Cushing Anderson knows as much about technical authorization as any person. As program VP for Project-Based Services research for market researcher firm IDC, Anderson follows trends in certification, how they help the vendors train their workforces, and how authorized staff help their corporations. Suffice it to say that if he testified in an authentication court action, he'd be considered an expert witness.
Given that background, About.com talked to Anderson about the current state of U.S. Validation, and got some fascinating revelations.
Urgent Signs are 'Mixed '
Anderson described the health of the certification industry as "Mixed. The aptitude for the market is strong, and the desirability [of certification] is stronger than it's been for one or two years."
Documentation vendors nevertheless , could be missing a chance to market more to firms than individuals. "They [often] pitch verification as a technique to maximise an employee's earning power," Anderson says. "They should be selling its worth to bosses to boost organizational value."
To this end, Anderson believes vendors need to realize that the value is not in verification as much as selling its own wares. "Certification sponsors might be doing a more satisfactory job of selling it to the firm. Cert sponsors aren't in business because they're selling more certs," according to Anderson. Rather, certificated staff "drive the adoption of their technology ... The more licensed folks they have on a staff, the more value they have in that technology."
The opposite side of that coin is the employees "or those wanting to be employed "who get the certifications. Anderson feels that technical ratification still has strong value. "Some IT pros get three, 4 or 5 certs; that's what they are after. But most people get one or two," he says.
Those recommendation holders, Anderson says, "Are not doing it to pass a test รข€" they understand [certification] is valuable to their pocketbooks. They read salary surveys in earnest. They look at it from a hire-ability or promote-ability" standpoint.
3 Sorts of Validation Hunters
That's more critical than ever in a recession as severe as the current one. Anderson says there are 3 basic types of certification-seekers right now:
People who have been laid off from non-IT work that want to get into IT
Those downsized from IT roles who need to stay in IT
Those still in IT, looking to maintain their employed status or gunning for raises and promotions
The non-IT people, Anderson asserts, are interested in validation "to demonstrate their keenness for IT, [their desire] to get into it."
The unwaged IT workers "Are looking for something to do while they are underemployed, so they are trying to figure out what makes them more employable," Anderson explains. "That population goes up in recession time." That is confirmed by Prometric, a major authorization test delivery company, which Anderson announces saw a "steady increase" in tests taken for the previous year.
Top Ratification Sellers
That, of course, is also good for the vendors who rely on a certified work force to suggest their products. Anderson points out some of the sellers who he thinks have extraordinarily powerful validation programs ready. "Cisco, Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, just because of the huge size of their installed base and the number of folk in the program."
Microsoft, for its part, is "Much more concentrated on end-users," Anderson claims. "They have a very wide range of abilities they certify [on]. Oracle is narrower still, but they do a good job with people in that career path getting certificated. Red Hat has a good programme, but it is not real enormous. But they're narrower in focus."
Although Red Hat's authorization programme is littler than some others, Anderson announces "I like the undeniable fact that Red Hat uses assessments to help enterprise clients figure out where they happen to be and where they have to go. Cisco is doing interesting stuff with simulations and emulating their devices. All the vendors are using remote laboratories for the most part."
Get in the Right 'Pile '
And. Once those certifications are earned, how can they aid you in the job market? "None of these things basically get you jobs," Anderson says. "They get you in the pile. They do not hire you by the resume. The plain fact you've an MCP or MCSE doesn't get you the job. You're making an attempt to stand out in the pile. If a recruiter is taking a look at two piles, 'Those I am going to interview and those I'm not ', certification can help you" get in the right pile, Anderson says.
It won't get you the job on its own, however. "You do have to understand the material," Anderson asserts, referring to the famous example of a certification-holder with no practical IT experience. "'Paper MCSEs ' were folk who couldn't do the work. To the limit you have a authentication and can't do the work, you do not deserve to get hired. ".
Given that background, About.com talked to Anderson about the current state of U.S. Validation, and got some fascinating revelations.
Urgent Signs are 'Mixed '
Anderson described the health of the certification industry as "Mixed. The aptitude for the market is strong, and the desirability [of certification] is stronger than it's been for one or two years."
Documentation vendors nevertheless , could be missing a chance to market more to firms than individuals. "They [often] pitch verification as a technique to maximise an employee's earning power," Anderson says. "They should be selling its worth to bosses to boost organizational value."
To this end, Anderson believes vendors need to realize that the value is not in verification as much as selling its own wares. "Certification sponsors might be doing a more satisfactory job of selling it to the firm. Cert sponsors aren't in business because they're selling more certs," according to Anderson. Rather, certificated staff "drive the adoption of their technology ... The more licensed folks they have on a staff, the more value they have in that technology."
The opposite side of that coin is the employees "or those wanting to be employed "who get the certifications. Anderson feels that technical ratification still has strong value. "Some IT pros get three, 4 or 5 certs; that's what they are after. But most people get one or two," he says.
Those recommendation holders, Anderson says, "Are not doing it to pass a test รข€" they understand [certification] is valuable to their pocketbooks. They read salary surveys in earnest. They look at it from a hire-ability or promote-ability" standpoint.
3 Sorts of Validation Hunters
That's more critical than ever in a recession as severe as the current one. Anderson says there are 3 basic types of certification-seekers right now:
People who have been laid off from non-IT work that want to get into IT
Those downsized from IT roles who need to stay in IT
Those still in IT, looking to maintain their employed status or gunning for raises and promotions
The non-IT people, Anderson asserts, are interested in validation "to demonstrate their keenness for IT, [their desire] to get into it."
The unwaged IT workers "Are looking for something to do while they are underemployed, so they are trying to figure out what makes them more employable," Anderson explains. "That population goes up in recession time." That is confirmed by Prometric, a major authorization test delivery company, which Anderson announces saw a "steady increase" in tests taken for the previous year.
Top Ratification Sellers
That, of course, is also good for the vendors who rely on a certified work force to suggest their products. Anderson points out some of the sellers who he thinks have extraordinarily powerful validation programs ready. "Cisco, Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, just because of the huge size of their installed base and the number of folk in the program."
Microsoft, for its part, is "Much more concentrated on end-users," Anderson claims. "They have a very wide range of abilities they certify [on]. Oracle is narrower still, but they do a good job with people in that career path getting certificated. Red Hat has a good programme, but it is not real enormous. But they're narrower in focus."
Although Red Hat's authorization programme is littler than some others, Anderson announces "I like the undeniable fact that Red Hat uses assessments to help enterprise clients figure out where they happen to be and where they have to go. Cisco is doing interesting stuff with simulations and emulating their devices. All the vendors are using remote laboratories for the most part."
Get in the Right 'Pile '
And. Once those certifications are earned, how can they aid you in the job market? "None of these things basically get you jobs," Anderson says. "They get you in the pile. They do not hire you by the resume. The plain fact you've an MCP or MCSE doesn't get you the job. You're making an attempt to stand out in the pile. If a recruiter is taking a look at two piles, 'Those I am going to interview and those I'm not ', certification can help you" get in the right pile, Anderson says.
It won't get you the job on its own, however. "You do have to understand the material," Anderson asserts, referring to the famous example of a certification-holder with no practical IT experience. "'Paper MCSEs ' were folk who couldn't do the work. To the limit you have a authentication and can't do the work, you do not deserve to get hired. ".
About the Author:
When questioned about which technical licenses are popular now, Anderson advocates an alternative approach. "I think folk should be in jobs they love, and should pursue areas they're enthusiastic about. If they like system administration, they should pursue that."Although growth areas exist, Anderson cautions against following a certification just because you believe it will help your career. "There are hot areas. Virtualization is extremely strong, and security's been hot for a few years. Development has fallen off a lot in appreciation, but there's still a lot to know. I believe that you should find a job you adore and get good at it."
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