SCJP adds value to your career. It may not give you a job but can help you get a job!
We've recently launched a Discussion group on the same topic. You will find it useful. Please visit:
http://www.whizlabs.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=success
Keep watching this area for more success stories!
Cheers,
Pradeep

[Jim Bedenbaugh]

Originally posted by Jeff Bosch:
Hi, all -
I would like to hear from people about how your certification changed your position with your company -- if it did -- or whether you were able to use the cert to get your foot in the door with a new company.

Speaking strictly anecdotally, my certifications made all the difference in getting a new contract job. The only reason I even got the interview was because I had the certs.
I say this because the guy who hired me told me so.
Once I got the interview, I still had to sell myself and then prove myself on the job.
BTW, the company that hired me for the contract job. . .just offered me a full time gig today.
The last two years I spent on certs was worth every penny and every hour of study time.

[Jeff Bosch]

Thanks Jim, Pradeep and Mani. I started this thread because there are so many "why bother" stories out there, and I wanted to hear from the people who know why to "bother".
I hope more people will post their success stories here. And, as the economy improves, I hope we'll see more and more success stories.

[Dep Joy]

My answer is No.
My boss doesn't care it because we have no plan to use Java in the near future, anyway, I believe this certification will help.

[tony kanvas]

my answer yes
Its increased my salary 350 $

[Burk Hufnagel]

I can tell you that when we were looking for senior Java developers/architects people with a Sun Certification is at least going to get phone interview.
No. It didn't a guarantee the job, just the chance to be considered for it.

[Jeff Bosch]

I always look at certification as the foot in the door. It's then up to the individual to close the sale.

[Sainudheen Mydeen]

Hi Jeff
Without doubt certification gave me lot of confidence in what I know. I think that itself will take anybody to get promoted.
-Sainudheen

[Jeff Bosch]

Hi, Sainudheen -
That's a very good point. By focusing our attention to learning a knowledge set, we expand our abilities and our knowledge.
What I'm trying to get going here is a forum for sharing directly measurable, tangible results of certification. I may never get a Java programming job, but I am pursuing SCJD so that I can demonstrate to potential employers or customers that I can take a project from specs to completion. If the cert helps me get the interview, that's a tangible benefit within the definition I'm using here. If the cert helps my confidence, but doesn't directly affect my ability to get an interview, then I'm not counting it, but only for the purposes of this discussion.
I'm glad to see people sharing their experiences, positive, negative or neutral, and I thank everyone for contributing.

[M Sharma]

Hi Jeff,
My answer is no.
No promotion, no tangible benifits, not even a reimbursment of the test fee, but only an appreciation mail from my boss but thats not tangible. Currently only myself and my project leader are Sun Certified in our Technical team, but still it doesn't count as far as i am concerned. But i am sure that it will repay me in my future jobs in one or the other way, as knowledge is never a waste. These things may wary from company to company.
[ October 14, 2003: Message edited by: Manish Sachdev ]

[Billy Tsai]

My answer is NO because I dont have a career yet, last time I applied for a graduate job at a software company that mainly uses Java and Oracle technologies I sent them my CV(I have not got SCEA at that time yet) their seemed to be very interested in me and asked for my university grades transcript after they saw my transcript they ignored me and rejected me so I had no chance at all.

[Eric Fletcher]

At my current and previous jobs I was told both times my SCJP helped get me an interview, although I was never told in either case whether it played a large part in me being hired. When I was interviewing for my previous job I did not have an extensive resume, and without the cert I likely would not have been considered enough to be called in.
I think it depends on the situation, some companies and managers value certification more than others, while still others find it of no value whatsoever. It is definitely no guarantee you'll get a job(from what I have seen, experience will ALWAYS be a more important criteria than any cert), and if that is the sole reason for you to justify getting an SCJP, you are likely wasting your time and money. Personally, I found it to be a great learning experience, which boosted my confidence as a programmer. As you already mentioned, maybe that was the most tangible benefit I've gotten from being certifed
Good luck,
E
[ October 14, 2003: Message edited by: Eric Fletcher ]

[Howard Kushner]

This one is "Simply irresistable!"
From both sides of the same coin:

interviewer

candidate

In the past, when interviewing candidates for a position, credentials such as certifications are (IMHO) a tie breaker, everything else being equal. I will then ask tough questions that tell me if a person can think. If they can impress me, then I figure they can learn whatever they may need.
Currently, my boss challenges me and my associates with two goals:

exceed our customers expectations

keep our certifications current

The first one shouldn't require any further explanation required. We are consultants, and customer delight keeps them coming back for more.
The second one is to set my company apart from the rest of the pack. The mortality rate among companies in the space in which we compete is about 75 percent during this great republican econony. So in that regard, my company is a survivor. Within my company, I have seen 75 percent attrition rate. So I am a survivor. I survive based on my wits, my resume, and my credentials.
Any questions?
Regards,

[Tejas Bavishi]

Yes --
Certifications helped me progress in my career, and I firmly believe that Certifications do add value. This is surely an indication of one's strong commitment towards his/her work/career.
No --
Certifications alone will not get jobs or better positions. Not all employers/managers give value to the certifications and how much they value also differs. Different situations may demand different credentials for a candidate.
Thanks
Tejas

[Barbara Norway]

I'm curious about Billy Tsai having a ZILLION certifications and then a prospective employer saw his college transcripts and didn't call. Does that mean you didn't major in Comp. Sci. or your grades weren't high enough or ?? It could just be one of those things where they decided to withdraw the posting or hired someone else for some other reason that isn't a reflection on you.
In answer to the thread's main question, I haven't found certifications of any use while you're IN a position. I've been pretty unlucky about having existing employers be completely unmoved about certifications even if you are a valued employee in other ways. But, on the other hand, certifications have gotten me several permanent jobs (1993 had CNE (one of the first certfications there ever was) and got job; 2000 (Solaris Cert. Sys Admin - got a job); 2003 - Sol Cert Network Admin, Oracle 8i and 9i DBA - got a job). These are jobs that definitely resulted partially from certs as boss mentioned that that was key after I was hired.
It's kind of scary seeing people loading up on a dozen certs without getting a job though. Is the economy/job market still just as bad?

[Nehul NN]

As of I know certificate works only for 30-40% but other factors are very high e.g. matching skill set for job, location of job, years of experience etc... I think it is matter of time economy improves & more jobs are available. only that time certification counts more.. let see..
SCJP1.4
SCWCD
[ November 30, 2003: Message edited by: Nehul NN ]

[Claudio Roitman]

If You want to be an Official Sun Teacher, Certification is a prerequisite!