Today I received marking materials on the IEEE’s Certified Software Development Professional Program. Unlike the various certifications I pursued fresh out of college, this one requires applicants to have 9,000 hours of experience and a bachelor’s degree (in addition to passing an exam).
As I was sitting here thinking about whether or not I should pursue something like this, seeing as how I’m soon to be back in the job market, I wondered what value there is in pursuing certifications any more. I would hope that my years of experience and continuous self-development would prove that I am better prepared for a job than what some piece of paper says. At the same time, I’m coming from a primarily design-oriented web development job and looking for a more technically-oriented job. That certification could give prospective employers a boost of confidence… then again, if I can’t engender that confidence myself, do I really want to work for such a company?
Ultimately, I think that I just enjoy the pain and suffering that goes along with studying for and taking exams that prove I know something. After all, none of my previous certifications had any application to my jobs, nor did they get me any more money when I was job hunting!
So… should I take the test or not?
