Certification Strategies

[Chukwunwike_Ndukaji]

Hello fellow CINners,
Compliments of the season to you all. Hope we are all enjoying the down time.

I have a question regarding certification strategies for individuals, typically between 0-3 years in the IT field, but eager to advance their careers.

> Experience vs. Certification: If a candidate feels confident in their abilities and has access to the necessary study materials and labs, is it advisable for them to attempt a certification that typically requires more years of experience? How can this impact their job applications and subsequent roles?

> Skipping Fundamentals: In situations where an IT professional has access to vouchers or sponsorship for more advanced certifications (like SecurityX or DataX), would it be wise to skip the foundational certifications opting to read up on the materials, and subsequently take these more advanced certifications?

I'm eager to hear your insights and experiences on this matter.

Thank you

 

[precious]

Certifications are valuable, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Employers increasingly value practical experience, so candidates should complement their certifications with projects, labs, or volunteer work.

 

[Brandon G]

Just because they have the requisite experience doesn't mean they're ready for an advanced certification. If they don't know the core tenants of the advanced certs. It's advantageous to go for the lower level certifications. On the experience side, seeking out adjacent and complementary roles are beneficial. It's more about the functions rather than the title per se. It beats a blank every day.

 

[BrianFord]

I have a question regarding certification strategies for individuals, typically between 0-3 years in the IT field, but eager to advance their careers.

> Experience vs. Certification: If a candidate feels confident in their abilities and has access to the necessary study materials and labs, is it advisable for them to attempt a certification that typically requires more years of experience? How can this impact their job applications and subsequent roles?

I'm eager to hear your insights and experiences on this matter.

Great query. I advise my rookie students (0-3 years actual experience) against seeking those higher level certifications that assume or require years of experience and instead suggest that they dig in on foundational learning. I find students who frequently start at Sec+ and then complain they can't make it past an initial interview. Often, that's because they can't answer basic IT and networking technology questions. Those are questions they'd be able to answer had they taken Tech+, or Net+ before Sec+. I advise those with that background to 'go wide' in their learning and spend more time with standard, often open-source tools like Nmap and Wireshark. I've had students complain to me that Sec+ 701 CertMaster has too many labs. My response is that they are missing out on an excellent opportunity to learn more by completing those labs and using them as a starting point to learn more about those tools.

 

[Rick Butler]

Hello fellow CINners,
Compliments of the season to you all. Hope we are all enjoying the down time.

I have a question regarding certification strategies for individuals, typically between 0-3 years in the IT field, but eager to advance their careers.

> Experience vs. Certification: If a candidate feels confident in their abilities and has access to the necessary study materials and labs, is it advisable for them to attempt a certification that typically requires more years of experience? How can this impact their job applications and subsequent roles?

> Skipping Fundamentals: In situations where an IT professional has access to vouchers or sponsorship for more advanced certifications (like SecurityX or DataX), would it be wise to skip the foundational certifications opting to read up on the materials, and subsequently take these more advanced certifications?

I'm eager to hear your insights and experiences on this matter.

Thank you

@Brian Ford said it well, albeit far more nicely than I would have. I'm actually a bit more sharp when it comes to rookies getting higher certs for a couple reasons. First, rookies tend to make the quintessential mistake in chasing the money. They have this belief that if they can get the big name certs, that some employer is going to see it and say, "oooo...a SecurityX! - lemme hire him!" Of course, if an employer does this right off the bat, they're usually pretty ignorant about what certifications entail.

Second, I think it waters down what the certs like CISSP, CASP, DataX, etc mean. If they can be attained by 0-3 year people, then what does that say about those who have them with years of experience to get us to them. I got a lot of flak like that, beginning with my MCSE+I back in the day, because I had all the certs and knowledge, but none of the experience - so I wasn't that impressive to an employer.

In short, I don't think it is particularly wrong for a rookie to come up and earn his/her stripes. But that rookie will off-balance things if he/she gets too many certs, too fast, without experience in both working and feeding back into his/her cert learning.

I know there are others who might be more defensive about it, particularly if they are rookies and are looking for the validation that comes from being an advanced practitioner. But as I move into my 35th year in IT, I've learned a lot of hard lessons about youthful ambition that have cost me dearly.

/r

 

[Brandon G]

Excellent points @Rick Butler makes. Students will learn the hard way that numerous certifications and no experience are a noxious blend. Experience is a great teacher.

 

[Trevor Chandler]

I have nothing to add. Mr. Brian Ford and Mr. Rick Butler have said all that
needs to be said!!!

I'm just replying to let you know that I stopped by

 

[Gregory Childers]

I concur with the opinions of my predecessors on this thread.

People with less experience who chase higher-level certifications accomplish only two things:

1. Gaining a false sense of security that they know more than they think they do. It is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. They will still make rookie mistakes because they lack the proper foundational knowledge that more experienced people take for granted.

2. Watering down the value of the certification. Recruiters and employers may hire them, but when they realize that the candidates lack the prerequisite knowledge and experience, but are good at exam cramming, they will believe the certs are worthless. That will make it tougher for more experienced candidates who also have the certification.

I will ALWAYS advise learners get the foundational level knowledge before moving on to higher level certifications. If someone wants to work in cybersecurity, but they don't have good fundamentals in scripting/programming/development, hardware, software, networking, cloud computing, virtualization, IoT, AI/ML, etc., they will be a liability.

 

[precious]

I concur with the opinions of my predecessors on this thread.

People with less experience who chase higher-level certifications accomplish only two things:

1. Gaining a false sense of security that they know more than they think they do. It is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect. They will still make rookie mistakes because they lack the proper foundational knowledge that more experienced people take for granted.

2. Watering down the value of the certification. Recruiters and employers may hire them, but when they realize that the candidates lack the prerequisite knowledge and experience, but are good at exam cramming, they will believe the certs are worthless. That will make it tougher for more experienced candidates who also have the certification.

I will ALWAYS advise learners get the foundational level knowledge before moving on to higher level certifications. If someone wants to work in cybersecurity, but they don't have good fundamentals in scripting/programming/development, hardware, software, networking, cloud computing, virtualization, IoT, AI/ML, etc., they will be a liability.

Very magnificent streregies

 

[Trevor Chandler]

Very magnificent streregies

I'm going to agree here!

By the way, as a life-long learner, I'm going to take the opportunity to extend my knowledge
by inquiring about this term you used in your comment: streregies
I'm not familiar with it. May I impose on you to shed some light on it, please!
Thank you in advance!!!!

 

[precious]

I'm going to agree here!

By the way, as a life-long learner, I'm going to take the opportunity to extend my knowledge
by inquiring about this term you used in your comment: streregies
I'm not familiar with it. May I impose on you to shed some light on it, please!
Thank you in advance!!!!

I'm glad you're agreeing—from you wise man!