Certification Tests Prove Your Value
Prove it. Ever hear those words? Much of the world operates under this rule, no matter how good you are it just doesn't count unless you've taken the appropriate certification tests.
Are you the guru of the linux Lab? Can you take that knowledge and get a raise? Probably not if you don't have that piece of paper that says you passed that certification exam. The certification tests prove that you have some competency in your field and know the answers to a standardized set of questions. Your new boss is going to want to know that you can meet certain criteria for that new job and the test is usually one ofthose criteria.
Since the certification tests attempt to demonstrate your proficiency in a field it makes sense that you can find these tests in all fields, not just computer related. All bosses want to know that their new people can meet a certain standard. Besides, testing is easier than the extensive interviewing that would be needed to discover your true genius.
You can also find training, e.g. Cisco Certification Training, for all of those areas and tests. Training for the certification test is a good idea, even if you're the god of code, since that training lets you know what the testers are looking for. If you're looking for something like Unix System Administration Jobs this gives you some idea of what your new job might be looking for. You can find certification training in online or offline classes, either through specialized schools or local colleges, through an assortment of books and workbooks (from Amazon.com and elsewhere,) and sometimes even through your own company. So what kind of certifications are available to you? Maybe a better question is, are there any that aren’t available? In the computer field there are hundreds of certification tests available just for networking. The Cisco company (makers of computer routers and networking hardware,) has dozens of certification areas and levels for just it’s own products. So do Microsoft, Apple, IBM, and others, and this is just for the hardware side. On the software side you have multiple certification exams for hundreds of products, such as the Sun Java Certification Exams. Once you get outside the computing fields you’ll find the same situation for nursing, accounting, management, money handling, environmental concerns, and about any other professional or technical field that you might come across. So what’s the difference between a certification and a degree? A degree (associate, bachelor’s, or whatever) will cover a general area (eg: Biochemisty) while the certificate covers a very specific area or product (e.g. Red Hat Linux.) and the certificate proves that you have a detailed understanding of the subject matter. A degree is a great first step and the certification(s) add to the proven depth of your knowledge. The certification is likely to be more up to date, as well. A degree will cover general theory while the certification tests (and associated trainings) are regularly updated to cover new products and technologies. So can you prove it? The certification exams are the way to go to prove it and to improve your career and the size of your paycheck. Go for it. Unix Tools covers several areas of interest to unix people, including tutorials, reviews, and useful information about several flavors of Unix.
A Certification
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