Microsoft Certifications and Getting a .NET Architect Education
I am often asked how I learn what I learn, and why I refuse to get certifications. I refuse because I suck at memorization. I have to learn theory and apply it. On all my gigs people notice the load of books I carry in. They are my brain in a bag.
I don't look down on those that value certifications, and I pity those that are forced by there companies to get them so they can qualify for partnership programs. But I simply will not bother with Microsoft certifications. I would take them if a company wanted me to in order to qualify them for a project, but I would force them to pay for them and pay me for the time I spend getting it done.
I was recently handed a resume with certification logos all over it. I told the PM that was a red flag, and I would need to grill the guy even harder because of them. He thought I was joking. But the company wants him on board for the Certs so they can qualify for a higher Microsoft Partnership status. That is fine, but looking through his real world experience, he was not impressive. Having certifications don't count in my book as anything except for great memorization skills. I need more skills than that.
There are some credentials programs that I hold in high regard. The SEI certificate programs are much more that an exercise of memorization.
http://www.sei.cmu.edu/activities/credentials/programs.html
I may be bias because I learn everything from books, seminars/webcasts, the web, and hands on doing. I have been asked what books I read to keep up. I thought it would be easier to share a few pictures of my office than list them all. I didn't bother going to the attic where I keep the archived ones.
http://www.corporatewebbing.com/RWSA/Library.htm
*** I have posted this in the Microsoft Architecture forum and on my .NET Journal Blog site. Those sites are getting feedback that may interest you. I also have a poll on the .NET Journal Blog site on this topic I would appreciate you taking.
These are the links:
Microsoft Architecture forum
.NET Journal Blog site
I don't look down on those that value certifications, and I pity those that are forced by there companies to get them so they can qualify for partnership programs. But I simply will not bother with Microsoft certifications. I would take them if a company wanted me to in order to qualify them for a project, but I would force them to pay for them and pay me for the time I spend getting it done.
I was recently handed a resume with certification logos all over it. I told the PM that was a red flag, and I would need to grill the guy even harder because of them. He thought I was joking. But the company wants him on board for the Certs so they can qualify for a higher Microsoft Partnership status. That is fine, but looking through his real world experience, he was not impressive. Having certifications don't count in my book as anything except for great memorization skills. I need more skills than that.
There are some credentials programs that I hold in high regard. The SEI certificate programs are much more that an exercise of memorization.
http://www.sei.cmu.edu/activities/credentials/programs.html
I may be bias because I learn everything from books, seminars/webcasts, the web, and hands on doing. I have been asked what books I read to keep up. I thought it would be easier to share a few pictures of my office than list them all. I didn't bother going to the attic where I keep the archived ones.
http://www.corporatewebbing.com/RWSA/Library.htm
*** I have posted this in the Microsoft Architecture forum and on my .NET Journal Blog site. Those sites are getting feedback that may interest you. I also have a poll on the .NET Journal Blog site on this topic I would appreciate you taking.
These are the links:
Microsoft Architecture forum
.NET Journal Blog site
posted by tadanderson at 11:45 AM
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