This whole certifications tends to hide the real issue: Can you actually deliver/ship. Your hiring process in my opinion needs to take a new approach. Like create some time, issue out a requirements document, maybe give a preferred language or framework and ask for a result, then let each candidate 'defend' their solution to a small panel. I work primarily on networks and giving a small practical interview (design a network to deliver X using ISIS as your IGP and BGP blah blah blah) followed by a discussion on your design choices rarely fails us get the best candidate/s. another example I used when a friends company needed a consultant was a simple call up so and so and negotiate a new peering/transit agreement, document it and bring results in 3 days. .....so Agosta even in networking apart from the fact that some vendors insist on certified guys working on their equipment, it still doesn't matter, get people that can do the work first. I am firmly in the camp that believes there are other skills that a make a good employee/coder/networker;maybe experience,past projects,attitude etc. Gitau On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 9:45 AM, Agosta Liko <agostal@gmail.com> wrote:
Philip
Certifications are Rad (pun intended) in Network, Server Administration etc etc
Not in software development
On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 9:01 AM, Philip Musyoki <pmusyoki@gmail.com>wrote:
I tend to agree with your observations. But in Kenya, most employers put a lot of premium in certifications. I guess it is something to do with the caliber of our IT education at the University level; it is not one to be compared with universities like MIT or Stanford. So employers, in addition to basic degrees, want all manner of certifications to prove to them you can do the job.
In countries like US, I think a bachelors degree for the top universities would be enough. And as you said, the best coders are not good coders because of university education, but because it is a passion for them. I don't think you can learn valuable coding skills in class. The class can teach you the basics, the rest in just your interest and passion. Many coders I know are self taught, from early ages.
Any much said, I believe the stakeholders needs to look an IT education in our universities. The curriculum is dated, and the kind of graduates the churn can't cut it in the corporate market. University education seems to have been too commercialized in Kenya, with Universities taking over the whole of city center with their 'campuses.'
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