Value of a Six Sigma certification for a Software engineer

Question

Is there any value of a six sigma certification for a software engineer. Does it give the software engineer something extra over just any other person.

Do recruiters consider the six sigma certification while selecting candidates.

Answer 1

Yes it does, at least believed so. From Wiki:

DFSS in Software Engineering acts as a glue to blend the classical modelling techniques of software engineering such as OOD or ERD with statistical, predictive models and simulation techniques. The methodology provides Software Engineers with practical tools for measuring and predicting the quality attributes of the software product and also enables them to include software in system reliability models. It introduces techniques and measurements from different stages of the life cycle: Requirements, Design, Implementation, Verification and Validation

This one is a good link if you want to know more about Software Engineering and the DFSS.

Answer 2

Is there any value of a six sigma certification for a software engineer. Does it give the software engineer something extra over just any other person.

• HR personnel, who scan the web and query job boards for candidates, may favor software engineering candidates with Six Sigma certification.
  • But this isn't because the industry has recognized Six Sigma certification as a means of identifying well qualified software engineering candidates.
• Six Sigma methods can improve software quality only by accident.
  • Because they give no specific guidance about building software.

Emphasis: Organizations that look to Six Sigma in an effort to improve software quality would be much better served by looking at sofware-specific methodologies (like continuous builds and automated unit-testing) that do in fact improve quality.

Do recruiters consider the six sigma certification while selecting candidates.

• By extension, some hiring managers may task recruiters with finding Six Sigma credentialed software engineers.
• But in my opinion, software engineering candidates should emphasize better programming practices in their self-study; not Six Sigma.
  • And SO is littered with advice on better programming practices.

Answer 3

Do recruiters consider the six sigma certification while selecting candidates.

As with everything else, some do, some don't. Those that do may consider it a benefit, or a drawback. There's almost nothing that's universal that people look for when hiring.

(Personally, I would consider it suspicious at best, if I saw it on your resume, and be sure to drill you on it in the interview. Why do you think it's valuable? How can it help my company? What evidence do you have for that?)

So the only real question is: do I want to work at the kind of place where this is highly valued? If so, go for it. If not, don't.

As someone else commented:

I've been doing software development for over 2 decades and have never heard of Six Sigma.

I've heard of it, but I've only heard of it actually being applied when doing work at a company which did traditional engineering (you know, putting materials together to build a physical product) where people wearing suits wanted to apply those methods to software. I left shortly thereafter, but from speaking with people I know who are still there, I don't think that they were ever very successful at it.

And:

The university you went to matters far more

The university you went to only matters if it's the only thing on your resume, i.e., if you're fresh out of school with no experience. (Quick, where did Wernher von Braun go to school? And would you have hired him because he went there, or because of who he is and what he's done?) I don't think anyone would apply for a job with only Six Sigma on their resume, so true, in one corner case, your university will matter slightly more, whereas in most cases neither one will matter very much at all.