Re: Certifications don't count! (from a good test-taker)

Certifications are good for opening the door to a job interview. I have my OCA, and plan to get my OCP this year. A certification is not a substitute for experience, but from the applicant side it helps to get in the door, and from the management side I will take certification plus experience over experience only most of the time.

That being said, certifications do only open the door. The applicant still has to show she has real world experience, and how to apply the knowledge she has. And in the case of Oracle certifications, it can be a case of a little knowledge being dangerous.

On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 5:35 AM, Andre van Winssen <dreveewee_at_gmail.com> wrote:

>
> when working for oracle support we had to take ocp exams for 7.3/8.0/8i
> back in 2000. Later on as a contractor, I neglected certification, until
> recently, when I decided to take ocp and ocm 10g exams and even cissp
> (infosec). The only reason being that I wanted to set some targets for
> myself. Luckily I passed all of them.
>
> Some even say that being ocm can make it more difficult to get a new
> assignment .. when you are being looked upon as the wise guy, which I ain't.
> Just will have to find out if ocm brings any benefits at all.
>
> Kind regards,
> Andre,
> The Netherlands
>
>
> 2008/6/9, Mark Strickland <strickland.mark_at_gmail.com>:
>
>> I keep my certification current. It gives me that extra bit of
>> motivation. Plan to get the OCM. Figure I talked my way into my first DBA
>> job in 1993 (v6.0.3...scared without excrement to upgrade to v7...still
>> scared without excrement to upgrade to 11g). Then I proved myself. And
>> even after I proved myself, I can think of at least one situation where I
>> just wasn't a good fit no matter how hard I tried. I agree with everything
>> said previously, but don't discount those who are motivated and ambitious
>> and who get that certification and talk their way into a DBA position. They
>> might be the best DBA you've ever encountered. Or not. I interview well.
>> Because I learned early on how to interview well. I have great references.
>> So? What if I lose my ambition and motivation and fear of failure? Or
>> display other evidence of being HUMAN. I'd rather hire someone who is eager
>> and motivated and seems like they'd be reasonable to work with (not a prima
>> donna from a Prestige Company...not that I'VE ever been THAT) and has good
>> troubleshooting skills and is organized (FAT CHANCE!). Cowboys/girls need
>> not apply. Oh, and would it be asking too much to expect them to be a good
>> technical writer (not publishable documentation...just basic project
>> plans)? That was a rhetorical question, of course...one can dream. Indeed,
>> they have to demonstrate the requisite technical knowledge, but that's the
>> starting point. What is my point? I guess my point is that it comes down
>> to good judgment. I personally prefer the empirical approach (to
>> everything) but these are human beings we're talking about. There's no
>> formula. I've been on interview panels and given my thumbs-up for the
>> candidate to go on to Hollywood only to find that, once they were hired, I
>> couldn't stand them (but alcohol helps). Too late. No doubt, I've been on
>> the other side of that. I'm rambling. It comes back to: there's no
>> formula. And once you got 'em, they're still human. That's a good thing.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Mark
>> Seattle, WA
>>
>
>

-- 
Andrew W. Kerber

'If at first you dont succeed, dont take up skydiving.'

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