Are you Certifiable?

Education never ends for the modern tech worker.

Choosing to become a technology worker means being challenged by a never-ending onslaught of software and hardware changes. Today’s high-speed solution rapidly becomes tomorrow’s dinosaur. From programming to networks to technical support – working in the industry is a process of constant education and evolution. Stand still too long, and you risk becoming obsolesced along with that 66mhz Pentium.

In recent years, technical certification has become increasingly popular. Microsoft’s marketing push has made the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) program almost a household word. Certification exists for everything from particular hardware and software to programming languages such as Java. A whole industry has sprung up offering courses, study books and Web sites aimed directly at the process of certification.

Several highly controversial Web sites purport to offer actual test questions. Referred to as “braindumps,” the information on these sites can be a great complement to good old-fashioned studying – but are not endorsed by the companies who create certification tests.

Certification is often advertised as a quick ticket into the lucrative tech industry. This can be somewhat misleading. While certification is definitely desirable in a new hire, for most IT managers, experience usually carries more weight. Modern computer systems management is simply too complicated to distill into a test – or a series of tests. Programming and systems support skills are best developed through hands-on experience – whether in the classroom, on the job or by experimentation. Anyone whose sole method of training relied on memorization of test answers would be in serious trouble on their first day of work.

Certification is beneficial for those already working in the industry. As new technologies arise, certification helps tech workers become familiar with changes in systems and software. For those who wish to transfer from one aspect of the field to another, but have no immediate experience, certifications can help show diversity of competence. Just like any other industry – fledgling tech workers may need to spend some time in the trenches. Even after moving up in the ranks, education and certification are critical for staying ahead of the pack.

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