continuing education

College Degree vs. IT Certification: Both Beat Either/Or

Ken Rosen posted an interesting blog for Microsoft’s “Born to Learn” last week (on October 6, to be precise). It’s entitled “Certification or College Degree: Which Should You Choose (hint: both),” and it makes the same point that I’ve made many, many times myself in my writings on IT career and certification topics, as far back as the mid-1990s. Either one by itself is better than nothing, but both combined beats either one by itself.

Interesting Question: Cert vs. Degree

What’s interesting is that Rosen reports that IT pros who lack the degree are pretty sure it’s worth pursuing and earning, while those who have the degree aren’t so sure about things themselves.  Rosen also makes the well-rehearsed pitch that a degree testifies to one’s ability to learn and to communicate in written and oral form, while the IT certification’s provide narrower testimony about specific areas of technical competence. Both kinds of skills are vital for IT professionals, but they speak to different aspects of the same jobs in IT and are equally important for success in those jobs.

Neither degree nor certs last forever, either, so it’s also important to maintain a willingness to learn, along with ongoing demonstrations of ability and accomplishment. That’s why going after a graduate degree may make sense for those looking to differentiate themselves from the herd of others who have bachelor’s or associate degrees and some level of IT certification. It’s also why climbing the certification ladder makes sense for so many people, and why “soft skills certs” (like the PMP, for example) also add some cachet to resumes nowadays.

Life is a journey and an adventure. Why not do some more learning along the way?

About Oracle’s Hands-on Cert Training Requirements

Anybody who reads this blog regularly already knows that Anne Martinez’ Web site GoCertify.com is a favorite go-to resource for me when I’m researching information about the certification marketplace and its various programs and offerings. Recently, Anne has added a blog to the site that includes guest slots from all kinds of industry participants — including me on odd and infrequent occasions — that’s worth dropping in on from time to time.

I was reminded of this when visiting over the weekend, as I saw a posting from Oracle learning staff Harold Green entilted “Oracle Certification and the Hands-On Course Requirement…” In addition to explaining how and why Oracle adopted the position that some classroom training had to be mandatory for their database administrator and developer related certifications, Green also raises some interesting points about the values and virtues of requiring some training along the way to a professional certification of some kind. Here’s a direct quote “In an era where complaints that ‘paper certifications’ were devaluing some certification programs’ offerings, Oracle made the tough decision in 2002 that mandatory training would be required for most tracks. All new entrants after November 2002 would be required to attend an Oracle course, interact with an Oracle trainer, and participate in the in-class labs.” They’ve stuck firmly to this position ever since.

I can see some pros and cons for this approach. Certainly, the pros for the certifying body are many: some assurance of attendance in commercial training, a chance to expose candidates to qualified instructors and to observe their skills and abilities first hand, increased assurance that candidates get exposed to important tools, techniques, and skills development, and more. But on the students’ side, those pros are offset by the often high cost of training involved, though most people who attend such training do report that it has at least some value, and many rank it as a positive learning experience.

My take on the Oracle program, and many others like it, would be that the value could be greatly enhanced if they would reserve a number of free seats in each class and offer competitive scholarships to those who can demonstrate a real need for financial support. My biggest issue with the mandatory training approach is not that it requires attendees to pay for training, but rather, that it blocks those who would like to attend but who can’t afford to cover the costs involved.

What do you think of this situation? Post a comment here to share your opinions and outlook on this sometimes thorny subject.

Thanks,

–Ed–

MCP Exam Voucher Winner John C.

John C, Virgina Beach, VA

1. What do you currently do for a living?

I am a Systems Engineer and work with databases – primarily SQL Server but some Oracle. I started on SQL Server version 6.5 and have tested on all versions since then. This has been my work for the last ten years. Prior to that I was a Network Administrator for three years and moved into SQL Server to gain a specialization. I have also taught Microsoft technical courses as an MCT on a freelance, part-time basis.

2. Please describe your educational background.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ferris State College in Big Rapids, Michigan in 1982. I earned a Master of Information Technology degree from Virginia Tech in 2007.

3. What kinds of certifications do you currently hold, if any?

MCTS: SharePoint Services 3.0
MCITP: SQL Server 2008
MCITP: SQL Server 2005
MCDBA: SQL Server 2000
MCSE
MCP+I
MCT (former)
CTT+
A+
CCNA

4. How has earning a certification helped advance your career?

It gave me credibility when I was making a career change from Accounting  to Information Technology. I keep taking exams and gaining new certifications because in this industry, if you’re not advancing, you’re falling behind. I don’t want to become obsolete.

5. What exam do you plan to use the MCP voucher for?

SharePoint Server (MOSS) exam 70-630

6. What kind of advice do you have for your peers and colleagues about earning a certification?

Look at what’s in demand and what’s up and coming. Get involved with local user groups for networking purposes and to help keep your finger on the pulse of what’s going on in your community.

John C. is the next-to-last of the individuals I’ll be profiling for our recent contest. Our last winner, Flavio B from Brazil, will be featured in my next blog on Friday.

The enduring value of IT certification

In running the contest to select winners for some MCP exam vouchers graciously donated by Microsoft, and in profiling four of the six winners (so far, I’m still chasing the other two) I’ve found myself revisiting several thoughts and ideas that have confronted me throughout my dozen years toiling in and around the IT certification marketplace. I’ll state these ideas briefly and directly, then comment a bit on the thoughts and observations they prompt.

• Earning IT certifications takes real time, money, and effort.
  As obvious as this is (and should be) lots of people don’t really get just how much time and effort is involved (the money is pretty straightforward) until they go through the process a few times. We’re talking about giving up evenings and weekends, sacrificing on leisure or family time, and knuckling down to get some real work done.
• Acquiring and maintaining IT certifications really can help an IT career.
  If there’s one thing that pops out at me from my interviews with the winners, and from thinking about those I know who’ve earned major certs and then put them to work on the job, it’s that the same interest and passion that goes into earning IT credentials can also be employed to help people advance their careers. Does that mean there’s no real connection with the IT certifications themselves, but only with the drive required to earn them? No; rather, it means that you have to talk them up, use them, and build on them to do your career some good.
• For some, IT certifications are like potato chips: they can’t earn only one.
  All of the winners had passed at least a dozen IT cert exams, and many had earned half-a-dozen IT certifications or more. Most started with A+ and/or Network+, then went on to chew through two or more mid-range Microsoft certs such as MCSA and MCSE, with MCTS and MCITP credentials either earned or underway (why else would they want to win an MCP exam voucher?)
• IT Certs build confidence as well as competence.
  To a person, all the winners talked about how earning IT certifications helped them in their careers because they improved their attitudes and confidence about encountering and handling problems on the job, as much because of the experience they gained in developing problem-solving, research, and learning skills in earning certifications as because of the various subject matters they had to master to pass their exams.

I’ll be commenting further on this experience in upcoming blogs, but thought you would find these observations interesting. I’ve seen this all before, but it’s refreshing to see it again, especially in such a positive light in these times of economic crisis and uncertainty.

With RTM in Sight, Look for MS Learning to Gear Up on Win7

Now that the Windows 7 RTM is in plain sight, and should be trickling into lots of hands pretty soon — see my recent Windows Enterprise Desktop blog — expect an onslaught of Windows 7 training materials, exams, labs, and more to start blasting forth from MS Learning. Indeed a quick search there on Windows 7 already turns up lots of interesting stuff including (bulleted items all quoted directly from the preceding search engine results):

• Microsoft Learning: Windows – Training Portal

  Learn how you can train to become an expert on the Windows 7 operating system, the upcoming release that improves security, manageability, performance, and reliability. Also …

  www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/training/windows.aspx

• Windows 7 — Sample Chapters

  Register to download free preview chapters from soon-to-be-published Microsoft Press books about Windows 7.

  www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/offers/windows-7-chapters-thankyou.aspx

• TS: Windows 7, Configuring

  About this Exam Candidates for this exam operate in computing environments that use Microsoft Windows 7 as a desktop operating system in an enterprise environment.

  www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-680&locale=en-us

• Windows 7 Training for Developers

  This four-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop real-world applications on the Windows 7 operating system, using managed and native …

  www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/course.aspx?ID=50218A&Locale=en-us

• Installing and Configuring Windows 7 Client

  This three-day instructor-led course is intended for IT Professionals who are interested in expanding their knowledge base and technical skills about Windows 7 Client. In this …

  www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Course.aspx?ID=6292A&Locale=en-us

• First Look: Windows 7 Beta for IT Professionals

  This three hour clinic provides in-depth knowledge for IT Professionals and Technology Decision Makers on the main technical areas of Windows 7: User Productivity, Improved …

  www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/course.aspx?ID=6289A&locale=en-us

• First Look: Windows 7 Beta for IT Professionals Hands-on Lab

  This three hour lab is a companion to the 6289 course and provides hands-on practice with the main technical areas of Windows 7: User Productivity, Improved Security and Control …

  www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/course.aspx?ID=6290A&locale=en-us

I predict there will be lots more to follow, possibly in the next 30 days. For sure, there’ll be more before September is over, and no doubt a full slate will be announced on or before October 22, the Windows 7 general availability (GA) date.

MCP Voucher Winner Interview: Thomas L, Essen, Germany

Thomas L, Essen, Germany

1. What do you currently do for a living?

I’m living in Germany, in Ruhr Metropolis Essen, which has been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2010. I’ve been working in the IT Business for more than 12 years. Since May 2005 I’ve been working as a Consultant for Avanade Deutschland GmbH, a Microsoft and Accenture joint venture, on large national and international projects.
2. Please describe your educational background.

I’m a Graduate Engineer for Vehicle Engineering. From 1990 - 1997 I studied Vehicle Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany.

3. What kinds of certifications do you currently hold, if any?

MCITP – Enterprise Administrator, Charter Member
MCITP – Server Administrator, Charter Member
MCTS – Microsoft Windows 7, Configuration, Charter Member
MCTS – System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuration
MCTS – ISA Server 2006
MCTS – Desktop Optimization Pack, Charter Member
MCTS – System Center Virtualization Manager 2008, Charter Member
MCTS – Essential Business Server, Charter Member
MCTS – Hyper V, Charter Member
MCTS – Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuration
MCTS – Business Desktop Deployment with the BDD
MCTS – Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
MCTS – Windows Server 2008 Application Platform Configuration
MCTS – Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration
MCSE – Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000, and Windows NT 4.0
MCSA – Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2000
MCP – several MCP exams for MCSE / MCSA

4. How has earning a certification helped to advance your career?

Certification has always been very important for the companies I was and I am working for. When I changed employers in former positions, I was always up-to-date certified. That was my advantage - the new employer did not have to spend money for me to take courses or certifications. It’s always better to say I have than I will.

My current employer is requesting all his employees to keep their certifications up to date. The earlier you archive a current certification the better it is for your career. Beside other factors certification is currently necessary for a promotion to step forward to the next career level.

For my employer, the best skilled and certified employees are a business advantage compared to other companies that don’t have such people. Our customers set a high value on such consultants and when in doubt they will always choose a certified one. Such people are easier to sell, and that is an advantage for both parties, employer and employee.

5. What exam do you plan to use the MCP voucher to take?

70-635: TS Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008, Desktop Deployment

6. What kind of advice do you have for your peers and colleagues about earning a certification?

Try to be the first one certified on new technologies like Windows Server 2008 or Windows 7. Use the Microsoft Website, the Technet Forums, the different Blogs and some latest books  to get the theoretical knowledge about the product. Take some time and set up a (virtual) environment and play around with the particular product. Learn by doing, install, configure and maintain the product according to the skills being measured. If you have a problem, you can walk through the Microsoft communities to find if others have similar issues - mostly they have and you are not alone. If you can’t find a solution for your problems, feel free to ask the community and you will see, there will be a hint or even an answer. Learn how the product looks and feels, and then the questions in the exams will be familiar for you.

6.a. about finding a job?

Use the Internet or your local newspapers and computer magazines for suitable jobs. You will see that a lot of employers require up-to-date certificates. If you haven’t completed your certification road yet, don’t hesitate to contact the company anyway. Mostly there will be enough time to complete your certifications until the new job begins. Show the new potential employer that you have a deep knowledge of the product you are interested in. Don’t give him the feeling that you need four options from which one will be correct.

6.b. about improving your career prospects or outlook?

Try to be the first to be up-to-date certified and find a certification roadmap that meets your needs. You will find exams for developers, administrators, and engineers. And you will find add on certificates for those who keep a basic certification like MCSE or MCITP Enterprise Administrator. Stay on your road and don’t get upset by new exams. First of all finish your exam series like MCSE, if you have already most of the required exams. And then choose update exam to get up-to-date. And don’t be afraid to ask your employer paying the exams and the training courses, books, and equipment. Most of them will support you during your certification roadmap because it’s good for them to have certified employees.

Thanks very much for entering, Thomas, and for providing such good and helpful advice. Again: congratulations on your win.

Comments Always Welcome! Choose Your Programs Wisely!!!

Recently, I received a comment from a reader on my August 18, 2008 blog entitled “Understanding What Drives IT Salaries,” from an astute young reader named Ronald Moore. He observed that it makes sense to choose an academic computer science or MIS program that prepares students for multiple certifications as a way of jump-starting one’s assault on the workplace with both degree and certifications in hand. He goes on to mention earning a CS degree that prepared him for a whole laundry list of certs, including A+ and CCNA plus various Microsoft and Oracle credentials as well. Very interesting!

For those considering such options, I’d urge you to factor the certs mentioned against their age and planned obsolescence. Ron’s not in bad shape, even if he does decide to go after an MCSD in .NET or an MCDBA credential. But with a new version of Windows Server now on the drawing board for 2011, certs based on Server 2003 (such as the MCDBA and the MCSD) are nearing their expiration dates. It doesn’t make sense to tout preparation for a cert that won’t be around for too much longer, but given the sometimes glacial speeds at which academic programs move along, that’s a possibility that prospective candidates must ponder when choosing any kind of training program that involves certification, academic  or otherwise.

I’d urge prospective students (and their parents) to quiz the admissions folks about how programs adapt and evolve to accommodate new certifications as old ones age out of the picture. I guess an outdated cert may be better than no cert, but isn’t worth anywhere near as much as a current one. If the idea is to help degree holders to get an edge into the job market, it’s best to make sure that the edge stays sharp and provides a way to cut through the red tape into the short list of “real job contenders” when the time comes to enter the workforce.

The Lessons of History

I find myself in a very interesting work situation right now. Because of a couple of books I wrote in the mid-90s — those halcyon days when computer books flew off the shelves, and good writing work on relatively advantageous terms was easy to find by today’s standards — I find myself now tasked with reconstructing who built what bits of technology precisely when and how they did it in a period from October 1993 to October 1995. It’s been incredibly interesting and informative, and has caused me to rethink what happened back then as well as I how I conduct business in the here and now. Let me explain…

Lots of IT wit and wisdom emerges from being immersed in the current milieu. Today, for example, this might mean pondering hot topics that “everybody” knows about and lots of people are digging into. If you want a couple of for instances that are pretty right now to illustrate, think about virtualization and Windows 7. Generating plenty of buzz, attracting lots of users, and exciting ample interest from those whose job it is to plot a technology course for the next 12-24 months.

Dealing with this stuff in the here and now is pretty easy. But digging back into the there and then raises questions about how information gets distributed, who did what when, and how all the pieces of common knowledge were used to create workable production technologies upon which business activity could safely rest. What I’m learning is that although lots of people understand how information handling processes and activities work in a loosey-goosey kind of way, only a few really understand in depth how they work in detail, and can go out and build such things.

That’s why I keep coming back to the notion of learning by doing. Intuition and understanding things in general will get you only so far. If you really want to master a subject area, you have to put those faculties to work and build or make something that works. I find this insight as helpful in learning new operating systems (Windows 7) as I find it useful in figuring out what to do with virtualization (creating images of multiple hard disks in a virtual machine requires creating one giant virtual disk, then using partition management software to carve it up into individual drives of the proper size and number) for testing, rapid deployment, or remote clients to use.

Thing about what you can do with what you know, and you’ll get further than if you simply keep packing away interesting and potentially useful bits of knowledge. Only if you put that information to work can you ever know if it’s worth anything, or good for something.

Another Answer to an Age-Old Question

I’ll kick off this blog with a snippet of self-disclosure. I was on the masthead at Certification Magazine from 1999 until 2007 as a contributing editor and then as technology editor. During the glory days from 1999 to 2003 or so, the magazine was often as thick as PC Magazine or PC World (in the world of print magazine, a “thicker book” equates to more advertising sold, which means more revenue, and is a much-desired state of affairs). Alas, I ended my association in 2007 when it became apparent that the 2008 freelance budget couldn’t even match the per-word rate for what I received for my first-ever published magazine story back in 1986. Simply put, they either couldn’t afford me any more, or I wasn’t willing to work that cheaply. That’s when we parted ways, but with good feelings on both sides.

I still drop in on CertMag from time to time, and continue to find it a useful source of information, news, and human interest stories for IT professionals interested in adult or continuing education, career development, and especially IT certification. That’s why I read Deanna Hartley’s June 2006 story “Academic Background Trumps All at Minnesota IT Agency” with great interest in seeking out grist for today’s blog.

As I field questions from prospective and active IT works, one of the most frequently recurring queries might be paraphrased as any one of the following, with countless variations on these themes:

• What’s better: a degree or an IT certification?
• What’s better: IT certification or solid on-the-job experience?
• What’s better: a degree or on-the-job experience?

My usual answer to the two-factor version of this question is “Both,” or “All” for the three-factor version. Let’s face it: most employers want well-rounded candidates with the best possible combination of all positive factors. They don’t play the “If I had to choose one…” game either happily or willingly.

Hartley’s June story in CertMag tells an interesting take on this tale. She interviews Christopher Buse, who’s the Chief Security Officer in the Office of Enterprise Technology for the State of Minnesota, who opines in no uncertain terms that a strong academic background sets the foundation for an equally strong career in information technology.  He believes a degree in computer science or MIS is a great place to start, and that some experience in accounting or finance brings a real-world understanding of how financial systems and budgeting play  into making most effective use of information technology. He also stresses the importance of key soft skills, such as writing and communication ability, to helping entry-level workers advance up the career ladder. He also looks for key certifications, and for individuals who are active in professional IT societies who give something of themselves back to the profession.

It’s a fascinating read, full of useful information, and well worth checking out. It’s as good an answer as I’ve ever seen anywhere to some of the most evergreen and important career advice questions around. Enjoy!

Tough Time For Recent Grads

This morning’s NPR news coverage included a Larry Abramson story entitled “Job Training Makes Difference for High School Grads.” His basic point was that if the job market is tough in general for all workers, it’s particularly difficult for those who lack a college education, after which he goes on to point out that “…the best bet for high school students in the long run is to get some college experience,” and that “…teens can dramatically improve their shot at a job by getting training in high school.” It all boils down to education, where those at the bottom of the “education acquired” scale are not only at the bottom of most pay scales, but also occupy unskilled positions that are getting phased out of our post-industrial economy.

So what should teens do, besides keep college as an option on their future planning lists? Abramson cites studies that show teens who participate in quality vocational programs “…have a much better chance of finding work.” Although technical schools may sometimes be viewed as institutions designed for or targeted at individuals who aren’t necessarily college-bound, the best programs still require their students to earn a regular diploma and emphasize traditional education alongside craft or vocational training. A principal at a vocational high schools interviewed for the story even goes on to observe that she’s “…met so many your people nowadays who have a four-year college degree, and they end up going back to the community college, because that college will teach them a marketable skill.”

What this tells me, and what most parents already hope for their college-bound or college-age offspring, is that picking a substantial major with a well-defined job or career track on the other side of the diploma is key in a market like the present one. And just about anybody can take a tip from the strategy that the kids at a vocational school adopt if they can’t immediately find a job upon graduation or earning a certificate: they take extra classes at the local community college, and keep building up a collection of intellectual and training-based tools to help them build upon their set of bankable skills and knowledge. Even if this doesn’t lead to a degree, it still adds to their resumes and lists of accomplishments when they finally do interview for a position, and hopefully helps to counter the inevitable questions about skills, knowledge, and passion for work that all entry-level candidates must answer.