Why Certifications Are Trumping College Degrees For Employers

By Daniel Miessler on June 25th, 2005: Tagged as Rants

Many are aware of the debate among job-seekers as to whether degrees, experience, or certifications are most important to those doing the hiring for IT jobs. Well, if you’ve been on any of the job sites lately you’ll notice one phrase being repeated over and over: “or equivalent experience”.

Here’s why.

I just received an email in regard to my article about why people should dump IE, and it wasn’t so much the question that got to me as it was the qualifications of the person doing the asking.

“Hello! I read your article and really liked it; I graduate in December with an IS degree. A fellow-online class mate had told me to switch to Firefox, which I tried to do. This may sound silly, but I am not sure if I am using their browser or not. In other words, it appears the “thing” in my address box changed shapes. So I don’t know if I am running Firefox or not. Does this make sense? Second, you say you do Windows update. But I am not sure if you are being sarcastic or not. I am running Windows update as well. Therefore, I am confused as to whether or not I really am running the Firefox browser. Can you advise?”

This is someone about to graduate with a degree in Information Systems.

It’s no wonder companies are willing to accept certifications and experience in place of degrees. Employers are learning a simple truth — the posession of a degree isn’t a strong predictor of good work.

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Jim Neale

I think the issue is not either/or, you need both. A good college degree provides more than a certification that is specific to a narrowly focused task. A college degree provides a breadth of knowledge and a difference in the way a person approaches a problem that I haven’t found in people that don’t have college degrees. You may look down at the ignorance of a less informed graduate, but he will be the person who is your boss and making more money. The simple truth is you need both. Finish the degree!!!!
Jim Neale

I think the issue is not either/or, you need both. A good college degree provides more than a certification that is specific to a narrowly focused task. A college degree provides a breadth of knowledge and a difference in the way a person approaches a problem that I haven’t found in people that don’t have college degrees. You may look down at the ignorance of a less informed graduate, but he will be the person who is your boss and making more money. The simple truth is you need both. Finish the degree!!!!
http://www.dmiessler.com/ daniel

My thought was not that those going for degrees should not continue to do so — it was that it’s becoming quite clear to me why employers are valuing the degrees less.

A degree is still helpful to an IT career — there’s not doubt about that.
http://www.dmiessler.com daniel

My thought was not that those going for degrees should not continue to do so — it was that it’s becoming quite clear to me why employers are valuing the degrees less.

A degree is still helpful to an IT career — there’s not doubt about that.
http://kenswain.com/ Ken

I refuse to make a comment on the grounds that it would cause a war.

Damn can not stop my fingers from typing this.

I would rather have a person under me that has both, but given the choice I will take the Certs. At least those people will know what I have hired them to do. Certs and experience mean more to me than a degree.
http://kenswain.com Ken

I refuse to make a comment on the grounds that it would cause a war.

Damn can not stop my fingers from typing this.

I would rather have a person under me that has both, but given the choice I will take the Certs. At least those people will know what I have hired them to do. Certs and experience mean more to me than a degree.

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