how many IT guys Certify?

[LukeP]

I'd say 4 out of 10.

I pursue certification so I can put another abbreviation in my forum signature. Nothing more.

[greenbrucelee]

Certifying can make you money but if your doing it just for more money then you are indeed doing it wrong.

Certs are to show your experience level which should enhance your career and pay packet but getting a bunch of certs without the experience will have a negative effect on your career and the same goes for the wages too.

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by SimonD

I just want to say that my primary objective is just that, to make money, hell anyone who doesn't have the same objective is either a priest or mad.

I'd rather be happy than rich.

I could probably make more money doing something else... but with the increased money would also likely come an increase in hours and/or time away from the family. No thanks - I enjoy doing what I do.

[JonnyMX]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

I'd rather be happy than rich.

Indeed.
As I've mentioned before, a company I once worked for brought in a team of consultants to look at how the business worked (i.e. with too many people in it).

I was on the panel of employees that got to spend a few days with these bell-ends.

One of the first questions they asked was 'why do you come to work each day?'
Everyone's top answer was 'for the money.'

They said 'really?'
After a long discussion (or brainstorm, or thoughtfart, I forget which) it became clear that although the accumulation of wealth is indeed a motivating factor, it's not the primary reason for doing what you do.

I didn't get any of my certs to get promoted or an increase in salary.
I got them to proove that I could, and to show people what I'm capable of.

[Arroryn]

There is no right, wrong or even vaguely accurate answer to this question IMO.

I am the only person who could be considered as "actively pursuing" certs in my department, and my last one was the 70-272 to attain MCDST about a year ago.

So that's about as active as a sloth in hibernation, no?

Whether you certify, and whether you pursue certification, will depend on multiple factors, including (but not limited to):

• Whether or not your company pays for training
• Whether or not your company pays for exams
• If you're "going it alone", whether or not you have the money to pay for the exams
• If you have the time to study (work, personal et al)
• If you have the motivation to study (more pay, more kudos, more bragging rights, whatever)

This is a little list to all the things I could put, but the dinner is on and I don't want to burn it. Needless to say, there are some fruitpots on here that study because they are machines, and when I finally meet them I will be thoroughly testing them according to Asimov's Three Laws just to make sure we haven't been deceived by futuristic CertBots [Craigie, JK to name a couple].

For the majority of people, the question to certify or not will often hinge on the question "what's in it for me".

Currently I am NOT certifying, because I've been too bloody busy to do it. Therefore, the "what's in it for me" for not certifying, has been to have some more "me time" at home. I am in the (possibly lucky, possibly not) position where certification has no bearing on my current career whatsoever; I am heading in an upwards direction, certificates or no

Some people on CF have definitely had certs linked to their pay and progression (Craigie, Qs). Some study because they love studying (Shinigami strikes me as one of these, as does BM - I do too, but it's not always certs).

I work with people who are MCSE for NT4, and have never seen a need to improve on that as, whilst they are still progressing with day-to-day technology, their job hasn't required the certification to prove they can use it. They only need to do their job properly. Other people's employers require them to certify, regardless of whether they are showing they can do the day job or not (Zeb springs to mind here, and possibly those that work in schools, though SGUK, AJ and WagnerK can put me right or wrong here).

At the end of the day, it's horses for courses.

You may find that 9 out of 10 people certify at some point in their career. I would say only 2 out of 10 probably pursue certification throughout their careers. And I'm going to stick my neck out and say that probably only 25% of those, if that, do it the "genuine" way.

Right. Going to turn off the smoke alarm.

[JonnyMX]

Good points.

Another thing to consider are trainers (specifically MCTs).
As you can only teach what you're certified in, and teaching is their bread and butter, I know quite a few other MCTs who are certified to the point of madness.

[derkit]

Out of all the IT people I have worked with so far - probably around 30, only 3 I know of have any certs to their name - and that is down to departments they were in at the time. We talk, as colleagues do, and no-one (I with 7 others at the moment) is vaguely interested in doing any certs or studying - they can't see the point of it.

[Richie1888]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

I'd rather be happy than rich.

I could probably make more money doing something else... but with the increased money would also likely come an increase in hours and/or time away from the family. No thanks - I enjoy doing what I do.

when i posted i do it to make money i really meant i do it to make money to give me and my family a better life. i dont make enough money yet to be able to say i do it for love of the job or anything like that. right now i do it to increase the chances of me getting a better job to make more money for my loved ones.

[Josiahb]

Ok....

I'd like to apologise, my previous comments were a bit strong and are born of my current state of mind (mighty pissed off at pretty much everyone). I'm still absolutely of the belief that if your motivation for doing anything is for the money then your doing it wrong but the more personal of my comments were unnecessary and quite frankly stupid.

I hold no ill will towards anyone on this forum and fully believe that while we are all capable of displaying some fairly aresholeish qualities that isn't the ground state of our existence. That award goes to the guy who actually seriously attempted to wave me on through a gap no wider than my left nutsack in my car.

But anyway, I certify because I'm looking for a challenge, something new to get my teeth into. The certification itself gives me that challenge and the new roles that it could lead to continue to do so. If theres more money involved then thats a bonus but its not the major motivating factor, the moment it is is the moment I'll start looking for a career change.

[Richie1888]

Originally Posted by Josiahb

Ok....

I'd like to apologise, my previous comments were a bit strong and are born of my current state of mind (mighty pissed off at pretty much everyone). I'm still absolutely of the belief that if your motivation for doing anything is for the money then your doing it wrong but the more personal of my comments were unnecessary and quite frankly stupid.

I hold no ill will towards anyone on this forum and fully believe that while we are all capable of displaying some fairly aresholeish qualities that isn't the ground state of our existence. That award goes to the guy who actually seriously attempted to wave me on through a gap no wider than my left nutsack in my car.

But anyway, I certify because I'm looking for a challenge, something new to get my teeth into. The certification itself gives me that challenge and the new roles that it could lead to continue to do so. If theres more money involved then thats a bonus but its not the major motivating factor, the moment it is is the moment I'll start looking for a career change.

should we hug it out ?

[derkit]

Fair play for the post Josiah

Originally Posted by Richie1888

should we hug it out ?

Now my keyboard needs to be drained of coffee!

[OnFire]

In my experience with the internal IT guys I work with and for all the customer IT depts we provide support for I would say its around 2/10 at best.

Networking guys seem the most likely to have a certs with CCNA. CCNP and on occasion a CCIE, followed by server support however rather than an MCSE most are VCP's only. (We virtualise their infrastructure and then they go on the course, etc afterwards, only a third will do the exam though)

Developers seem the most unlikely to be certified whom rely on past experience.

For me getting certified what about learning something and passing the exam for personal reward (title, status, whatever) in addition to making myself more employable. Sure I will admit this in a sense is related to money but ultimately my main focus is just that, to become more marketable/employable and hopefully more valuable.

Previously I have had a pay rise linked to passing an exam, however after I passed and asked to swap the pay rise to pay for another training course instead (Expensive one). I didn't get a rise for a year after that but when I did it was 5 x what I would have got the year previous.

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Richie1888

when i posted i do it to make money i really meant i do it to make money to give me and my family a better life. i dont make enough money yet to be able to say i do it for love of the job or anything like that. right now i do it to increase the chances of me getting a better job to make more money for my loved ones.

To be honest mate if you are in IT just for the money then you are probably in the wrong job.

If you have a passion for IT then the money will come....

[Richie1888]

Originally Posted by derkit

Fair play for the post Josiah




Now my keyboard needs to be drained of coffee!

sorry mate nothing wrong with some man hugs

@Sparky

I see what your saying mate and I do enjoy IT and am very interested in it but when you boil it down its a job at the end of the day.

I have a passion for it as I cant imagine me doing anything else but I also have a passion for paying bills im sad to say

[westernkings]

Originally Posted by Sparky

To be honest mate if you are in IT just for the money then you are probably in the wrong job.

If you have a passion for IT then the money will come....

Indeed, get into recruitment or something if you want better money for less learning effort. My friend works in recruitment for the Oil Industry and she is averaging £110k a year including commission. IT is not a good wage for the most part. It's nothing special.