Monday, November 20, 2006

Are certifications useful?

I saw a recent thread in TechRepublic on whether or not technical certifications are useful in a resume. My position is that yes, they are important to list, but (1) within the context of the roles you've described, and (2) at the end of the resume, or otherwise subordinated to information regarding skills and roles. They shouldn't take up too much real estate, overshadow your actual experience, or simply be sold as "here's what you get" (titles with no substance). Too many certifications with respect to one's career can indicate an unbalanced approach to education vs. work, or even too much time in school vs. working.

Obviously, it all depends on what you're applying to, and how you're applying (i.e. online submission vs. mail/in-person), but the point is, be as careful with your list of certifications as you are with your list of skills.