Comments on: Opinion:Certification Matters – Exams Are Not Relevant to Real Life – Part 4 http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/ Network design, architecture, thinking, working. Tech. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:43:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Greg Ferro http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/#comment-636 Greg Ferro Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:09:42 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=752#comment-636 You have the right attitude I think. Certification can look like a hurdle, or it can look like part of the journey. And I know exactly what you mean by "because the more you learn, the more you real≠ize how lim≠ited your know≠ledge is." I emphatically agree. You have the right attitude I think. Certification can look like a hurdle, or it can look like part of the journey.

And I know exactly what you mean by “because the more you learn, the more you real≠ize how lim≠ited your know≠ledge is.” I emphatically agree.

]]> By: Douglass Holmes http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/#comment-635 Douglass Holmes Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:43:41 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=752#comment-635 I believe that if you can learn it for the exam, you an learn it for the job. In other words, even if you can't remember everything you are supposed to have learned for a Cisco certification test, the fact that you passed the test indicates that you learned it once, and you can probably learn it again. I have to agree that the person who pursues a certification on his own, without the employer's support probalby has above average initiative. I would rather have an employee with above average initiative. My employer supported me getting the CCNA. I was on my own for my CCNP. I had to learn a lot. At this point, I feel very inadequate, because the more you learn, the more you realize how limited your knowledge is. But, I proved I could learn it well enough to get the certification. I believe that if you can learn it for the exam, you an learn it for the job. In other words, even if you can’t remember everything you are supposed to have learned for a Cisco certification test, the fact that you passed the test indicates that you learned it once, and you can probably learn it again.
I have to agree that the person who pursues a certification on his own, without the employer’s support probalby has above average initiative. I would rather have an employee with above average initiative.
My employer supported me getting the CCNA. I was on my own for my CCNP. I had to learn a lot. At this point, I feel very inadequate, because the more you learn, the more you realize how limited your knowledge is. But, I proved I could learn it well enough to get the certification.

]]> By: Reggie http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/#comment-634 Reggie Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:17:03 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=752#comment-634 I have in the past been instructed by CCIE's and CCNPs to use these the likes of Test Kings and Pass4Sure's so that they can obtain their specializations certification's quicker. Fail an exam at 125 to 250 dollars or more a pop is not cost effective if the exam is using psychometric techniques to fail you based on missing a part of the question or what ever the methodology is based on for a passing score. It really bothered me that a la passed numbered -CCIE with years of experience and hands-on the equipment would suggest this...but after seeing how some of the test questions are crafted it appeared he was right about how some in the industry are "milking the flock". It appears as greed has creeped in to certifications to subtly FAIL some of the exams multiple times. Not in all cases, but if you look deep enough you will see the light. Nevertheless I took a beta exam recently cold turkey and am a bit optimistic on the future results. I used nothing but my experience and vendor neutral studies while testing. I have in the past been instructed by CCIE’s and CCNPs to use these the likes of Test Kings and Pass4Sure’s so that they can obtain their specializations certification’s quicker. Fail an exam at 125 to 250 dollars or more a pop is not cost effective if the exam is using psychometric techniques to fail you based on missing a part of the question or what ever the methodology is based on for a passing score.

It really bothered me that a la passed numbered -CCIE with years of experience and hands-on the equipment would suggest this…but after seeing how some of the test questions are crafted it appeared he was right about how some in the industry are “milking the flock”. It appears as greed has creeped in to certifications to subtly FAIL some of the exams multiple times. Not in all cases, but if you look deep enough you will see the light.

Nevertheless I took a beta exam recently cold turkey and am a bit optimistic on the future results. I used nothing but my experience and vendor neutral studies while testing.

]]> By: Opinion:Certification Matters -Part 2- Knowledge or Experience - Which is more valuable ? | My Etherealmind http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/#comment-633 Opinion:Certification Matters -Part 2- Knowledge or Experience - Which is more valuable ? | My Etherealmind Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:26:34 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=752#comment-633 [...] Matters, Experiences Less So - Part 1 Certification Matters - Only you can do the Study Part 3 Certification Matters - Exams are not relevant to Real Life - Part 4 Share and [...] [...] Matters, Experiences Less So – Part 1 Certification Matters – Only you can do the Study Part 3 Certification Matters – Exams are not relevant to Real Life – Part 4 Share and [...]

]]> By: Peter Juul http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/#comment-632 Peter Juul Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:04:09 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=752#comment-632 Hiya! I was talking to a training company consultant a few days ago. I wasn't (am) quite sure if I have the knowledge to pass the BSCI and she advised me to take a TestKing test. She said that if I passed that I could be reasonably certain I'd pass the BSCI as well. Now, on this site I read a few comments where the commenters presume TestKing to be baddies. Could you elaborate on this? I see no reason to throw cash at a company that "sux0rz". Hiya!

I was talking to a training company consultant a few days ago. I wasn’t (am) quite sure if I have the knowledge to pass the BSCI and she advised me to take a TestKing test. She said that if I passed that I could be reasonably certain I’d pass the BSCI as well.

Now, on this site I read a few comments where the commenters presume TestKing to be baddies. Could you elaborate on this? I see no reason to throw cash at a company that “sux0rz”.

]]> By: Brad Murphy http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/#comment-631 Brad Murphy Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:07:53 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=752#comment-631 Cisco is not the only company developing methods for tracking cheaters. Microsoft and CompTIA have both teamed with Cisco to create methods for catching individuals who use illegal study guides such as Pass4Sure and Testking. Cisco is not the only company developing methods for tracking cheaters. Microsoft and CompTIA have both teamed with Cisco to create methods for catching individuals who use illegal study guides such as Pass4Sure and Testking.

]]> By: Greg Ferro http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/#comment-630 Greg Ferro Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:16:03 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=752#comment-630 From my reading in the press, Cisco seems to be taking steps to stop the cheating which is a good thing. I think we will see a shakeout over the next couple of years as people will not recertify. But yes, interviewing quickly shows up who didn't prepare properly for the exam or used some shortcut to get a result. From my reading in the press, Cisco seems to be taking steps to stop the cheating which is a good thing. I think we will see a shakeout over the next couple of years as people will not recertify. But yes, interviewing quickly shows up who didn’t prepare properly for the exam or used some shortcut to get a result.

]]> By: Yandy Ramirez http://etherealmind.com/certification-matters-exams-not-relevant-to-real-life-part-4/#comment-629 Yandy Ramirez Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:25:52 +0000 http://etherealmind.com/?p=752#comment-629 Hey, While I agree that getting certified shows a candidates willingness to learn it does not show their ability to learn. This is specially true with written exams, with products such as Pass4Sure and TestKings of the world this is becoming more and more of a joke. I recently interviewed someone who passed CCIE Written in both R&S and Sec. While this does not mean that they are CCIE in any way shape or form it would tell you that this candidate at least has the knowledge to gather the information and analyze certain things to pass the exam..... wrong!. Simple questions that any CCIE candidate should answer he could not. Unfortunately too many people are taking test with out the proper preparation and or study habits. But like anyone one as the interviewer (I'm only a Senior Eng) so i dont make the decision but my opinion somehow matters.. lol. Anyways as the interviewer of that certain individual(s) you have to be able to weed out the fake from the true, sometimes certified sometimes not. I have read your posts and agree with certain thing as well with some of the comments, but one's ability to analyze (just like a networking problem or solution) the individual your interviewing is what really matters. Weed the good from the bad, ask the right questions and present the correct and proper labs or scenarios for them to solve. Well I wont go any longer but you have some great articles (specially love the "Network Architect Job Description) lol.. that was priceless. I think we have each other on twitter... mine is "yandy_r". Thanks for the info Hey,

While I agree that getting certified shows a candidates willingness to learn it does not show their ability to learn. This is specially true with written exams, with products such as Pass4Sure and TestKings of the world this is becoming more and more of a joke. I recently interviewed someone who passed CCIE Written in both R&S and Sec. While this does not mean that they are CCIE in any way shape or form it would tell you that this candidate at least has the knowledge to gather the information and analyze certain things to pass the exam….. wrong!. Simple questions that any CCIE candidate should answer he could not.

Unfortunately too many people are taking test with out the proper preparation and or study habits. But like anyone one as the interviewer (I’m only a Senior Eng) so i dont make the decision but my opinion somehow matters.. lol. Anyways as the interviewer of that certain individual(s) you have to be able to weed out the fake from the true, sometimes certified sometimes not. I have read your posts and agree with certain thing as well with some of the comments, but one’s ability to analyze (just like a networking problem or solution) the individual your interviewing is what really matters. Weed the good from the bad, ask the right questions and present the correct and proper labs or scenarios for them to solve. Well I wont go any longer but you have some great articles (specially love the “Network Architect Job Description) lol.. that was priceless.

I think we have each other on twitter… mine is “yandy_r”.

Thanks for the info

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