Managers - Do You Value a Recently-Attained Outdated Cert Higher Than Study of Current Techs?

Question

I am currently having a bit of an internal war with myself.

I am studying for the MCAD, and for reasons which I won't go in to here, the course has been dragging on for a few years now.

The course expires in March of next year (2009) and I am very close to sitting the exam for the Web Developer cert. (70-315). Now, I think I can get the final exam (Web Services 70-320) done by March, but it will be real close.

I am seriously considering contacting the training provider and dropping the Web Services course, getting a refund, and putting it towards one of the newer MCPD exams (the Web Developer track).

It has dawned on me that I am not really learning a great deal on this course now (I work full time in .NET 2.0) and I am really keen to move on and get in to the newer stuff (C#3 and .NET 3.5).

So, if I were interviewing for a job with you, would you view the above situation negatively? Would you rate me down for dropping the course or would you value the newer experience higher?

Thanks in advance for the time, and input.

Answer 1

If you are not currently using Web Services then I would drop that course and instead do one of the newer MCPD exams.

Even if you move onto the newer stuff (C#3 and .NET 3.5), you still need a good grounding in .NET 2.0, so if you are using web services day-to-day I would still take the older web services exam.

I think the most important thing is a good grounding in .NET 2.0

[BTW: I think MS have a second-shot for free offer still running].

Answer 2

We are a software product company focusing on Java+Oracle, not on .Net+MSSQL, but this is besides the point. To me, when interviewing and hiring candidates for software developers I pay zero value to any certifications, knowing that most of them can be obtained with memorization.

Instead, we have our own technical questionnaire that everyone must go through, plus an additional face-to-face cross-examining session.

Certifications may work for companies which don't have competent technical recruiters...

P.S.: I was explicitly told by an Oracle manager that they do not care about Oracle certifications when hiring.

Answer 3

As an IT manager who currently does occasional recruitment , and who used to do a lot of recruitment, I don't care which of those two options you take. Most certifications just aren't that important.

Now I'm sure there are plenty of managers who think otherwise, so my opinion may not be relevant to your position. But ask yourself if you want to work for a manager who thinks the distinction you're making here is an important factor in his/her decision. Many other factors are more important, such as attitude, personality, being smart, and so on.

Answer 4

I agree with RoadWarrior. The certs are nearly a no-op to any manager who is familiar with the technologies of their shop.