The IT profession has a secret language.
It has nothing to do with source code or passwords. If you speak it, employers' doors swing wide open for you.
It is the language of certification, and it looks like this:
ACE, CCNA, CCNP, CEH, CHFI, CISSP, CompTIA A+, MCDST, MCITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCTS, PMP
Easy to decipher? No. However, in the IT world, such acronyms can carry the same cachet as a certificate, diploma, or degree. What is more, often, your salary is directly proportional to the number of letters you can attach to your name or CV.
SO, WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?
Certification represents a declaration of a particular individual's professional competence.
In information technology as in other fields such as mechanics, teaching, accounting and auditing, certain health care professions, etc., certification is a formal process of making certain that an individual is qualified in terms of particular knowledge or skills – in some professions certification is a requirement for employment or practice.
Certification programs are often fostered or supervised by some certifying agency or professional association. Name any prominent software technology, and you will find an underlying
certification program based on best practices and recognized processes for that technology.
Within the IT world, certification is not always absolutely required, nevertheless -- all other things being equal -- certification may give the job seeker a critical edge over the competition.
As a CNN article points out, credentials do play a significant role in the hiring process and are particularly important today, given the uber-competitive marketplace. In fact, one recruiter was quoted in the article as saying: "Especially in today's business climate, anything that differentiates you from the crowd and emphasizes your commitment to your profession is career critical." (from a
Certification Magazine blog).
That, of course, includes certifications.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Do certifications really help you get a job, or at least an interview?
Let's explore this question somewhat unscientifically. Go to some well-known job boards and type in some certification acronyms to see how many openings come up.
Bottom line: Certifications are in demand by employers.
Read more about the value of certification:
http://www.comptia.org/certifications/whycertify.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/start/start-overview.aspx
http://www.eccouncil.org/certification/certifications.aspx