Too cert or not to cert that is the question.......

Do any of you find that degrees are more valuable than certifications?

 

It depends on the cert and degree. A CCIE is more valauble then just about any degree while an MCP or A+ is less valuable then just about any degree.

 

I find "in general" that a degree opens many more doors while a certification makes you more competitive. So many companies won't even look at you regardless of certifications unless you have some type of degree. The person in HR filtering resumes is just looking for keywords and most likely doesn't know that certain certifications might be better then a degree. All they know is no degree, no interview.

 

I agree, it depends on the degree or the certification. The PMP instantly changed the work I do at my job (going from administrative to project management within 3 months or so) whereas the MBA took a while longer. Of the two (not that I have to choose) if I had to drop one or the other it would be the MBA as the PMP had more of an immediate and applicable impact. That said, I think the MBA will have more staying power than the PMP.

 

In fact the CISSP and CCIE certifications are more available than most of the Master degree. In order to earn a CCIE, you have to know the Cisco products and telecommunications outside and inside.

So, to me...I believe that CCIE is more valuable than my Master of Science in Telecommunications at Southern Methodist University.

 

Great info. I was just curious. I have A+, Net+ and working on Sec+... I have a BS in Business-IT Management and currently going for my MSIS..... I know alot of people tha have alot of certifications just to say that got them but not really sure what they wanna do with them. I wanna do Network administration or something with security...... So I'm going to do those certs that benefit my career path. Honestly, I know someone who has about 10 certs and no experience or degree. Just went strictly off studying for the exams and passing and can't tell you a things about nothing!! Real talk.......

 

I agree with everybody else, it depends with what you want to do with your career. PMP, CISSP, ITL Expert, and CCIE are much more valuable than certain degrees while less worthy certs (Net+, Sec+, A+, MCP certs, etc) are not. However, if you want to someday move into a leadership role / executive position, then your IT Management degree and/or an MBA will come in handy because you need to know how organizations operate holistically, i.e., Strategic Mgmt, Financial & Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, Supply Chain Management, Organizational Management, Strategic Marketing, Business Law, Global Mgmt, and so forth.

 

I love CompTIA certifications...but I do not consider them "career" making certifications but more "filler" if that makes sense. The biggies in IT (CISSP, PMP, CISA, etc.) are all credentials that generally require an undergrad degree and "x" amount of years experience which is one of the factors that makes them so tough to get and so valuable in the industry. That said, I have been wanting to get that Security+ just for kicks and to round out my security knowledge.

 

Too many certifications not really looking good. I am aiming for the following certifications next: CISSP, CCNP, CCIE, CCA (Cisco Certified Architect)....

I am currently holding these certifications:

• CCSP – Cisco Certified Security Professional
• CCNA – Routers & Switches, VoIP, Security
• ITILv3 – Information Technology Infrastructure Library Version 3
• CEHv7 – Certified Ethical Hacker Version 7
• MCITP - Enterprise Messaging Administrator 2010
• MCITP – Enterprise Administrator 2008
• MCSE - Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer 2000, 2003
• MCSA - Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator 2000, 2003
• MCP - Microsoft Certified Professional XP, Windows 7
• CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+

 

I have two points:

First point) Certifications have value when they're backed up with real world experience. For example a network engineer with a CCNP and 5 years of Routing and switching experience is much more employable than a network engineer with a CCNP and one year of experience.


Second point) Certifications that have a lab component (for example, CCIE, and RHCE) holds much more value than any other certification because the scope of cheating in those certs is close to zero.

 

In my point of view its both important degree open new doors for your career and cert support your degree and if you have both you will gain job much more easy than having only one.. but it is much effective if you have a back ground experience....

 

I agree with you on that, but you cannot jump to CCIE without CCNA and CCNP. The reason I have so many certifications and continue to seek for higher level because I have been moving from Windows Systems to Networking, and now I am in Security. But over all...I want to concentrate into Networking and Security.

 

while CCNA and CCNP are not prerequisites, you are absolutely. One has to go through CCNA=> CCNP => CCIE. But certs alone without experience can't help. One needs experience and a lot of practice to tackle the CCIE lab exam.