Getting NetSmart - Your thoughts on certifications

Your thoughts on certifications

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Don't be caught with your hands down - get hands-on experience

Network World, 11/07/01

A few weeks ago, I wrote a column that called for employers and the industry to give more attention to short-term certifications. Your responses have been so overwhelming that we have started a forum on Network World Fusion featuring some of your comments.

Your responses are varied: Some readers think that short-term certifications are a no-brainer. Your company needs you to have a new skill, you get certified. Others think that long-term certification is more than just the actual knowledge, it's a show of discipline and resolve. The comments that struck me the most are those that cited HR as the driver behind long-term certification because it's something personnel managers can understand and use to help fill positions.

One reader says: "HR departments match buzzwords on resumes with buzzwords on requirements sheets, and it's quite simply the case that if you don't have the correct buzzword inventory, you will not be contacted. I actually had an HR person tell me I was not suited for a position because I didn't have TEN years experience in CRM!"

Sandra Gittlen Another adds: "The IT field, as usual, is driven by HR's misguided requirements and ill-informed hiring managers who not only do NOT communicate on a regular basis with HR but also want 'the sky' and every star in it when they hire someone."

Other comments focused on the importance of being able to apply long-term certifications. A reader says: "Certification is an important quality for an employee to have but as you mentioned, hands-on is what really counts. I also feel that an individual should have the ability to use what they have learned from their certification to troubleshoot."

One reader reminds me about the kids in college who I used to envy - the ones who could pass exams without going to class. However, he also reminds me that when faced with real-world situations, those people aren't truly prepared. "I have an employee who is extremely 'book-smart' and can pass 90% of the exams out there without ever attending the course. Yes, he can also do fairly well installing and troubleshooting the same application or hardware.

However, he is lacking significantly in other important areas such as customer service and communicating with coworkers. I have other employees with little or no certification, which may include those that significantly struggle to pass certification exams, yet they do a great job with the same application on a daily basis. My point being that someone can have specific certifications or many certifications, but that does not make him or her the right person for the job."

In the end, I've learned from all of you that you would like a mixture of short-term and long-term certifications to find the right person for the job. Hopefully, the industry will listen and develop and recognize more short-term options.

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