As a .NET developer, what exams other than the Microsoft ones are worthwhile?

Question

Hi,

I am a developer with no formal training. Having taught myself, I have come quite far but I am consolidating my experience with a lot of practise in making systems of varying sizes and complexity.

I am revising for the 70-536 exam because it will make me really appreciate the fundamentals of .NET (surprisingly there were a few small things I didn't know), but I am not 100% keen on doing the whole .NET 3.5 certification thing due to the time and conflict with my practise programme. Also, by the time I finish all the certification, it will be out of date (I am thinking if I did .NET 3.5 exams I will finish it by late 2010 and .NET 4.0 will be out by then, and then I need to upgrade or something).

What other exams are shorter and more worthwhile for my career?

Thanks

Answer 1

Other than for revision, experience in the real world on real projects will be of much more value to you than any of these exams I think.

And I think a lot of employers realise that. I would rather a candidate had proven and strong development experience than the latest MS cert.

Having said all that, if you really really want more certifications, I think the IEEE Computer Society Certification Route or similar would be a much more credible option.

Answer 2

Thanks.

I'm putting in loads of practise everywhere (work/home), and I want to prove my worth in certificates too. But these exams will eat time that can be spent practising, and what I build is more unique to me.

I've seen those brainbench exams, are they worth it?

Also, would a Microsoft Gold Partner hire an experienced, MS certified developer as opposed to an experienced developer who doesn't have those certifications?

Answer 3

None.

Certification exams are a waste of time for everybody involved. If you are good at what you do, you'll pass any of the MCSD exams cold. If you need a course to get yourself past a trivial Microsoft exam, you'll likely be weeded out early in the interview process by any good software company anyway, and should thus spend your money on law school instead.

Oh, and for the record, yes, Microsoft has Certified that on two occasions I had $110 in my pocket and an hour to kill. I've never bothered to put the resulting certs on my resume.

Answer 4

In terms of qualifications on a CV for a .NET developer, then I think most companies would look out for a university degree or MS cert. I'm not aware of any others that have much meaning or impact.

In terms of actual benefit for your developing abilities, then as Galwegian says experience will probably be much more valuable than qualifications.

Although developing abilities and career don't always go hand in hand. I think there is a sizeable percentage of companies that will look out for buzzwords in a CV, such as MS cert.

Answer 5

Please also check the previous post

Answer 6

IMHO the only "certification" worth anything is one from a reputable university. Web 2.0 has changed things though and I've heard of more than one person who has been approached for job interviews through messages they've left on technical mailing lists. These days there's more than enough opportunity to "make your mark" and I think that in future ones resume-by-reputation (read: online forum contributions, mailing list answers, open source project contributions, blog readership) will be the defacto means of ones assessment for a developer position.