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North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical Re: Certification or College degrees?
To start, I know a lot of people with no certifications, degrees or diplomas that can dance circles around their desired loves of networking or unix administration. They live, work and earn every penny they receive. I hold them in high esteem and thank them constantly for help they give to me. They do not need to take the tests to know about things or be known for things they have done. Living in a profession that has a large majority of male counterparts, being a female has been a bit tough. Having those pieces of paper has helped me to open a few doors. Once those doors are opened technical questions, a bit of experience and the ability to smile and laugh have kept those doors opened. The papers have helped to introduce myself, show that I may actually have the basics. Without them I am not sure I would be where I am now. Getting them were more of yearning for learning than a "look I have this" statement. My current manager smiled when I asked him not to tell my counter parts what I have. Certs/Degrees/Diplomas sometimes cause tension between staff that have them and staff that do not have them until everyone gets to know the person, and how they work. To me experience means a lot more. You may think this is strange but the more "bugs" I find the more I smile for it gives me a great opportunity to learn. To learn something that is not in the books, where it takes a feel for the device to fix it. Though the heart does pump a bit faster in these situations due to it being a production device and not a lab device. Earn the Certs, Diplomas, Degrees for yourself and not the position. The position is the partical application of what you like to do. A good HR person looks at your personality to make sure you fit the team, if you can answer the technical questions you do not need always need the paper. Kim Oh.. I should add. My first Cert was out written out of spite. A male co-worker seemed high and mighty when he passed. So I wrote it to keep him quiet. I must thank him one day. :)
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