True - You can have the knowledge without having to pay to be Certified when it comes to computers.
True - Just because you have the certification does not mean you actually know the material as well as someone who is not certified. You might just be good at taking tests.
So what is the point of getting IT Certifications? To have a piece of paper?
Superficially that might be the big debate. But, take a closer look at that and you might find more to it than what meets the eye.
IT Certifications can be pretty expensive for many. So, many decide why certify if you already know the material? You do not have to have a piece of paper saying you know it if you can SHOW it.
unfortunately this day and age as technology grows and more and more people become accustomed to working with computers, Certifications are becoming more "needed" by people in the IT industry.
This is especially true if you are looking for a job in the IT field.
If you submit a resume, most likely it will go through the HR department before you are even considered for the position. HR does not know you from Adam. They don't know how technically inclined and good you are. You can't "show" them what you can do. HR will see that piece of paper of a resume and decide whether to put you in the interview stack or move on to the next resume. If they see you have a certification, that could mean way more than experience points for you. It could be the extra little bonus you need to get to the interview level.
When you make it to the interview, your prospective employer once again will not be able to see how you can demonstrate your 5 years of working with computers and how good you may be. He might ask you a few simple questions to see where your skills are. If he sees you have Certifications on that resume.. He most likely will assume you are at LEAST at that level - instead of just guessing if you did not have any certifications listed.
And then there is the companies standpoint. Many companies have a quota to meet. To get the discount or to be able to offer certain services, they might have to have X amount of employees who are A+, Microsoft of Cisco certified. Once again, another plus.
If you have the skills, it IS worth getting certified. To you, it may just be a piece of paper that cost a small fortune. But, that piece of paper may also be the difference in a better job, a higher pay, and people taking you more seriously.
The people that know you may KNOW that you know your stuff when it comes to computers. But where does that get you in the real world? Just because Johnny knows you can network 10 computers and run them as a System Admin for those users does not have as much credential as that piece of paper to a prospective employer who is looking for a quick fix to replace the old system admin. After you are in THEN time will show the employer you know your stuff - the certification is just a foot in the door.
For years I knew my stuff when it came to computers. I could hang with the best of them. All my friends had seen me progress from thinking AOL was the internet to learning how to network and use various operating systems and build many new systems. When I wanted to break free from being a secretary, the problem was no one took me seriously. Besides not having a piece of paper - which meant I did not meet some companies minimum number of a+ certified employees so they could get their discount - I had nothing to back up what I said I could do just to get my foot in the door.
I can even remember the pain of having a prospective employer look at me in the eye and tell me that saying I could do something was not good enough. He did not have time to stand around for months and watch me to make sure I knew the difference between a modem and a network card. He wanted someone who had a piece of paper so he knew I at least knew the basics. It added to the pain when he mentioned running a Network was not the same as going to a co workers computer and getting a MS Word document to save correctly - referencing the fact my current job was as a secretary.
That hurt. Of course I knew this, but what proof did I have?
If you have the skills, then from my experience it is defiantly worth paying for that piece of paper. It might not mean a hill of beans now.. But when you are looking for a better job - and IT turnaround IS high - then you will have the credentials to get your foot in the door to show what you can do before people get to know you and SEE what you can do.
