How Useful is a MCAD Certification?

Question

I was wondering how useful a MCAD certification would be. Looking at the exams, it looks like I could get one of the exams (70-316) done pretty easily. Do you think that this would be a good idea? I don't have a whole lot of programming experience.

I went to college for "Game and Simulation Programming" (worse college program ever, for the record) for about a year until money ran out. The first year of college was basically Computer Information Systems programming classes, with some game and simulation courses thrown into the mix.

Seeing my experience, would you say that the MCAD would be a good choice?

Answer 1

This is something that will set you apart from your peers with similar experience. I would not say that it is a huge asset in terms on knowledge gained. But it may get you an interview over someone that does not have this.

It may be a HR person that thinks this is important and filters you to the next step to talk to the hiring manager.

Answer 2

In my opinion, certifications are not terribly useful. They don't actually state whether or not you know anything. It's too easy for others to just cram and then forget everything, or game the system altogether.

However, in the real world (especially in consulting), many hiring managers like them. But of course, do you want to work at a place that puts so much emphasis on paper?

Answer 3

It's good as a checklist, mostly for you own reassuring :) Some companies value their employees to have it as well - some for the points towards company partner certification and some because they believe it shows some kind of willingness towards the specific microsoft techology.

Answer 4

Certifications fall into two groups, in my experience: those that prove you can do something, and those that prove you knew something.

Most of the certs out there are of the latter category, while few are in the first.

They may give you a leg-up on the competition when your applications are being screened for employment, but I also know that some places will look at certs as being a sign that the applicant is trying to hard to get the job.

Also, if you have a cert, expect to get substantially harder questions in an interview: if you claim to be a CCIE, nothing's off-limits in terms of networking questions.

Answer 5

I would say that if you're going to pursue a MS certification that you go after your MCPD. MCAD is for .Net 1.1 and they're already on .Net 3.5.

That said, I don't think it really helps you that much. MCPDs are fairly easy to get by using BrainDumps (bascially copies of the tests, so you can memorize the answers) so most people hiring aren't too impressed by them.

If you don't take the the short cut and actually study and learn the material to pass, then you will have a much deeper understanding of the Framework which can only help you become a better .Net programmer.

I didn't get certified until this job (after ~4 years as .NET developer) and that was only because of the incentives my job offered for getting certified. Having hired consultants before, I paid very little attention to any certifications, only glanced at the formal education and put a lot more stock on portfolios and the technical questioning parts of the interview.

Answer 6

Others have mentioned the benefit in terms of job-hunting. Personally I'd spent the time making myself genuinely valuable, gaining experience, helping out an open source project etc. Yes, some HR departments may put your CV aside due to this - but you should ask yourself how happy you'd be in such a company anyway. I've always taken the position that any company which turns its nose up at my CV just because I have no formal MS certification (but plenty of other attractive points) is unlikely to be a good fit for me.

Answer 7

Alright, thanks for your guys honest responses. I really appreciate it.

Answer 8

I have a huge number of certifications just because in the past I was a Microsoft consultant and that was part of the job ... I am MCAD, MCSD, MCTS Sharepoint and now SQL05. I use the certification to have an opportunity to analyze in depth some technologies. Now I was hired by a Company just for my certifications set, and honestly, after 1 year, I am leaving because in this Company, no one except me really know Microsoft Technolgies, and not because I am the only one certified. So they can help you in hiring a job, but the question is, are you going to be a consultant? If not why the company wants you certified?