A question about certification (and a sneak peek 😉)

[emily927]

Certification isn't for everyone. Including me - I have a goal of earning a Looker certification but it has not happened yet. Do you think it's important to get certified? Why, or why not? 

Here's why I keep trying to find the time for certification....

• Salary. Google Certified Professional Data Engineer is THE top paying salary of 2021, and generally many top-paying jobs list certifications under preferred/required qualifications. 
• Expertise. For example, the Cloud Digital Leader certificate, just announced this year (reviewed by Cloud Advocate), seems like a great way to validate that you have the knowledge to make good decisions. Decisions that might impact your organization for years to come.  
• Swag. Not the main reason, but doesn't hurt 😎 

So, what are your thoughts on certification? Please drop a note in the comments. Don't feel like typing? You can always +1 other comments. (You get badges for that too!) 

Thx for reading this far! Here's that sneak peek... 🎆

[glen_yu]

As far as certs go, I was never a big believer in multiple-choice/multiple-answer type cert exams, mainly because of how many brain dumps there are for all sorts of exams...which is another mystery to me why people would invest so much time into remember a set of questions and answers rather than learn it proper, but I digress.  I much prefer performance-based exams such as the Kubernetes exams (CKAD, CKA, CKS) and Red Hat exams.  There are some seriously hardcore hacking/penetration testing exams (I'm talking 24hrs or 7 day ones) if you're a masochist.  Typically, you would need considerable hands-on experience if you're to pass those (or you could just be a savant).  Having said that, it's way harder and not always feasible to create a performance-based exam especially for something so broad and constantly evolving tech like the cloud.

Certs have its place and it's a good substitute for lack of experience (but shows initiative!) and can also set you further apart if you do have the experience.   And just because I don't put a lot of weight on certs doesn't mean hiring managers don't.  I'm a firm believer that practical experience > theory and that's why I use Qwiklabs when I want to learn something and want a quick hands-on option. 

Swag is awesome.  Google is the only one where you feel like you won something when passing an exam.  For those who don't know you, get to choose from special swag with embroidered patches -- the clothing swag are also super comfortable.  Compare this to Azure who doesn't give out any swag.  And worse is AWS where if you pass an exam, they give you an access code to a web store where you can buy your own generic "AWS Certified" gear.  It doesn't feel rewarding at all.

[self_babush]

Agree with you that the sense of achievement felt with Google cert is relatively better.  However it appears that Google doesn't hand out swags for Associate Cloud Engineer Certification (at least I didn't get) , whereas  AWS provides  50 % discount voucher for the Professional certs  upon clearing the Associate Exams. 

[glen_yu]

Yeah, Google only gives out swag for professional level certs now.  I did the ACE when it was in beta so I got swag for that still.

For AWS, you take the Associate Solution Architect at 100% price and then take the Professional Solution Architect at 50%... you're still paying more than just taking GCP PCA once at 100% and getting swag.  I'll mention again that the swag is quality stuff.  If you were to just buy them it's *at least* worth 25% of exam price.

[self_babush]

Hmm ..I took the Associate Solution Architect  when they were running a challenge with a 50 % discount offer ( I think it closed a  few days back). I'll keep the swag quality in mind , and would get to confirm,  as just got a mail about a couple of them being shipped across for the learn to earn game.😎

[AkashKant]

Certificates are a great way to validate your skills and hard work. They show, what we can achieve when we put our heart and soul into something of our interest, but of course not a big fan of MCQ-type exams. Theoretical knowledge is important to implement something in a practical way, but going for a practical exam always ensures that you already have the required theoretical knowledge to tackle that. To be honest, the practical performing exams are of the way high pressure as well, so when you clear them using all your "typed-commands" knowledge you feel the purest form of pride, which I don't feel while clearing an MCQ type exam. I myself have done multiple Red-Hat certificates and can feel the joy of it (without swags thou xD). 

If I will talk about swags then of course nothing beats google, Red-Hat won't give any swag until you become RHCA (I didn't get it during my time) But they do put an amazing feeling. I still remember attending an NVIDIA event and getting a Zotac Premium Water Bottle (I still have it) and it gives me a reminder of where I have come from In low times. So I think certificates look good on paper for your skills validation and SWAGSS looks great on your table to push you up and remind you of your achievements and what more we can achieve in our life.